Padres Down on the Farm: May 7 (Gore makes Triple-A debut, Hassell homers again for LE)
Credit: EVT Farm
The San Diego Padres’ affiliates went 3-1 on Friday, including two extra-inning affairs.
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 8-2 vs Tacoma Rainiers)
John Andreoli: 1-for-4, HR
Tucupita Marcano: 1-for-4, RBI, BB
MacKenzie Gore: 4+ IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
The big story of the night in the organization came in Tacoma, where the No. 6 overall prospect in baseball, MacKenzie Gore, made his Triple-A debut for El Paso. I was on hand to watch his debut in person.
He navigated through the four innings without allowing a run, which included pitching around multiple baserunners in the first three innings. Mariners’ top prospect and the No. 4 overall prospect Jarred Kelenic was a tough customer for Gore and the rest of the pitching staff, as he reached base three times and scored twice.
He went out to start the fifth inning on a cold, wet evening at 84 pitches. It was clear he was fatigued and not as sharp to start the fifth as the Rainiers began hitting him hard. He would leave the game without recording an out in the fifth after surrendering a two-run double. The Rainiers drove home a third run charged to Gore.
Despite allowing three runs, there were tons of positives to take away from his first start in Triple-A. His fastball velocity hovered between 93 and 95 mph. He notched a strikeout on a nasty curveball. The command is still a question mark for Gore moving forward.
El Paso had to deal with Logan Gilbert on the mound for Tacoma, the No. 28 prospect in baseball. The game got away from the Chihuahuas after Gore left the game as Tacoma scored eight total runs in the fifth and sixth innings while Gilbert stifled El Paso’s bats.
MacKenzie Gore warming up with an audience of teammates and a few Padres fans behind me. @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/JQbgx7sulH
— Nick Lee (@NickLee51) May 8, 2021
MacKenzie Gore’s first strikeout in Triple-A! Ks Donovan Walton with Kelenic on 3rd and one out. Big one. Painted 95! @EVT_News pic.twitter.com/So8CkdT0mJ
— Nick Lee (@NickLee51) May 8, 2021
San Antonio Missions (Won 5-4 vs. Corpus Christi Hooks, 11 innings)
Robbie Podorsky: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 R, BB
CJ Abrams: 1-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Osvaldo Hernandez: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Osvaldo Hernandez shook off an early home run and settled down for four solid innings, striking out six. The Missions rallied after he left the game. CJ Abrams drove in two runs, one on a ground out and another with a double. Esteury Ruiz tied the game in the eighth with a bunt single, sending the game to extras. Matt Batten singled home the go-ahead run in the 11th, and Sam Williams pitched the final two innings to earn the win.
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Fort Wayne TinCaps (Won 10-3 vs. West Michigan Whitecaps)
Agustin Ruiz: 2-for-3, HR, BB, 4 RBI
Michael Curry: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Jawuan Harris: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
Edgar Martinez: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Fort Wayne brought their bats Friday night against West Michigan. They got off to a hot start in the first inning and never looked back. Jawuan Harris’ home run got the scoring started. Three doubles led to four more runs, giving Fort Wayne an early 5-1 lead. Agustin Ruiz put it out of reach early with a grand slam in the second inning, making it 9-1. Brandon Komar earned the win with 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 9-8 vs. Visalia Rawhide, 10 innings)
Robert Hassell III: 2-for-5, HR, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI
Jordy Barley: 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, SB
Dwayne Matos: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Yet another thrilling, extra-inning game for a Padres farm team. Visalia took an early 2-0 lead before Brandon Valenzuela’s solo shot in the fourth. The Storm took the lead on Jordy Barley’s second homer of the season before Visalia tied it in the eighth. Hassell continued his hot start with his second home run of the week. The Storm scored twice in the 10th inning and held on for the win.
A montage of Storm Home Run celebrations for your viewing pleasure.
1. Jack Stronach
2. Yordy Barley
3. Brandon Valenzuela pic.twitter.com/oBzpTIHnw0— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) May 8, 2021
Saturday’s Probables
El Paso- Brett Kennedy
San Antonio- Aaron Leasher
Fort Wayne- TBD
Lake Elsinore- TBD
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.
Far as I could tell from the box score, he only gave up 3 hard-hit balls all night but the defense didn’t really do him any favors. Biggest (and really only) concern is control.
Agree or disagree?