Padres affiliates went 4-3 on Tuesday.

We’ve got a full slate today, let’s get right down to business!

El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 12-5 vs Sugar Land) (35-41 on the season)

Marcos Castanon –  2-for-5, Home Run, Four RBI

Carlos Rodriguez – 2-for-4, Two Singles, RBI

German Marquez – 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K (44 pitches – 23 strikes)

Right-hander German Marquez pitched 1.2 innings in relief on Tuesday, striking out three. The right-hander was scheduled to start, but for one reason or another, was thrust into relief. Logan Gillaspie allowed one run in 1.1 innings as the opener. Michael Flynn gave up five runs in one-third of an inning, while Justin Yeager allowed two in 1.2 innings. Andrew Moore made his season debut in El Paso with two scoreless innings, striking out four batters. Moore issued two walks, but sat between 97-99 mph on the fastball with his usual plus curveball and slider. Triston McKenzie walked five in two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs. 

Marcos Castanon led the Chihuahuas’ offensive efforts, driving in four of their five runs. Castanon singled in the first inning to score Mason McCoy, putting El Paso on the board. The former Gaucho also took the Space Cowboys out to left-center field, hitting a three-run home run against starter Joey Mancini. Carlos Rodriguez hit two singles in the loss, driving in a run in the fifth inning with an RBI single. Pablo Reyes hit two singles and walked once in the game, and second baseman Nate Mondou went 1-for-3 with a single, a walk, and shining defensive play at the keystone. 

San Antonio Missions (Won 7-1 vs Arkansas) (32-38 on the season)

Tirso Ornelas – 3-for-5, Two Home Runs, Three RBI

Ryan Jackson – 2-for-5, Double, Two RBI

Eric Yost – 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K (76 pitches – 44 strikes)
The added day of rest seemed to do well for starter Eric Yost, who was scratched from Sunday’s game. Yost threw six innings of one-run baseball in the series opener against the second-place Arkansas Travelers. The right-hander struck out three batters, recording seven whiffs. His sweeper and fastball continued to show their symbiosis when paired together, sequencing well off one another. Yost now has a 3.28 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 22.95% strikeout rate in 46.2 innings this season. Sadrac Franco impressed in his two innings, striking out five of six batters faced. Franco saw eight swings and misses against him and is slowly working his way into being one of the most dependable members of the Missions’ bullpen. Johan Moreno pitched a scoreless ninth inning to seal the win. 

Tirso Ornelas and Albert Fabian picked up some of the slack for a lineup now without Romeo Sanabria, as they combined for three home runs and five RBI. Ornelas hit two home runs over the first four innings, both coming off Travelers starter Michael Morales. Ornelas now has 10 home runs on the season in 61 games. Albert Fabian chimed in with a home run of his own, clearing the fence with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. For Fabian, it was his fifth home run of the season, and he looks likely to get more reps at the first base position without Sanabria on the team. Ryan Jackson had two hits, including a double, driving in two of the team’s seven runs. Kai Roberts went 2-for-4 with two singles and a stolen base in the win, scoring two runs. 

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 6-2 vs Lake County) (30-40 on the season)

Kavares Tears – 2-for-4, Double, Two RBI

Kerrington Cross – 2-for-2, Two Singles, Three Walks, Two Runs Scored

Matthew Watson – 6 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 3 K (84 pitches – 47 strikes)

The TinCaps saw seven players join their roster on Tuesday, and responded with a series-opening win over the Lake County Captains. Zach Evans opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to score Alex McCoy; McCoy scored two runs in the game, reaching base twice. Rosman Verdugo later tied the game at two in the sixth inning with a bases-loaded RBI single, scoring McCoy. With Verdugo now on first, Kavares Tears lined a single to center field, scoring two runs and giving the TinCaps a lead. Justin DeCriscio grounded a single up the middle to score Tears three batters later. Kasen Wells hit a left-on-left RBI single in the sixth inning to score the final run of the game for either side. Wells moved to left field to accommodate the incoming Ryan Wideman, who went 1-for-5 with a single in the game. Kerrington Cross, starting at first base, reached base in all five of his plate appearances, drawing three walks and hitting two singles. 

Matthew Watson threw his best start of the year in the same venue where he made his professional debut. Watson struck out three in six innings, walking four. Despite the walks, the right-hander allowed only one hit in the game (a solo home run to Jace Laviolette in the fourth inning). While Watson did not get many whiffs (four total), he was able to get outs in play and mostly keep the ball in the yard. Reliever Will Varmette threw a scoreless inning in the seventh, retiring the side on just nine pitches. Varmette has now thrown four straight scoreless outings, and his season ERA no longer contains four digits after a pair of blowup outings against Lake County earlier this month. Braian Salazar threw the final two innings, striking out four batters to close out the victory. 

