Padres Down on the Farm: June 7 (Nelly HR in rehab for EP/Wolf solid outing for SA/Martorella 2 HR for FW/LE scores 13 in W)
Credit: MiLB
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost to the Oklahoma City Dodgers 8-6) (27-32 on the season)
Pedro Avila: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K (
Matthew Batten: (2-for-5), 2 R, 3B, RBI
Nelson Cruz: (2-for-5), R, HR, 2 RBI
Luis Liberato: (1-for-3), 2 R, HR, RBI, BB
Wednesday night offered a back-and-forth affair at Southwest University Park. Pedro Avila pitched three innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four. The Chihuahuas gave up four home runs on the night, which proved to be a difference-maker. Ray Kerr was the only El Paso pitcher not to allow a run, pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
Nelson Cruz made his first rehab start, going 2-for-5 with a home run. Cruz hit 145 home runs in the minor leagues between 2003-08, including 37 in 2008 as part of Oklahoma City. Luis Liberato also homered in the ninth inning after leaving the yard twice on Tuesday. Cruz would single a few batters late, scoring Matthew Batten to tie the game. The Dodgers would score two runs in the ninth inning, however, to take the win.
Nelson Cruz'n around the bases!#FearTheEars x #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/DoeBgQ5SsI
— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) June 8, 2023
San Antonio Missions (Defeated the Wichita Wind Surge 10-4) (29-24 on the season)
Jackson Wolf: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K (77 pitches, 56 strikes)
Michael De La Cruz: (3-for-5), 3 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Juan Fernandez: (2-for-3), R, 2 RBI
Tirso Ornelas: (2-for-5), R, 2B, RBI
Jorge Ona: (2-for-3), R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB
San Antonio improved to 18-8 in their last 26 games with one of the most dominant victories of the season. The Missions scored early and often, taking an 8-0 lead in the fourth inning. San Antonio scored ten runs, including five, in the third inning when Jorge Ona hit his third home run of the season.
Jackson Wolf continues to lower his ERA (3.35) on the season after striking out seven in six scoreless frames. Wichita was able to rally late, scoring four runs in the final two innings, but it was a little too late.
Jackson Wolf
6 IP, 0 ER, 7 Ks, 0 BB, 2 H
I know there are 40 man issues but he’s ahead of Groome for me if the Padres need a starter. I would skip AAA with him. He’s a big fly ball guy and the PCL might kill his confidence. pic.twitter.com/pqkWtriyCB
— Giannis Auntiegotapoodle (@TooMuchMortons_) June 8, 2023
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits 6-3) (24-29 on the season)
Adam Mazur: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 4 K (82 pitches, 56 strikes)
Jared Kollar: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (43 pitches, 30 strikes)
Nathan Martorella: (2-for-5), 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB
Marcos Castanon: (2-for-5), 2 R, RBI
Carlos Luis: (2-for-5), 3 RBI
Brandon Valenzuela: (3-for-4), 3 R, 2B, RBI, BB
The TinCaps put on a show offensively on Wednesday, scoring 12 runs on 14 hits. Nathan Martorella belted a two-run to left centerfield in the first inning. Brandon Valenzuela followed it up with a double and score on a single from Carlos Luis. Fort Wayne scored two more runs in the second inning to make it 5-0.
Nathan Martorella this year
.276 BA
.888 OPS
9 HR (2 tonight)
39 RBI#PadresOnDeck | #CapsOn🍎 pic.twitter.com/FtpDqADrAY— Al Scott (@AlScott1998) June 8, 2023
In the bottom of the third inning, Quad City doubled once and singled three times, scoring three in the inning to cut the deficit to 5-3. TinCaps starter Adam Mazur would settle down and keep the River Bandits scoreless the rest of the way. He struck out four in six innings with an ERA of 1.95 on the season in eight appearances (seven starts).
Fort Wayne scored two more in the fifth and sixth innings, including another two-run home run by Martorella, which would land in the river beyond the stadium. Brandon Valenzuela homered in the eighth as part of a three-run inning.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Defeated the Fresno Grizzlies 13-2) (27-23 on the season)
Jagger Haynes: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (42 pitches, 27 strikes)
Graham Pauley: (3-for-6), 2 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI
Albert Fabian: (2-for-5), R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
Wyatt Hoffman: (2-for-4), 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Kai Murphy: (2-for-4), 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
The Storm won 13-2 Wednesday in an all-around effort. The offense racked up 14 hits and drew eight walks. Lake Elsinore utilized small ball early, driving in three runs via the sacrifice fly. In the seventh inning, they scored eight runs, including massive home runs from Albert Fabian and Graham Pauley (single shy of cycle). The team had five players with multi-hit performances.
Albert Fabian Destroyer of baseballs! 105mph Exit Velo @Storm_Baseball 6-0 pic.twitter.com/vC8beqgnJO
— Friars On The Farm (@Friarsonthefarm) June 8, 2023
Jagger Haynes threw four scoreless innings in a relatively quiet inning. The left-hander only allowed two hits on the night. He was relieved by Manuel Castro, who picked up the victory, giving up two runs in four innings while striking out six.
DSL Padres Brown (Off today) (2-0 on the season)
DSL Padres Gold (Off today) (1-1 on the season)
ACL Padres (Off today) (1-1 on the season)
Thursday’s Probables:
El Paso: Anderson Espinoza (2-2, 6.75 ERA, 42 K)
San Antonio: Duncan Snider (0-3, 3.38 ERA, 31 K)
Fort Wayne: Ryan Bergert (3-1, 1.42 ERA, 42 K)
Lake Elsinore: Robby Snelling: (4-0, 1.23 ERA, 40 K)
DSL Brown: TBD
DSL Gold: TBD
ACL Padres: TBD
Al was born in Fresno, California with a passion for talking and writing about sports. The lifelong Padres fan is currently attending Fresno State as he pursues a degree in broadcast journalism. In addition to being a student, he does public address announcing at both the high school and collegiate levels.