Padres affiliates went 3-3 on Friday night.

Let’s dive into the results of a six-game slate. 

El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 15-9 vs Las Vegas) (43-56 on the season)

Bryce Johnson – 3-for-5, Two Doubles, Two RBI

Blake Hunt – 2-for-4, Triple, RBI

Jagger Haynes – 2.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 4 K (69 pitches – 36 strikes)

Left-hander Jagger Haynes made his Triple-A debut, pitching 2.1 innings and leaving the game with just two runs allowed. Las Vegas stacked their lineup with all right-handed bats; Haynes did not face a left-handed batter at all in the game. The left-hander struck out four and walked four, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first with all three outs coming via the K. There were promising signs for Haynes, as his newfound changeup picked up whiffs on 50% of swings against. Haynes’ inability to locate the slider was costly, as it was his most-used offering in the 107-degree heat. Daison Acosta relieved Haynes and picked up a strikeout, but a two-out walk scored a third run. With the bases loaded, Acosta threw an 0-1 meatball of a fastball that was crushed for a grand slam. Acosta was ultimately charged with five runs in one inning, Logan Gillaspie allowed five runs in 2.2 innings, striking out four. Jeremiah Estrada made a second rehab outing at Triple-A, pitching a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Estrada threw 10 of 11 pitches for strikes, and looks ready to return to the Padres. Justin Yeager struck out two in a scoreless eighth. 

Bryce Johnson drove in two runs, finishing with two doubles in the game. Blake Hunt was one of six Chihuahuas with multi-hit games, finishing 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Nick Solak doubled and drove in one run, while Dustin Harris and Romeo Sanabria each picked up an RBI from the nine-spot in the lineup. Marcos Castanon singled twice, scoring a run. Will Wagner and Nick Pratto both reached base on a single and a walk, with Wagner driving in a run. 

San Antonio Missions (Lost 10-0 vs Frisco) (42-52 on the season)

Ryan Jackson – 1-for-4, Double

Ethan Salas – 1-for-3, Single

Ian Koenig – 5 IP, 7 H, 6 R (5 ER), 0 BB, 4 K (94 pitches – 60 strikes)

San Antonio was shut out to fall 10 games under .500. Ryan Jackson had the Missions’ lone extra-base hits in the game, with a double off rehabbing Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford. Ethan Salas also had a single off Bradford in the game, going 1-for-3 with two strikeouts. Albert Fabian and Kai Murphy picked up singles in the ninth inning. Ian Koenig pitched five innings, allowing six runs (five earned). Koenig did not issue a walk, striking out four batters. However, the right-hander allowed seven hits and six runs (five earned). July has been a slog for Koenig, who has pitched 21 innings to a 6.00 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. Bernard Jose allowed one run in two innings of relief. Clay Edmondson struggled to put away hitters, as he allowed three runs on two hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. Edmondson has allowed runs in five of his last six outings, walking 10 in his last four innings of work. Chris Sargent pitched the final 1.1 innings, not allowing a run. 

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 8-3 vs Lake County) (39-54 on the season)

Ryan Wideman – 3-for-5, Three Singles, Three RBI

Justin DeCriscio – 2-for-5, Two-RBI Double

Kash Mayfield – 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K (51 pitches – 33 strikes)

Despite a shorter start from Kash Mayfield, the Comeback ‘Caps struck again in an 8-3 win. Ryan Wideman was at the heart of the rallies, as the former third-rounder had three singles, driving in three runs. Wideman also picked up two stolen bases in the contest, bringing his season total to 53 in 86 games. Justin DeCriscio had two hits, including a late-inning two-run double to extend the TinCaps lead. Luke Cantwell reached base four times in the contest, finishing 2-for-2 with a game-tying RBI single. Rosman Verdugo gave the TinCaps a lead with an RBI single in the sixth, and Jack Costello hit a 3-0 pitch for an RBI single in the seventh. Alex McCoy went 1-for-5 with a single, and Carlos E. Rodriguez scored two runs. 

Kash Mayfleld threw 51 pitches in 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Mayfield struck out three while walking just two. Mayfield also generates six whiffs on 33 strikes, keeping his offerings competitive. Javier Chacon pitched a season-high 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball, striking out six batters. Chacon generated 10 whiffs to lead the TinCaps, and earned the win as well. Braian Salazar struck out four in two innings, and Jose Leclerc sealed the win with a scoreless ninth. 

Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 5-1 vs Visalia) (48-46 on the season)

Jorge Quintana – 1-for-2, Double, Two Walks

Jose Verdugo – 3-for-4, Three Singles, Two RBI

Kruz Schoolcraft – 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 4 K (81 pitches – 45 strikes)

For a team that started the second half 8-19, a win on Friday could be what it takes to steady the ship.  Kruz Schoolcraft pitched an effectively wild outing, walking five in 4.1 innings of one-run baseball against the Rawhide. Schoolcraft struck out four batters, touching as high as 96 miles per hour on the fastball according to the Storm broadcast. Schoolcraft generated six swings and misses, and all four of his strikeouts came swinging. The left-hander has now pitched at least four innings in eight consecutive starts, and has a 3.72 ERA in July. Jordan Valenzuela got out of a major jam in the fifth and went on to pitch 2.2 scoreless innings in relief. The hard-throwing right-hander flashed a 96-98 mph four-seamer and a devastating 88 mph slider that gives hitters no chance when he lands it. Yoesmerli Beltre struck out three in the final two innings, closing out the win. 

While Lake Elsinore did not have a five-run inning, they went 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the win. The Storm tied the game in the third inning, as with one out and the bases loaded, Yimy Tovar hit a shallow sac fly to score Bradley Frye. Frye singled to open the fifth inning, and Jorge Quintana doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Yoiber Ocopio then grounded a single to left field to give the Storm a 2-1 lead. After a walk and a run-scoring wild pitch, a ground ball single by Jose Verdugo scored two runs to put the Storm up 5-1. Conner Westenburg went 1-for-5 as the leadoff man, picking up an outfield assist. 

ACL Padres – No Game, Season Over

DSL Padres Gold (Won 12-1 vs DSL Tampa Bay) (28-10 on the season)

Dayquer Alfonzo – 2-for-4, Home Run, Three RBI

Cristian Benavides – 2-for-5, Two Singles, Three RBI

Josias Figuereo – 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K 

The Padres Gold blew out the Rays’ DSL affiliate by a 12-1 final. Dayquer Alfonzo and Joniel Hernandez both homered in the game, with Alfonzo driving in three runs. Cristian Benavides had two singles, driving in three runs. Endy Rios reached base four times, scoring two runs. Angel Mejia and Darian Castillo went 1-for-4 with a single and two RBI; Mejia scored two runs in the game. Starting pitcher Josias Figuereo went 4.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits. The right-hander struck out three batters while walking just one. Jose Perez earned the win with 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. Jederson Paez threw a scoreless inning in his debut, and Edwyn Hernandez pitched for the first time in a month, tossing a scoreless inning. Jackson Vasquez closed out the win with a scoreless inning. 

DSL Padres Brown (Lost 9-7 vs DSL Astros Blue) (7-30 on the season)

Gabriel Teran – 3-for-5, Three Singles, Two Runs Scored

Ronnier Heras – 3-for-5, Double, Two RBI

Raudi Perez – 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K

Despite a strong start from Raudi Perez, the Padres Brown lost again. Perez threw 4.1 innings of one-run baseball, striking out four. The only run allowed by the Padres Brown starter was on a solo home run. Rafael Torres picked up two outs in relief. Nathanael Jacinto walked three batters while recording no outs, and two runners scored against Aneury Sosa. Valentin Perez took the loss, allowing four runs in two-thirds of an inning. Gabriel Teran had three hits, scoring two runs. Ronnier Heras had the team’s lone extra-base hit, driving in two runs. Jeanfranco Fernandez drove in one run, reaching base three times in the loss. Osmy Osorio had two hits and an RBI, while Jhostin Fuentes hit a two-run single in the contest.

Diego Garcia

A born and raised San Diegan, Diego Garcia is a lifetime Padres fan and self-proclaimed baseball nerd. Diego wrote about baseball on his own site between 2021-22 before joining the East Village Times team in 2024. He also posts baseball content on his YouTube channel “Stat Nerd Baseball”, creating content around trades, hypotheticals, player analyses, the San Diego Padres, and MLB as a whole.

A 2024 graduate of San Diego State, Diego aims to grow as a writer and content creator in the baseball community.