Chihuahuas' win has local flavor; Almonte stands out

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

Three local products had big nights Tuesday as Padres affiliates went 3-0.

None of the three, however, topped the performance center fielder Abraham Almonte had with Triple-A El Paso. Almonte, 25, was 3-for-6 with his third homer of the season and four RBIs to raise his average to .298. Almonte is 5-for-11 over the past two games, with two homers and seven RBIs.

Poway High graduate Alex Dickerson and James Needy from Santana High also played major roles in the Chihuahuas' 13-5 win over Sacramento at El Paso. El Paso's seventh win in its last eight games improved its record to 9-5.

Dickerson (.313) was 2-for-5 with a double, his first homer of the season, three RBIs and two runs. The left fielder, 24, is 5-for-13 in his last three starts, with seven RBIs.

Right-hander Needy, 24, allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks with a strikeout in five innings to bring his record to 2-0 (6.14 ERA). He was also 1-for-2 at the plate, with a run.

Second baseman Fernando Perez, 21, from Otay Ranch High, was 2-for-5 with his first home run for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore.

Almonte's three-run homer came after Chihuahuas shortstop Mike McCoy and catcher Rocky Gale were hit by pitches. McCoy and Gale finished the game with identical statistical lines -- 1-for-3 with a walk, a steal, a hit by pitch and two runs.

Right-handed reliever Leonel Campos (1.04 ERA) struck out two for El Paso in two perfect innings.

Around the farm

Double-A San Antonio (5-7): The Missions had Tuesday off to travel.

Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore (5-9): Storm 6, High Desert 4. RHP Rafael DePaula allowed one run on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks over five innings. RHP Sam Holland picked up the win despite allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. RHP Eric Yardley (0.00 ERA) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless ninth to pick up his third save. SS River Stevens (.400) was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

Class A Fort Wayne (4-7): TinCaps 9, Lansing 4. 2B Felipe Blanco (.371) was 3-for-6 with a homer, four RBIs and two runs as Fort Wayne overcame snow and a freezing rain to get 19 hits. 3B Duanel Jones (.342) was 4-for-5 with an RBI. Five other TinCaps had two hits and all nine starters had at least one hit. LHP Taylor Aikenhead (1-0, 8.74 ERA) allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings. RHP Danielson Lamet (3.86 ERA) struck out six while allowing a hit in three scoreless innings. RHP Yimmi Brasoban (0.00 ERA) struck out one in a perfect ninth.