Padres Down on the Farm: August 27 (Batten’s 500th game in EP/Roberts shines in LE)
Credit: EVT Farm
The Padres’ farm affiliates went 2-1 on Tuesday.
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Won 11-1 vs Tacoma) (48-79 on the season)
Brandon Lockridge – 4 for 4, 2 runs
Eguy Rosario – 3 for 5, 2 2B, RBI
Omar Cruz – 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 4 KK, 2 K (48 pitches, 26 strikes)
El Paso rode a massive eight-run inning to a blowout win against the PCL West leading Tacoma Rainiers. The inning could have ended with Tacoma still leading. That changed with a steal of third by Brandon Lockridge generated a throwing error from Rainiers catcher Seby Zavala. It opened the floodgates. Eguy Rosario singled, stole second, and scored on a single from Jose Azocar. Azocar stole second, advancing to third on a throwing error. With Brett Sullivan walking to put runners on the corners, Elias Diaz (who signed with the team on August 26) doubled in two runs. Matthew Batten singled in Diaz to make the score 5-1. The inning continued to snowball, much to the Chihuahuas’ delight, as the team scored three more runs to end the frame with an 8-1 lead. Brett Sullivan singled in two runs in the sixth to reach double-digit runs, and Eguy Rosario doubled in the 11th Chihuahuas’ run just for good measure.
Omar Cruz took the mound for the Chihuahuas on three days’ rest, tossing 2.2 innings of one-run baseball. His three-pitch mix continued to generate positive results, as he struck out two and generated whiffs on 33% of changeups thrown. Cruz walked four in his outing, but his lone run allowed was unearned. Ethan Routzahn came on in the third inning with two outs, and struck out Nick Solak to strand two runners. Routzahn had one of his strongest performances of the season, striking out four batters across 2.1 innings, and getting whiffs on 44% of swings against him. Kevin Kopps, Lake Bachar, and Austin Davis combined to toss the final four scoreless innings, securing an 11-1 win.
One additional note: This game marked Matthew Batten’s 500th career game with the Chihuahuas, as Batten has seen time with the team since 2018.
San Antonio Missions (Lost 5-4 vs Midland) (54-65 on the season)
Robert Perez Jr – 1 for 3, Two-Run HR
Ripken Reyes – 1 for 4, RBI
Ryan Bergert – 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K (94 pitches, 58 strikes)
Following a disastrous first half to his season, right-hander Ryan Bergert looks to be back to the Bergert of old. Making his fifth start of August, Bergert retired the first twelve batters faced before allowing a run in the fifth inning. The right-hander pitched into the sixth inning, allowing two runs on two hits, walking three and striking out five along the way. Bergert has a 2.92 ERA in August, striking out 25 in 24.2 innings.
San Antonio took a lead in the fourth inning when a botched fielder’s choice scored Marcos Castanon, loading the bases with one out. Ripken Reyes was plunked on a 1-2 pitch, scoring a second run. In the eighth inning, Raul Brito walked three to open the inning, and while the first baserunner was erased on a stolen base attempt. Brito was pulled with one out and two on. Jackson Wolf entered in relief, and surrendered a go-ahead double to Will Simpson, and after an intentional walk, outfielder Brayan Buelvas doubled in two runs to extend Midland’s lead to 5-2. The second run-scoring hit loomed large, as Robert Perez Jr smashed a two-run home run to left field, making it a one-run game. With two outs and Joshua Mears on second, the RockHounds turned to right-hander Seth Elledge. He struck out Anthony Vilar to end the eighth inning. While San Antonio was able to place the winning run on base in the ninth inning, Cole Cummings struck out for the second out. Marcos Castanon flew out to right field, ending a once-promising game as a gut-punching one-run loss.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Postponed vs Lansing)
The TinCaps’ regularly scheduled game against the Lansing Lugnuts was postponed due to wet grounds. The game has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on August 28.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 12-6 vs Rancho Cucamonga) (65-54 on the season)
Kai Roberts – 3 for 5,HR, 3 R
B.Y. Choi – 3 for 4, 2 RBI
Luis Gutierrez – 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 6 K (82 pitches, 52 strikes)
Lake Elsinore’s offense has received a power surge from the team’s 2024 draftees. On this August night, Kai Roberts was the star of the show. The Storm’s center fielder went 3 for 5 with his first Single-A home run, scoring three times and stealing his seventh base of the season. Brendan Durfee continued his strong debut month with two more hits, including an RBI double. Second baseman B.Y. Choi singled three times, scoring twice and driving in two runs as well. The team went an impressive 8 for 16 with runners in scoring position, with four of their nine RBI coming with two outs.
Starter Luis Gutierrez continued his dominant month of August with 4.2 innings of two-run baseball, although one of those runs was unearned. Gutierrez matched his season high with six strikeouts in his outing. After struggling to an 11.08 ERA in July, Gutierrez posted a 1.74 ERA across 20.2 innings in August. Wandy Peralta made his second relief appearance on rehab assignment, tossing 1.1 innings and being credited with the win (his first minor league win since 2021). Miguel Valdez allowed four runs in the ninth inning, but was able to close out the 12-6 Lake Elsinore win.
Wednesday’s Probable Pitchers:
El Paso – Gabe Mosser (6-6, 5.50 ERA)
San Antonio – Miguel Cienfuegos (2-1, 4.97 ERA)
Fort Wayne – Enmanuel Pinales (3-9, 3.73 ERA) in Game 1, TBD in Game 2
Lake Elsinore – TBD
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.