Padres Down on the Farm: May 5 (Storm/TinCaps win, Missions lose)
Credit: EVT Farm
The San Diego Padres affiliates went 2-1 on Wednesday as the Missions lost a close game.
El Paso will begin play on Thursday, and all four teams will be in action.
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso Chihuahuas
OFF
(season starts Thursday in Tacoma)
San Antonio Missions (Lost 4-2)
CJ Abrams– (1-for-3) 1 BB, 2 K, 2 SB
Robbie Podorsky– (1-for-3) 2 RBI, 1 K
Adrian Martinez– 3 IP, 2 H, 4 K
Jerry Keel- 2.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
The Missions offense went very quiet Wednesday after putting up eight runs on Tuesday. San Antonio only recorded four hits and three walks while striking out 17 times in the ballgame. Starting pitcher Adrian Martinez only lasted three innings but didn’t allow any runs. Lefty reliever Jerry Keel followed and allowed three runs in 2 ⅔ innings. Outfielder Robbie Podorsky drove in the only two runs for the Missions with a two-RBI single in the fifth inning to take the lead momentarily. The Padres 22nd ranked prospect, Mason Fox, struggled with command as he walked three batters while surrendering the last run. The Missions will play the Corpus Christi Hooks again on Thursday.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 2-0)
Tirso Ornelas– (0-for-4) 1 K
Luis Almanzar– (2-for-2) 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
Matt Waldron- 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 6 K
Edwuin Bencomo– 3.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 9 K, 1 BB
VIDEO: @TinCaps pitcher Edwuin Bencomo was 🔥tonight! 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 9⃣strikeouts & the win out of the bullpen! The 22-year old from Venezuela impressive! @PadresProspects @billcenter @Padres @EVT_News @madfriars pic.twitter.com/mEgnYLvkwC
— Glenn Marini (@GlennMariniWANE) May 6, 2021
Three runs in the sixth inning for the TinCaps made the difference in the 4-2 ballgame. Luis Almanzar drove in the winning runs on a two-RBI single in his two-hit night. Almanzar is playing first base now after being signed as a shortstop by the Padres. Matt Waldron started for Fort Wayne. He allowed two runs in five innings of work while striking out six batters. Edwuin Bencomo picked up the win after relieving Waldron. Bencomo recorded nine of his eleven outs via the strikeout and is someone to keep an eye on in 2021. Former Padres’ top prospect Anderson Espinoza will make his debut on Thursday in Fort Wayne after two Tommy John surgeries. It will be interesting to see what he looks like.
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Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 11-5)
Robert Hassell III- (1-for-5) 1 R, 2 K
Joshua Mears– (1-for-4) 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 K
Carlos Guarate- 4 IP, 4 H, ER, 6K
Jason Reynolds- 2 IP, 2 K, 1 BB
Lake Elsinore used seven runs in the sixth inning to propel themselves to 2-0 in their 11-5 win on Wednesday. Carlos Guarate started for the Storm, lasting four innings and surrendering just one run. Ramon Perez followed Guarate out of the pen and struggled. The lefty allowed four runs on five hits in two innings. The big names in the Storm lineup, Robert Hassell III and Joshua Mears, each recorded a hit tonight while striking out multiple times. This is the first taste of full-season ball for each, and there are bound to be growing pains. Each of the start prospects’ hits were doubles. Every hitter in the lineup recorded a hit except for first baseman Jarryd Dale. The Australian native usually plays middle infield but could see some time at first this season. Catcher Brandon Valenzuela was the only player to record multiple hits.
Thursday’s Probables
El Paso Chihuahuas- TBD
San Antonio Missions- Caleb Boushley
Fort Wayne TinCaps- Anderson Espinoza
Lake Elsinore Storm- TBD
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”