Padres Down on the Farm: June 15 (Lesko strong for TinCaps)

San Diego Padres affiliates went 1-6 on Saturday.

Here is a recap of the day’s action.

El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 13-3 vs Albuquerque) (29-39 on the season)
Bryce Johnson – 2-for-4) Run Scored
Brett Sullivan – (1-for-4) RBI Double
Luke Westphal – 1.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 2 K (45 pitches, 24 strikes)

Luke Westphal was torched in his first start of the season, surrendering six runs while recording only four outs. The Chihuahuas’ bullpen did not fare too much better, although most of the Albuquerque runs were scored against Westphal and Kevin Kopps. Kopps, the former Golden Spikes winner, allowed three earned runs in 2.2 innings, and while he did not record a strikeout, he has shown he can go multiple innings out of the bullpen, which could facilitate an MLB call-up. Jayvien Sandridge pitched a scoreless eighth inning, punching out two batters,

The offense was limited against a slew of Isotopes pitchers, recording six hits and six walks apiece. However, they would only be able to score three runs. The team went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position, but being held to one hit over the final four innings did not aid their efforts. Bryce Johnson recorded two hits and scored once, and Brett Sullivan had the team’s biggest hit of the day with a second-inning RBI double.

San Antonio Missions (Lost 3-0 vs Corpus Christ) (28-33 on the season)
Brandon Valenzuela – (0-for-2) Walk
Robby Snelling – 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K (90 pitches, 63 strikes)

The Missions had a failure to launch on offense, as they were no-hit by a pair of Hooks pitchers. Brandon Valenzuela reached base via walk, one of three batters to reach base. As the game was a no-hitter, there were no opportunities with runners in scoring position.

The Missions’ pitching staff had a solid performance. Robby Snelling delivered a quality start, tossing six innings of three-run ball. However, as has been the case this season for the young left-hander, one inning would unravel the outing. In this game, it would be the sixth inning, as he allowed all three runs in the frame. Snelling still showed his potential in the game, but he will need to overcome late-inning struggles to continue his progression as a young pitcher.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 2-1 in 10 innings vs Lake County) (26-36 on the season)
Ethan Salas – (2-for-4)
Nerwilian Cedeño – (1-for-3) Home Run
Dylan Lesko – 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K (83 pitches, 50 strikes)

The TinCaps got a major bounce-back outing from Padres’ No. 3 prospect Dylan Lesko. The young right-hander pitched a gem of an outing, tossing six shutout innings, punching out four, and allowing four baserunners strewn across the six frames. Lesko did not allow much hard contact, limiting the Captains to a single and three walks. It was a welcome sight for fans and evaluators alike, given the up-and-down nature of Lesko’s season thus far. Bradgely Rodriguez tossed two scoreless frames in relief of Lesko, recording a strikeout in the process.

The offense was led by Ethan Salas and Nerwilian Cedeño, with Salas recording his first multi-hit effort since May 23rd. Anthony Vilar would have a multi-hit game as well, and Jay Beshears added a hit of his own in the game.

Lake Elsinore Storm (Lost 2-1 vs Stockton) (30-30 on the season)
Braedon Karpathios – (1-for-4) RBI Double
Rosman Verdugo – (1-for-4) Triple, Run Scored
Miguel Mendez – 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K (73 pitches, 44 strikes)

Miguel Mendez pitched a strong game, but would wind up on the losing end of a well pitched game. The right-hander tossed four innings of one-run ball, punching out seven season-high batters. Mendez would keep the ball on the ground most of the outing, inducing only one flyout among his twelve outs recorded (7 K’s 4 groundouts). The Storm’s bullpen kept the game within reach, allowing only one run through the remaining five innings.

Braedon Karpathios would record the lone RBI for the Storm with a fifth-inning RBI double, scoring Rosman Verdugo. Entering the game 0 for his last 18, Karpathios made an impact with his bat. However, the team would go 1-for7 with runners in scoring position, and a staggering 12 strikeouts did not aid their efforts, losing by one run.

ACL Padres (Lost 4-3 in 11 innings vs ACL Mariners) (16-16 on the season)
Colton Vincent – (2-for-4)
Addison Kopack – (1-for-6) Home Run, 2 Runs Scored
Glenn Otto – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K

In his third rehab game, Glenn Otto tossed two innings of one-run ball, the lone run coming on a home run allowed. While the numbers for Otto do not look great (17.18 ERA in three games), he is still working his way back from injury, although the Padres appear likely to option him to the minors upon his return. Right-hander Kleiber Olmedo and Aldo Lejia each worked three innings of relief, not allowing an earned run.

As it was an 11-inning affair, the Padres had some missed opportunities with runners in scoring position. They would go 5-for-18 in that regard, stranding 18 runners. Colton Vincent would go 2-for-4, and Addison Kopack would hit his second homer of the season in the seventh to tie the game, but the team would squander a 10th inning, bases-loaded no-out situation, losing 4-3 in the 11th.

DSL Padres Gold (Won 7-6 vs DSL CLE Mendoza) (5-4 on the season)
Darian Castillo – (2-for-4) Double, 2 Runs
Kevin Hacen – (1-for-4) 2-Run Triple
Elvis Reyes – 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K

The DSL Padres Gold squad was able to record a win against one of two Cleveland DSL squads, winning the game in walk-off fashion. A seventh-inning rally while down a run certainly aided their efforts, as Walfrent Guzman would record the walk-off single. Darian Castillo would score twice, and Kevin Hacen would give the team an early lead with a two-run triple.

Elvis Reyes would start for the Padres Gold, and surrendered three runs in three innings. The right-hander struck out four batters and walked three. Right-hander Angel Sanchez would allow two runs in relief, partly due to five walks. Darlin Mendez would record the win, allowing a lone run in two innings of relief.

DSL Padres Brown (Lost 8-3 vs ACL Astros Blue) (1-7 on the season)
Jason Hernandez – (1-for-4) RBI
Yorvin Moria (1-for-2) RBI
Javier Salomon – 2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Javier Solomon had a tough outing in his second start of the season, surrendering five runs in two-plus innings of work. Two of those would score on inherited runners that scored off reliever Leandro Solano, who would allow three runs of his own. Sebastian Soriano and Winyer Chourio would toss 2.1 scoreless frames combined, striking out three.
The Padres Brown’s offense was mostly shut down, recording four singles and three walks. Two of those singles would lead to runs, as the team went 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Yorvin Moria would add a sac fly, but the team was unable to get many baserunners, ultimately unable to overcome a five-run deficit.

Sunday’s Probable Pitchers:
El Paso: Miguel Cienfuegos (1-1, 5.91 ERA)
San Antonio: Victor Lizarraga (1-3, 3.60 ERA)
Fort Wayne: Braden Nett (0-0, 9.39 ERA)
Lake Elsinore: TBD
ACL: OFF DAY
DSL Gold: OFF DAY
DSL Brown: OFF DAY

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.