Class A starting pitchers sharp on Sunday
Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Sunday was a banner day for promising shortstops and starting pitchers in the farm system as Padres affiliates won four of five games.
Shortstops Jose Rondon, Javier Guerra and Ruddy Giron all played pivotal roles in victories while four pitchers four of five starters had quality starts.
Leading the shortstops was Rondon, 22, who was 3-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored to raise his batting average to .335 in Double-A San Antonio's 5-2 win at Midland.
Pacing the pitchers were right-handed Class A starters Chris Huffman, Brett Kennedy and Elliot Ashbeck.
Huffman, 23, allowed three hits and a walk with three strikeouts in six shutout innings for high Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore in the Storm's 3-2 win over Lancaster at Lake Elsinore. Kennedy and Ashbeck each gave up a run in five innings as Class A Fort Wayne split a doubleheader.
Around the farm
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (10-12). Chihuahuas 4, FRESNO 3. LF Alex Dickerson (.352) was 1-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. 1B Ryan Schimpf (.279) was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Starting RHP Daniel McCutchen (5.67 ERA) improved to 4-1, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks with a strikeout in five innings. RHP Aaron Northcraft (0.90 ERA) struck out one in a perfect 1 2/3 innings. RHP Jose Dominguez (2.38) got his first save, allowing a hit with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (9-14): Missions 5, MIDLAND 2. Starting RHP Luis Diaz (2-2, 5.72 ERA) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings as San Antonio snapped a six-game losing streak. RHP Adam Cimber (0.93) allowed a hit and two walks with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings to get his second save. RF Yeison Asencio (.241) hit a two-run homer in four at-bats.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (11-13): STORM 3, Lancaster 2. Huffman, the Padres' 14th-round pick in 2014, improved to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.86. LHP Brad Wieck (2.57 ERA) allowed two runs on a hit and two walks with four strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. LHP Jose Torres (2.13) allowed a hit with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings to get his first save.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (13-11): Burlington 1-1, TIN CAPS 3-0. Kennedy (1-1, 2.82 ERA) allowed one run on three hits with nine strikeouts in the opener but suffered the loss. LHP Logan Allen (1.80) finished the game, allowing a hit with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. Ashbeck (2-1, 1.71) allowed a run on two hits with three strikeouts in five innings in the second game. RHP Nick Monroe (1.59) allowed a hit with three strikeouts in two innings to complete the seven-inning shutout and get his first save. Giron (.200) was 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored in the two games. OF Rod Boykin (.239) was 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and two runs scored.