Padres Down on the Farm: August 7 (Campusano homers for EP/FW bullpen dominates/Victor Acosta 2 hits in DSL)

San Diego Padres affiliates went 3-3 on Saturday.

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 6-3 to Sacramento) (32-47 on the season)

Evan Miller: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K (40 pitches, 28 strikes)

Luis Campusano: (2-for-3), HR, RBI, R, 2 BB, K

Nick Tanielu: (2-for-5), 2B, R

Matt Batten: (2-for-3), BB

Starting pitcher, Caleb Boushley let the Chihuahuas down, with a four-run fourth inning putting the Rivercats ahead of El Paso. The Chihuahuas had jumped out in front early, as Ivan Castillo led off with a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly. Two batters later, third-ranked Padres prospect Luis Campusano homered for the 10th time in the season, doubling the advantage. Boushley immediately gave that lead back in the bottom of the frame, and as aforementioned, he surrendered four runs in the fourth before being chased from the game. El Paso, down three runs, loaded the bases with just one out in the eighth inning, but Ivan Castillo grounded into a soul-crushing, comeback-killing double play. The Chihuahuas left 11 runners on base, and they went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, leaving opportunities on the board throughout the entire game.

San Antonio Missions (Lost 6-3 to Corpus Christi) (38-44 on the season)

Jerry Keel: 5 IP, 10 H, 6 R, BB, K (78 pitches, 54 strikes)

Esteury Ruiz: (1-for-3), 3B, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB, K

Kyle Overstreet: (0-for-0), RBI, 3 BB

Ben Ruta: (1-for-3), BB, K

Starting pitcher Jerry Keel struggled throughout his outing, and despite getting four scoreless innings out of the Missions’ bullpen, the offense wasn’t able to get back into the game. Keel gave up five runs in the second inning, with six Hooks’ hits allowing Corpus Christi to bat around. A solo home run in the fourth inning extended the Hooks’ lead, and the Missions’ bats didn’t wake up until the eighth inning, as they picked up just one hit in the first seven innings. The Missions loaded the bases in the eighth, sandwiching a single between two walks, but a sacrifice fly and a pop-out ended the scoring threat. Esteury Ruiz hit a triple to drive home Michael Curry and Eguy Rosario, but it was too little too late for San Antonio.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 2-0 vs. Great Lakes) (39-44 on the season)

Danny Denz: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K (57 pitches, 36 strikes)

Zack Mathis: (3-for-4), R, K

Tyler Malone: (1-for-4), 2B, RBI, R, 2 K

Adam Kerner: (1-for-3), 2B, RBI, K

The TinCaps pitching staff excelled, allowing just two hits in the entire game. Danny Denz got the start, and while four scoreless innings is great, he didn’t manage to throw a perfect inning in any of his four frames. On the other hand, the bullpen, made up of Luke Boyd, Mason Feole, Felix Minjarez, and Ramon Perez, threw five perfect innings. Great Lakes didn’t reach base once in the final five innings, which let the two-run lead for the TinCaps hold up. Fort Wayne went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, with Tyler Malone being doubled home by Adam Kerner in the second inning, but that was enough to win. The TinCaps went down in order in four of the final five innings, but thanks to the world-class pitching out of the bullpen, the TinCaps beat division leaders Great Lakes.

Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 4-3 vs. Rancho Cucamonga) (36-46 on the season)

Gabe Morales: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K (68 pitches, 39 strikes)

Colton Bender: (2-for-5), HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 K

Euribiel Angeles: (3-for-5), 3B, R, K, CS

Jarryd Dale: (2-for-4), RBI, R, SB

The Storm’s offense made noise when they needed to, and the pitching staff did enough to lead Lake Elsinore to a win. The Storm got off to a solid start, with three singles putting them ahead of Rancho Cucamonga. Starting pitcher, Nick Thwaits gave up two runs in the second inning, which put Rancho Cucamonga into the lead. Sean Guilbe tied the game in the fourth inning with a ground ball single that deflected off the glove of shortstop Luis Yanel Diaz. In the fifth inning, Lake Elsinore took the lead for good with Colton Bender’s home run, scoring Euribiel Angeles with a deep fly ball over the left-field fence. 

DSL Padres (Won 8-4 vs. DSL Reds) (14-5 on the season)

Henry Baez: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Jose Sanabria: (2-for-4), HR, RBI, 2 R, BB, K

Victor Acosta: (2-for-4), RBI, 2 R, BB, 2 SB

Eddy Beltre: (1-for-2), 2B, R, 2 BB, K

The DSL Padres scored four runs and batted around in the first inning, and they held their lead for the rest of the game. Jose Sanabria homered in the fourth inning, with a deep fly ball to left field adding to the Padres lead. Victor Acosta scored twice, including on a daring steal of home in the eighth inning. The Padres were sloppy on defense, committing four errors, but it didn’t hurt the Padres as the Reds scored just one unearned run. Henry Baez pitched for the first four innings, with wild pitches in both the first and fourth frames costing the right-hander. The Padres pitching staff struck out 12 batters while walking just two, which is rare in the Dominican Summer League, as many players struggle with control. The Padres drew two walks in the first inning alone, eventually picking up seven free passes. The victory was the fifth in a row for the Padres, extending their lead over the DSL Blue Jays to three games.

ACL Padres (Lost 3-2 to ACL Mariners) (8-19 on the season)

Reinier Parra: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

Jared Alvarez-Lopez: (2-for-4), RBI, R

Cristian Heredia: (1-for-3), 2B, RBI

River Ryan: (2-for-4)

The ACL Padres were walked off in a seven-inning affair, with two walks and a pair of wild pitches by Alan Mundo winning the game for the Mariners. Mundo’s wild pitch actually is what sent home Milkar Perez as the Padres fell to the Mariners. Reinier Parra fell behind early, allowing a two-out RBI double in the first. Parra’s second run was unearned, with Marcos Castanon committing a throwing error. Cristian Heredia hit a crucial sixth-inning double to plate Jared Alvarez-Lopez, tying the game at two. The Padres have used many of their recently drafted players in the ACL, so many players are still learning many new tools and fixing issues such as control.

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Sunday’s Probable Pitchers 

El Paso: TBD

San Antonio: TBD

Fort Wayne: Moises Lugo (2-3, 3.64 ERA)

Lake Elsinore: TBD

DSL Padres: Off Day

ACL Padres: Off Day

Sam Evans

Sam is a Senior in High School. He has been writing for three years, and started at EVT in June of 2021. He’s headed to Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Communications in the fall of 2023.