Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Right-handed starter Chris Huffman and three relievers led Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore to a 3-1 win over Inland Empire on Thursday night, while Class A Fort Wayne catcher Austin Allen and Triple-A El Paso infielder Casey McElroy continued to hit over .400.
Allen, 22, was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the TinCaps' 5-2 loss at West Michigan. He is hitting .411 (37-for-90) on the season and leads the Midwest League in batting average.
McElroy, 26, was 2-for-4 in El Paso's 7-2 loss at Las Vegas and is hitting .424 (25-for-59). Center fielder Manuel Margot, 21, considered the top prospect in the Padres' system, was 2-for-5 with a double, his ninth steal, a RBI and a run scored to raise his batting average to .274 for the Chihuahuas.
Huffman, 23, the Padres' 14th-round pick in the 2014 Draft, improved to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.38 by allowing one run on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts in five innings at The Diamond.
Left-hander relievers Taylor Seidenberger (3.50 ERA) and Jose Torres (2.20) each had a strikeout in a perfect inning. Right-handed closer Colby Blueberg (1.69) allowed a hit with two strikeouts in two innings to earn his fifth save as the Storm improved to 16-18 with a fourth straight win.
The option of left-handed reliever Keith Hessler by the Padres to El Paso Thursday resulted in the Chihuahuas sending right-handed reliever Seth Rosin to Double-A San Antonio.
Around the farm
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (16-17): LAS VEGAS 7, Chihuahuas 2. LF Yeison Asencio (.333) also had two hits in four at-bats for El Paso. Right-handed starter Daniel McCutchen (4-2, 5.90 ERA) allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Hessler had a strikeout in a perfect inning in his debut with El Paso.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (10-23): Midland 5, MISSIONS 4 (11 innings). 3B Gabriel Quintana (.225) had a three-run homer (his fourth of the season) in five at-bats and CF Auston Bousfield (.200) was 2-for-5 with a double and his second homer. Starting RHP Luis Diaz (5.58 ERA) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in six innings. RHP Jason Jester (3.60) allowed two hits with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Eric Yardley (3.27) allowed a run on a hit with a strikeout in an inning. RHP Ramon Benjamin (6.00) struck out two in a perfect inning. RHP Adam Cimber (0-1, 2.77 ERA) allowed one run on a hit and a walk in the 11th inning to suffer the loss.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (18-16): WEST MICHIGAN 5, TinCaps 2. 3B Carlos Belen (.164) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Starting LHP Logan Allen (2-2, 2.74 ERA) allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts in four innings. LHP Jerry Keel (2.40) allowed an unearned run on three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings. RHP Gerardo Reyes (2.70) allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.