Padres Down on the Farm: July 6 (Bolanos K’s 10 in Amarillo/Batten 7 RBIs for El Paso/Abrams homers in AZL)

Matthew Batten had seven RBIs for El Paso while Ronald Bolanos led Amarillo to victory.

San Diego Padres affiliates were 7-1 on Saturday.

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

El Paso Chihuahuas (54-34) Won 8-6

The juggernaut that is the El Paso Chihuahuas just keeps barreling through opponents in the Pacific Coast League. The offense got it going from a couple of familiar names with Luis Urias and Ty France both with extra-base hits but the offensive star of the night by far was Matthew Batten, who went 3-5 on the night, driving in seven runs including a second-inning grand slam off of former major leaguer Parker Bridwell. The relief unit varied from Travis Radke and Eric Yardley continuing to open eyes at the Triple-A level to Andres Munoz having a blip on the radar with some poor luck on balls in play during his appearance. Brad Wieck came in relief for Munoz and closed it out for his second save at the Triple-A level.

Matthew Batten – (3-5) HR, 7 RBI

Luis Urias – (1-5)

Jose Pirela – (2-5)

Aderlin Rodriguez – (1-3) 3 R, BB

Esteban Quiroz – (1-3) 2 R, 2 BB

Dietrich Enns – 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K (W)

Andres Munoz – .1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, K

Travis Radke – 2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Amarillo Sod Poodles (41-43) Won 5-0

In one of the most unusual line scores of the night, the Sod Poodles won by the score of 5-0 by way of three hits, but with some keen eyes at the plate, they were able to draw eight bases on balls. Just as another Cuban pitcher excelled at Lake Elsinore tonight, the one pitching for Amarillo was a man on fire as Ronald Bolanos pitched 6.2 innings pitched, allowing one hit, one walk, while striking out ten. It was a combination of a power fastball and a biting slider that demonstrated what potential this young man has. Part of the 2016 international class that seems to have propelled this system to the top of the minor league ranks across baseball, this young man gets overlooked due to the sheer volume of high-end pitching prospects. That will soon change with starts like tonight. There was not a lot of support with the bats early, but Buddy Reed hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, and the Sod Poodles never looked back. David Bednar took inspiration from Kirby Yates on the parent club and came in for the seven out save, his sixth of the year.

Buddy Reed – (1-2) HR, 3 RBI

Ivan Castillo – (1-4) 2b, 2 RBI

Hudson Potts – (0-3) R, BB

Kyle Overstreet – (0-0) R, 3 BB

Ronald Bolanos – 6.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 10 K’s (W)

David Bednar – 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 K (S)

Lake Elsinore Storm (44-41) Lost 3-0

In what was the pitching duel of the day, the Storm came out on the wrong side of 3-0 loss. The score was 0-0 until the top of the ninth until the JetHawks scratched across three with it all beginning with a leadoff walk as most poor innings do. On the bright side, Cuban pitcher Osvaldo Hernandez seems to be heating up after starting the season on the injured list.  He started the game getting through the first three innings of the game while not allowing a baserunner and striking out three. Even better, it took him a whopping 23 pitches to do it, with 17 being strikes. Look for a big second half from this young man if tonight was an example of what’s to come. The bats were cold with the team mustering only five hits, including hits from both Eguy Rosario and Jeisson Rosario, of no relation.

Jeisson Rosario – (1-4)

Eguy Rosario – (1-4) SB

Gabriel Arias – (1-4)

Osvaldo Hernandez – 3 IP, 3 K’s

Elliot Ashbeck – 5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K’s

Fort Wayne TinCaps (38-46) Won 4-1

19-year-old Efrain Contreras continued his sterling introduction into full-season ball in the Midwest League with a solid five-inning effort, scattering three hits, two walks, while punching out six, picking up his fifth win of the season.  In support of his effort, Grant Little led the attack with a 4-for-4 night including multiple extra-base hits (2 2B’s). Shortstop Tucupita Marcano and catcher Blake Hunt had multi-hit efforts as well. The TinCaps gave up one run in the first before scoring four unanswered for the final score of 4-1. Former minor league infielder Carlos Belen came in to finish the game for his fourth save of the season.

