Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Alex Dickerson extended his hitting streak to 22 games and right-handed pitching prospects Zech Lemond, Michael Kelly and Enyel De Los Santos turned in strong starts Tuesday in the Padres' Minor League system.
Dickerson was 2-for-4 to raise his batting average to .417. The left fielder is hitting .563 (18-for-32) with three homers and 11 RBIs since returning to Triple-A El Paso from the Padres on May 15. His hitting streak is the longest in Chihuahuas franchise history and the longest in the Pacific Coast League this season.
Left-handed reliever Matt Thornton worked a perfect inning on a rehab assignment with Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore.
Lemond, 23, who has been on the disabled list since the start of the season with right shoulder instability, made his first start for Lake Elsinore Tuesday night in a 5-1 win at Inland Empire and allowed one unearned run on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings. Lemond was the Padres' third-round pick in the 2014 Draft.
Kelly, 23, the 48th overall pick of the 2011 Draft, allowed one run on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings for Double-A San Antonio. He has a 2.08 ERA in three starts since being promoted to the Missions.
De Los Santos, 20, allowed one run on one hit and a walk with five strikeouts in six innings for Class A Fort Wayne. De Los Santos, who came to the Padres from Seattle in the Joaquin Benoit trade, has a 2.53 ERA with the TinCaps.
El Paso (23-21) dropped an 8-3 decision at Iowa on Tuesday night. Right-handed starter Fabio Castillo (0-1, 2.55 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings. Right-hander Tayron Guerrero (6.00) allowed four runs on four hits and two walks in an inning. Left-hander Daniel Moskos (2.70) allowed a run on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning.
Lemond led Lake Elsinore (21-25) to a 5-1 win at Inland Empire. Designated hitter Josh VanMeter (.288) was 3-for-5 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. Second baseman Luis Urias (.308) was 2-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored. Four relievers each worked a scoreless inning after Lemond.
Around the farm
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (13-31): Northwest Arkansas 2, MISSIONS 1. 2B Nelson Ward (.228) was 1-for-2 with his third homer, two walks and his 15th stolen base. SS Jose Rondon (.274) was 2-for-4. LHP Kyle McGrath (0-1, 2.84 ERA) followed Kellyand allowed a run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. RHP Ben Paullus pitched a perfect inning. RHP Jason Jester (2.51) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (23-22): LANSING 4, TinCaps 3. CF Michael Gettys (.313) was 3-for-4 with a triple, a RBI and a run scored. RHP Nick Monroe (4.57 ERA) followed De Los Santos and gave up two runs on four hits with a strikeout in an inning. RHP Angel Mejia (1-2, 4.76) took the loss, allowing an unearned run on three hits with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings.