Hedges off to hot start with Triple-A El Paso

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

Austin Hedges hit his second home run in three games, and Bryce Morrow and Elliot Morris were sharp in their second straight starts Saturday night in the upper levels of the Padres' farm system.

Hedges, who is batting .400 with 11 RBIs after 10 games of the Pacific Coast League season, led Triple-A El Paso (6-4) to a 6-3 win at Tacoma.

Right fielder Rymer Liriano was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, and shortstop Ramiro Pena was 2-for-4.

Morrow, a 27-year-old right-hander, allowed one run on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings to even his record at 1-1 and lower his ERA to 1.80. Daniel McCutchen issued a walk while striking out four in three scoreless innings. Right-hander Marcos Mateo allowed a hit and a walk in the ninth to pick up his second save.

At San Antonio, Morris, acquired from the Angels as part of the Huston Street trade last July, ran his scoreless innings streak to 11 1/3 to open the season to lead the Double-A Missions (4-5) to a 5-2 win over Tulsa.

Morris (1-0) allowed three hits and four walks with nine strikeouts over 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He was also 1-for-2 at the plate and scored a run. Right-hander Jay Jackson allowed two hits, striking out strikeouts over 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Center fielder Travis Jankowski (.333) was 2-for-3 with two walks, two steals and two runs scored for the Missions. Shortstop Trea Turner was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Second baseman Diego Goris was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and catcher Jason Hagerty was 2-for-4 with a steal.

Meanwhile, right fielder Hunter Renfroe is off to a 4-for-33 start (.121) with 12 strikeouts.

AROUND THE FARM:

CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (3-7): RANCHO CUCAMONGA 13, Storm 3
Catcher Robert Kral's solo homer was one of four Lake Elsinore hits. Starting pitcher Justin Livengood (0-2, 7.84 ERA) gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks, with four strikeouts in five innings. All four Storm pitchers allowed at least one run.

CLASS A FORT WAYNE (2-5): WEST MICHIGAN 10, TinCaps 6
Right fielder Nick Torres (.464) continued his fast start, hitting two doubles in four at-bats with two runs scored. First baseman Duanel Jones (.308) was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Left-fielder Edwin Moreno hit a two-run triple and catcher Miguel Del Castillo hit a two-run double. Starter Walker Lockett (0-1) allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and a walk in five innings. The TinCaps made four errors, including two on pickoff throws by Lockett.