Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Austin Hedges homered in a fourth straight game at Triple-A El Paso Friday night.
But the catcher, who has five homers in the last six games, was not alone as Jabari Blash hit his seventh homer and third baseman Taylor Lindsey homered in his Triple-A debut as the Chihuahuas scored a 9-3 win over Salt Lake to improve their Pacific Coast League South Division-leading record to 43-31.
Hedges (.365) was 1-for-3 with his eighth homer being a three-run shot. He also drew a walk. Blash (.244) hit a two-run homer in foutr at-bats. Lindsey was 2-for-4.
Right fielder Hunter Renfroe (.318) was 3-for-4 with his 23rd double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Designated hitter Alex Dickerson (.386) was 2-for-4 with a triple, a RBI and a run scored. Center fielder Manuel Margot (.297) was 2-for-5 with a triple and a run scored. Starting right-hander Michael Kelly (2-0, 2.31 earned run average) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Right-hander Eric Yardley (1.65 ERA) allowed a hit in one-third inning.
Left-hander Buddy Baumann (1.74) allowed a hit with a strikeout in two scoreless innings. Right-hander Leonel Campos (3.60) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning.
There was more movement in the Padres system Friday.
Left-handed reliever Trevor Seidenberger and outfielder Luis Tejada were promoted from high Single-A Lake Elsinore to Double-A San Antonio. Right-handed starting pitcher Zech Lemond was returned to Lake Elsinore from San Antonio and outfielder Mason Smith was moved from San Antonio to short-season Single-A Tri-City.
AROUND THE FARM
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (1-3, 23-51) - MIDLAND 7, Missions 0: Right-fielder Nick Schulz (.297) was 1-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 12 straight games. But that was the only hit San Antonio had. Starting RHP Seth Simmons (0-2, 2.65 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Seidenberger allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in three innings.
HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (1-1, 33-39) - Storm 5, LANCASTER 4: DH Franmil Reyes (.240) was 2-for-5 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. C Jose Ruiz (.209) was 2-for-4 with a double. SS Javier Guerra (.199) hit his seventh homer in four at-bats. 2B Luis Urias(.314) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Lemond (5.28) gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits and four walks with a strikeout in five innings. RHP Martires Arias (4.26) allowed a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. LHP Brandon Alger (2-0, 5.68) struck out two in 1 1/3 perfect innings. RHP Phil Maton (1.08) struck out one in a perfect inning to get his second save.
LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (2-0, 38-34) - Tin Caps 10, BOWLING GREEN 5: 1B Ty France (.237, three RBIs), DH Brad Zunica (.251) and CF Jhonatan Pena (.217) all homered for Fort Wayne. It was Zunica's eighth of the season while the fifth for France and the third for Pena. LF Kodie Tidwell (.246) was 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, a RBI and two runs scored. C Austin Allen (.324) was 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored. 3B Carlos Belen (.204) was 2-for-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly. SS Ruddy Giron (.183) was 2-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored. Starting LHP Jerry Keel (4-6, 2.79 ERA) allowed one run on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in five innings. RHP Nick Monroe (5.23) allowed two runs on a hit and two walks with three strikeouts in an inning. RHP Louis Distacio (3.68) allowed two runs on three hits in an inning. RHP Corey Kimber (5.40) allowed two hits with a strikeout in two scoreless innings.
SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (4-4) - SALEM-KEIZER 4, Dust Devils 3: SS Chris Baker (.217) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. RF Luis Asuncion (.240) hit a two-run homer in four at-bats. DH Jose Savinon (.417) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Starting LHP Will Headean (1.80 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with a strikeout in five innings. RHP Mark Zimmerman (0-1, 2.08) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in two innings. LHP Joseph Lucchesi (4.50) struck out one in a perfect inning.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (3-1) - Padres 8, BREWERS 6: SS Hudson Potts (.353) was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. 2B Fernando Tatis Jr. (.214) had two doubles in four at-bats with three runs scored. 3B Taylor Selesky (.471) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. 1B Jacquez Williams (.182) was 1-for-4 with a two-run double. Starting RHP Henry Henry allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits with two strikeouts in five innings. RHP Jonathan Guzman (1-0) allowed three runs on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings. RHP Wilmer Torres walked one with a strikeout in an otherwise perfect inning to get his first save.
DSL PADRES (8-9) - DIAMONDBACKS 10, Padres 7: 1B Felix Suarez (.263) was 2-for-5 with a double, a stolen base, a RBI and two runs scored. LF Jaffe Garcia (.200) had two doubles in four at-bats with a double. DH Juan Fernandez (.600) was 2-for-4 with a double. Starting LHP Cristian Machuca (4.00 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in five innings. RHP Adonis Santana (1-1, 3.18) gave up five runs (one earned) on five hits in 1 2/3 innings.