Padres Down on the Farm: May 21 (Anderson Espinoza roughed up in second start of year)

San Diego Padres affiliates were 0-4 on Friday.

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 3-4 to Sugar Land) (8-6 on the season)

Kyle McGrath – 1.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 K

John Andreoli – (1-for-4) 1 R, 1 RBI

Webster Rivas – (1-for-4) 1 RBI, 2 Ks

Matt Batten – (1-for-3) 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 BB, 2 K

The Chihuahuas opted for a bullpen game today. Right away, they looked like they were in trouble. Jesse Scholtens walked three batters in the first but managed to induce a double play to escape the threat. His lack of command caused him to be the only pitcher not to strike anyone out for the Chihuahuas. After getting his cup of coffee in the big leagues, John Andreoli is back at work in the minors. He doubled in the 6^th inning and later scored to make it a one-run game. Matt Batten hit a solo home run to tie the game in the 7^th. That wouldn’t be enough as the Skeets would push across a run in the bottom of the 9^th to win the game.

Matt Batten with a late-night oppo taco to tie the game in the 7th! 🌮@batten4 pic.twitter.com/ibsagcc82Q

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) May 22, 2021

San Antonio Missions (Lost 6-2 to Frisco) (7-9 on the season)

Reiss Knehr – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3ER, 4 K (72 pitches, 44 strikes)

Kyle Overstreet – (1-for-3) 2B, R, BB, K

Chris Givin – (0-for-0) 3 BB

Jose Azocar – (1-for-4) RBI, SO

Reiss Knehr started the game on a hot streak. He sat down the first 11 batters he faced- four of them via the strikeout. The first RoughRider to reach base was actually a Steele Walker home run. Once in the fifth inning, Knehr started to struggle. He quickly allowed runners on the corners. On what would have been a bases-loaded walk, the runner from third tried to score on the wild ball four. Thankfully Knehr covered home and was able to stop the runner. That sigh of relief was short-lived. The next batter would single to score both runners and make it a 3-1 game.

The bats were cold for the Missions. As a team, they managed only five hits and five walks. Notably, Givin walked in all three of his plate appearances of the game. Despite having the top of the order after him, he never scored all game.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 7-1 to Lansing) (6-9 on the season)

Edwuin Bencomo – 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Anderson Espinoza – 0.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Tirso Ornelas – (1-for-3) 1 K

Justin Lopez – (1-for-3) R

All eyes were on Anderson Espinoza at the start of the game. The former top prospect had been plagued with injuries and appears to have a lot of time between starts to monitor his condition. His short outing was not out of health concerns. Simply put, the Lugnuts hit him early on and consistently. After starting the game with an out and a walk, he allowed three straight singles. Even after getting the second out of the inning, he allowed two more hits and walked another batter. At that point, his night was over in less than half an inning. Espinoza’s mechanics seemed off as he topped out around 94-95 mph on the radar gun.

The bats, much like the Missions, were very cold. The main difference is the lack of walks. The team struck out 10 times while only walking once. In the 7^th, they had their most productive inning. Reinaldo Ilarraza reached via an error. A hit-by-pitch and single later, he would score the only run of the game for the TinCaps.

Lake Elsinore Storm (Lost 2-0 to Rancho Cucamonga) (8-7 on the season)

Nick Thwaits – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Jordy Barley – (2-4)

Matthew Acosta – (1-for-2) 2 BB

Kelvin Alarcon – (1-for-3) BB, 2 K

The final cog to fall in an 0-4 day for the Padres farm system. Robert Hassell III was notably absent from the lineup this game. He has been a hitting machine all season and needed a break. His bat was missed as the team managed only six hits all game. They tried to make up for it with seven walks, but they never could string together enough hits.

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The pitching duties were held down by Nick Thwaits and Levi Thomas. They only allowed seven hits, two walks, and struck out five apiece. Despite their great outing, the two runs they allowed were enough to give Thwaits the loss on the game.

Saturday’s Probables

El Paso – Jerry Keel (season debut)

San Antonio – Adrian Martinez (0-1, 2.45 ERA)

Fort Wayne – Ethan Elliott (0-1, 0.60 ERA)

Lake Elsinore – TBD

Evan Anderson

Evan is a student finishing up a degree in Finance from Northern Arizona University. The ability to break down numbers and find the story behind them has lead to his first of writing for East Village times. He covers baseball which is the sport he grew up playing and has followed even after his playing years.