Lake Elsinore Storm (Lost 6-4 vs Fresno) (39-31 on the season)

Truitt Madonna – 2-for-4, Double, RBI

George Bilecki – 2-for-4, Home Run, Double, Two RBI

Jesus A. Castro – 0.2 IP, 2 H, 6 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 2 K (34 pitches – 20 strikes)

Starting pitcher Jesus A. Castro, who has pitched an elite season to this point (54 ERA-, 69 FIP-), had his first true bump in the road. The right-hander struck out his first batter, but a fielding error on a routine grounder to shortstop changed the complexion of the inning. A single and two walks later, Fresno led 1-0. A bloop single scored another run, and Castro then plunked Carlos Renzullo to score a third run. Castro then balked, which scored a fourth run, before he struck out Luis Mendez. With his pitch count at 34, Castro was pulled. Jeferson Villabona allowed a two-run double to score the two inherited runners, and the Storm trailed 6-0. Villabona did not allow any further hits, as he pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts in his Storm debut. Daichi Moriki threw two scoreless innings with one strikeout, and Carson Swilling struck out three of six batters in two innings. Vicarte Domingo struck out one in two innings, stranding three baserunners. 

The Storm were held hitless through the first three innings, with Jose Verdugo picking up the team’s first base hit in the fourth. Verdugo was unable to score, as he was picked off later in the inning. George Bilecki got the Storm on the board with a solo home run to open the sixth inning. Dawson Willis hit a one-out single to keep the rally going, but was called out on a stolen base attempt due to batter interference by Jose Verdugo. Qrey Lott reached base to open the seventh and one out later, scored on a double by Truitt Madonna. Bradley Frye singled to put runners on the corners, and Jorge Quintana grounded out to score Madonna. George Bilecki’s second extra-base hit then scored Frye, and the Storm were back in it. Conner Westenburg then walked to put the tying run on base, but Willis was called out on strikes to end the rally. Despite Verdugo and Lott reaching scoring position with no outs in the eighth, the Storm were unable to cash in, stranding the tying runs in scoring position. It was more of the same in the ninth, as Jorge Quintana reached base to open the frame but was left stranded. 

ACL Padres (Won 10-9 vs ACL Guardians in 11 innings) (21-17 on the season)

Fabian Alcantara – 3-for-6, Two Doubles, Two RBI

Jesmaylin Arias – 2-for-5, Home Run, RBI

Luis Maracara – 3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K

The Padres and Guardians played an instant classic on Tuesday, with the Padres emerging victorious in 11 innings. Fabian Alcantara had three hits to lead the Padres, hitting two doubles and driving in two runs. Santiago Vargas drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single. Moises Valdez and Santiago Contreras hit into run-scoring outs in the second, giving the Padres a 5-0 lead. Jack Mathey and Luis De Leon each hit an RBI single in the sixth, tying the game at seven. The Padres trailed 8-7 going into the ninth inning, and Jesmaylin Arias tied the game with his fifth home run of the season. Jhojan Downer then hit an RBI single to give the Padres a 9-8 lead. After the Guardians rallied again…again, the Padres took the lead in the 11th inning, as with two runners on, Santiago Vargas reached base on a throwing error, which allowed Santiago Contreras to score the deciding run. 

Luis Maracara pitched three scoreless innings, striking out two batters. The right-hander pitched well, so he was back on the mound for the fourth inning. The next five batters he faced went single, double, double, single, home run to chase the right-hander from the game. Dariel Polanco allowed three runs in 2.2 innings of relief, striking out three batters. Florangel Vasquez struck out three of four batters faced in 1.1 innings of hitless relief. Yoesmerli Beltre allowed one run in two innings, and Luis German earned his first win in the ACL this season with two scoreless innings. 

DSL Padres Gold (Won 7-6 vs DSL Royals Ventura) (14-3 on the season)

Johanneiker Leon – 1-for-4, Walk-off RBI Single

Darian Castillo – 3-for-3, Three Singles, RBI

Carlos Alvarez – 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K

Carlos Alvarez threw four innings of one-run baseball in the Padres Gold’s win. Though he picked up just two, the left-hander allowed only two hits, with the lone run scored against him being unearned. Albert Perez allowed four runs in one inning of relief, and Albieris Polanco earned the win with two innings of one-run baseball. Sebastian Pena drove in a run with an RBI triple, scoring on a passed ball. Darian Castillo singled to score another run, one of three hits for the Padres Gold’s right fielder. Eliander Primera scored two runs on a single, one of two hits for him. Yorvin Morla tied the game at six all with a sacrifice fly, and in the seventh inning, Jhonnaiker Leon won the game with an RBI single. 

DSL Padres Brown (Lost 6-1 vs DSL Athletics) (4-13 on the season)

Osmy Osorio – 1-for-4, Double, Run Scored

Ronnier Heras – 1-for-4, Single, RBI

Raudi Perez – 3 IP, 3 H, 4 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 1 K 

Starter Raudi Perez threw three innings, allowing four runs. Perez was not aided by his defense, as a trio of fielding errors contributed to two unearned runs scoring. Perez struck out just one, with four outs coming on the ground. Luis Morales allowed one run in one-third of an inning, and Ariel Dilone threw 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Dilone did not allow a hit, striking out four. Nathanael Jacinto allowed one run in one inning. Osmy Osorio hit a double, the team’s lone extra-base knock of the game. Osorio scored on a base hit by Ronnier Heras, who went 1-for-4. Jeanfranco Fernandez hit two singles starting at first base, while Yonnaiker Hernandez hit a single in four at-bats.

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.