Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Carlos Asuaje picked up another Pacific Coast League honor Tuesday then had three hits to help Triple-A El Paso defeat Las Vegas 6-5 and reduce their magic number to two to clinch the PCL's Pacific Southern Division title.
Asuaje was named the PCL Rookie of the Year Tuesday a day after he was named to the All-PCL team along with teammates Hunter Renfroe, Manuel Margot and Austin Hedges.
Meanwhile, Double-A center fielder Franchy Cordero tripled in a second straight game to give him 16 for the season between San Antonio and Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore to break the single-season record for triples in the Padres' minor league system. The old mark was 15 triples by infielder Luis Salazar with Triple-A Hawaii in 1980.
El Paso improved to 72-65 and could clinch its second straight division title Wednesday night.
Asuaje, 24, was 3-for-5 Tuesday night with his 31st double and 11th triple for a RBI and a run scored. The 21st-ranked prospect in the Padres' system is hitting .325 with seven homers and 66 RBIs. Asuaje has a .379 on-base percentage. He leads the PCL in hits (168), ranks second in runs scored (94), is tied for second in triples and is fourth in batting average.
Catcher Hedges (.322) was 3-for-4 Tuesday with his 20th homer for two RBIs and two runs scored. Right fielder Renfroe (.307) was 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored. Center fielder Margot (.307) was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
First baseman Patrick Kivlehan (.259) was 3-for-4 with a RBI. Third baseman José Rondón (.304) was 1-for-3 with a RBI and a walk.
Starting left-hander Frank Garces (6-8, 4.45 earned run average) allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts in six innings to get the win.
Left-handed reliever Daniel Moskos (3.55 ERA) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning. Right-hander Derek Eitel (3.80) allowed a run on two hits in an inning. Left-hander Buddy Baumann (1.71) allowed two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Right-hander Phil Maton (0.00) struck out the only hitter he faced to get his first Triple-A save.
There were two sets of moves Tuesday in the Padres' system.
Left-handed reliever José Torres was promoted to El Paso from San Antonio and right-handed reliever Jose Rafael De Paula was transferred from El Paso to the Missions.
Right-hander Cal Quantrill, the Padres top first-round pick in the June draft (eighth overall), was promoted from short-season Single-A Tri-City to Fort Wayne and will start for the TinCaps Wednesday night. Left-handed starter Thomas Dorminy was placed on the TinCaps' disabled list.
AROUND THE FARM:
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (34-30, 56-78) -- MIDLAND 11, Missions 3: Cordero was 1-for-3 with his record-setting triple and a walk for a run scored. RF Nick Schulz (.284) was 2-for-4 with his 10th homer. SS River Stevens (.245) was 1-for-3 with a RBI. Starting LHP Jerry Keel (0-1, 8.68 ERA) allowed eight runs on 10 hits and two walks with four strikeouts in three innings. De Paula (2.48) allowed two runs on four hits and six strikeouts in three innings in his return to the Missions. RHP Trey McNutt (2.25) struck out one in a perfect inning. RHP Michael Dimock (4.50) allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout in an inning.
ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (33-31, 65-69) - Modesto 12, STORM 2: 3B-SS Ruddy Giron was 3-for-4 with a double to raise his batting average to .423 since being promoted to Lake Elsinore. 2B Fernando Perez (.224) was 2-for-2 with a home run. RF Franmil Reyes was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Two rehabbing Padres infielders made their first starts with the Storm. SS Alexi Amarista was 1-for-4. 2B Jemile Weeks was 0-for-1 with a walk. Starter Dylan Stoops (0-2, 7.94 ERA) allowed four runs on six hits and a walk with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. RHP Corey Kimber (10.13) allowed eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. RHP Mark Zimmerman (2.35)
allowed three hits with a strikeout in two scoreless innings. C Ricardo Valenzuela (4.50) finished the game and allowed four hits with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (24-40, 60-74) - The TinCaps were off Tuesday.
SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (13-19, 32-38) - EUGENE 7, Dust Devils 5: 3B Kyle Overstreet (.249) was 3-for-5 with a RBI. DH Manny DeLeon (.194) was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. SS Hudson Potts (.268) was 1-for-3 with two walks, a RBI and a run scored. 1B G.K. Young (.229) had a RBI double in four at-bats. Starting RHP Hansel Rodriguez (0-2, 7.79 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits and a strikeout in three innings. RHP Mayky Perez (3.60) issued a walk with two strikeouts in two otherwise perfect innings. RHP Jean Garcia allowed four runs on a hit and four walks with a strikeout in his Dust Devils debut. RHP Daniel Erb (2.58) allowed two hits and two walks in 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (25-30) - The Arizona Rookie League season is completed.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (36-33) - The DSL season is completed.