Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
There was great news, and finally, a touch of baseball reality, for catcher Austin Hedges Monday.
On Monday afternoon, the 23-year-old catcher was named the Pacific Coast League's Player of the Week for the second straight week. He is the first player to win back-to-back PCL Player of the Week honors since 2009.
Hedges was 14-for-25 with Triple-A El Paso last week with a double, five homers, 11 runs scored and 14 RBIs. In addition to hitting .560 for the week, Hedges had a .593 on-base percentage and a 1.200 slugging percentage for a 1.793 OPS. He led all PCL hitters in homers, total bases (30), runs scored, RBIs, slugging percentage and OPS for the week.
But Hedges' 14-game hitting streak ended Monday night with an 0-for-4 in the Chihuahuas' 7-2 loss at Albuquerque. Hedges was 30-for-57 (.526) during the streak with 11 homers and 30 RBIs.
However, right-fielder Hunter Renfroe (.322) hit his PCL-leading 20th homer Monday. Third baseman Diego Goris (.347) was 2-for-4.
Right-hander Daniel McCutchen (8-5, 5.61 earned run average) allowed six runs on 11 hits and a walk in six innings for the 49-35 Chihuahuas. Right-hander Leonel Campos (3.38 ERA) allowed a run on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in two innings. Left-hander Daniel Moskos (3.11) had a strikeout in a perfect inning
There were moves in the system Monday, starting with infielder Alexi Amarista joining El Paso on option from the Padres. Infielder Taylor Lindsey was returned to Double-A San Antonio from El Paso.
Left-hander reliever Brad Wieck was promoted from high Class A Lake Elsinore to San Antonio, right-handed reliever Gerardo Reyes was promoted from low Class A Fort Wayne to Lake Elsinore and left-hander Jose Castillo was promoted from short-season Class A Tri-City to Fort Wayne.
AROUND THE FARM:
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (4-7, 26-55) -- SPRINGFIELD 6, MISSIONS 5: 3B River Stevens (.263) was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. CF Franchy Cordero (.368) was 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Starting RHP T.J. Weir (8.19 ERA) gave up five runs on six hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. LHP Brad Wieck (0.00) allowed a hit with three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. RHP Tayron Guerrero (3.94) allowed a walk with a strikeout in two otherwise perfect innings. LHP Jose Torres (0-2, 1.42) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning.
HIGH CLASS A LAKE ELSINORE (6-6, 38-44) -- STOCKTON 5, STORM 4: DH Fernando Perez (.255) was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer. 2B Luis Urias (.321) hit his third homer in three at-bats with a walk. Starting RHP Zech Lemond (6.69 Era) allowed four runs on nine hits with six strikeouts in six innings. RHP Ben Paullus (3.38) allowed a run on three hits and a walk in two innings.
LOW CLASS A FORT WAYNE (5-7, 41-41) -- TIN CAPS 6, SOUTH BEND 3: DH Kodie Tidwell (.255) was 3-for-3 with a homer, two walks and three runs scored. 3B Carlos Belen (.226) was 4-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. 1B Brad Zunica (.260) was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Starting LHP Jerry Keel (5-7, 2.67 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with nine strikeouts in six innings. LHP Elvin Liriano (2.35) allowed two walks with a strikeout in three hitless/scoreless innings.
SHORT SEASON CLASS A TRI-CITY (11-7) -- HILLSBORO 7, DUST DEVILS 1: SS Chris Baker (.278) hit a two-run homer in three at-bats. Starting LHP Will Headean (2-1, 3.79) gave up seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits with five strikeouts in four innings. RHP Mark Zimmerman (2.16) allowed a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Will Stillman (0.00) allowed three hits with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (8-4) -- PADRES 7, RANGERS 2: RF Manny DeLeon (.250) was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a RBI and two runs scored. SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (.298) was 2-for-5 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. C Jose Lezama (.192) was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. 3B Denzell Gowdy (.200) was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. Starting RHP Mayky Perez (2-0, 1.65 ERA) gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts in six innings. RHP Grant Zawadzki (1.23) gave up two hits with a strikeout in two scoreless innings. RHP Jim McDade (3.38) allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout in a scoreless inning.
DSL PADRES (10-15) -- REDS 7-4, PADRES 6-1: 3B Eguy Rosario (.390) was 3-for-7 with a double, two walks, two steals, a RBI and four runs scored in the doubleheader. LF Jaffe Garcia (.250) was 3-for-6 with a RBI and two walks. C Blinger Perez (.176) was 2-for-3 in the first game with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored. Starting LHP Jose Cabrera (3.32 ERA) started the first game, and he allowed four runs on two hits and four walks with four strikeouts in two innings. LHP Anderson Polanco (1-2, 3.14) allowed a run on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. RHP Angel Acevedo (1-1, 2.41) started the second game and allowed two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in five innings.