Grant Little – (4-4) 2 2B, R, RBI

Tuuapita Marcano – (2-5) RBI

Blake Hunt – (2-5)

Juwuan Harris – (1-4) 3B, R

Efrain Contreras – 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K’s

Tri-City Dust Devils (11-12) Won 2-1

In a pitchers duel, where the only three runs scored all contest were on solo home runs, the Dust Devils came out on the right side of the contest with a 2-1 win over the Hawks. Left fielder Sean Guilbe and second baseman Reinaldo llarraza both had solo home runs while third baseman Kelvin Melean and C Alison Quintero had multi-hit efforts to support a great team pitching performance that saw four Dust Devils combine to give up one run on seven hits, over nine full innings. 2018 30th rounder Cullen Dana earned the victory, with three scoreless innings. The Seton Hall product earned his first win of the season.

Sean Guilbe – (1-3) HR

Reinaldo llarraza – (1-4) HR

Kelvin Melean – (2-4)

Alison Quintero – (2-3)

Cullen Dana – 3 IP, 3 H, K, (W)

Wen-Hua Sung – 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K’s

AZL Padres 1 (11-5) Won 7-3

The bats were at it again for the AZL Padres 1 club with the usual suspects leading the way. 2019 6th overall draft pick CJ Abrams hit his second home run of the young AZL season while third-round bonus baby outfielder Hudson Head had two doubles to raise his average to .348. Yordi Francisco continues to display the power, stroking his fourth homer as well while 2019 college draftee Chris Givin continues to rake at the plate, leading all Padre 2019 draftees with a 1.122 OPS. Young right-handed pitcher Luarbert Arias continues to impress in the AZL, limiting hitters to a .197 average across 17.1 innings pitched.

CJ Abrams – (1-5) HR, 2 RBI

Chris Givin – (1-4) 2 R, BB

Yordi Francisco – (2-4) HR, 2B, 3 RBI, BB

Hudson Head – (2-5) 2 2B, R, RBI

Luarbert Arias – 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K’s

AZL Padres 2 (12-4) Won 8-5

The AZL Padres 2 club is now 12-4 after doing something the parent club was unable to do this last series; defeat the Giants. Continuing his torrid play in the AZL is Ethan Skender who now has a 1.187 OPS and is certainly ticketed to a higher level sooner rather than later. One of the best names of anyone out of the 2019 draft, shortstop Ripken Reyes went 3-4 while knocking in three runs. Starting pitcher Jeferson Garcia pitched 4.2 IP while punching out nine while allowing one earned run.

Ethan Skender – (2-4) 3B, 4 R, BB

Ripken Reyes – (3-4) R, 3 RBI

Yeison Santana – (2-4) R, BB

Michael Cantu – (2-4) 2 RBI

Junior Perez – (2-5) 2b, 3 RBI

Jeferson Garcia- 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 9 K’s

DSL Padres (14-17) Won 7-3

The DSL Padres brought the bats against the DSL Diamondbacks winning to the tune of 7-3. The 11 hit effort was led by young shortstop Euribiel Angeles who went 3-4 and is now hitting .324 for the season.  Also with multi-hit efforts was the highly praised shortstop Charlis Aquino, outfielder Neifi Antunez, and one of the biggest surprises of the DSL season so far, breakout CI hitting star Albert Fabian who is now slashing .340/.470/.528 but even more impressive, he’s walked 12 times versus 11 strikeouts. Very impressive beginning to his professional career. On the mound, 18-year-old Manuel Avila gave up only one run over four solid innings to pace the pitching staff.

Euribiel Angeles – (3-4) 3B, R

Charlis Aquino – (2-4) R

Neifi Antunez – (2-3) 2B, RBI, BB

Albert Fabian – (2-4) R, 3 RBI

Manuel Avila – 4 IP, 2 K’s

Sunday’s Probables

El Paso- Tyler Higgins (3-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. TBD

Amarillo-  Emmanuel Ramirez (6-5 3.89 ERA) vs. Edgar Arredondo (5-3 4.82 ERA)

Lake Elsinore- TBD vs. TBD

Fort Wayne- TBD vs. TBD

Tri-City- Angel Acevedo (0-0 0.00 ERA) vs. Joshua Javier (0-0 1.54 ERA)

AZL Padres 1: Off

AZL Padres 2: Off

DSL Padres: Off

Nick Recchia

I am a lifelong Padres Fanatic who loves to talk and debate any and all sports. But SD Padres and minor leagues hold a special place above all. A 33-year-old born and raised San Diegan who is a season ticket holder and puts his money where his mouth is.