Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Right-hander Dinelson Lamet pitched six scoreless innings for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore Saturday night, and left-fielder Nick Torres hit a grand slam for Double-A San Antonio.
But the biggest news of the day was who wasn't on the field.
Catcher Austin Hedges was placed on the seven-day disabled list at Triple-A El Paso with a hand contusion. And shortstop Ruddy Giron went on the seven-day disabled list at Class A Fort Wayne with a groin strain.
Torres (.325) capped San Antonio's 10-3 win over Midland at San Antonio with his first grand slam in the seventh inning. It was his lone hit in four at-bats.
Shortstop Jose Rondon (.342) was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. Center fielder Auston Bousfield (.217) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Right-handed starter Fabio Castillo (2-2, 3.68 earned run average) allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings to be credited with the win. Left-hander Ramon Benjamin (3.00 ERA) allowed a hit and three walks with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Right-hander Rafael De Paula (1.69) struck out one in a perfect ninth.
Lamet (3-0, 1.71 ERA) gave up five hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in six innings to lead Lake Elsinore (9-8) to a 4-2 win at Bakersfield. Right-hander T.J. Weir (0.00) allowed a hit and two walks with two perfect innings.
Right-hander Colby Blueberg lost the shutout for the Storm, giving up two runs on two hits in the ninth, with three strikeouts.
Designated hitter River Stevens (.231) led Lake Elsinore offensively, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Shortstop Javier Guerra (.237) had two doubles in four at-bats with three RBIs. Left fielder Nick Schulz (.222) had two doubles with an RBI in five at-bats.
The Padres promoted catcher Ricardo Valenzuela from Lake Elsinore to take Hedges' spot at El Paso. Infielder Carlos Belen was moved from extended spring workouts to Fort Wayne to take Giron's spot on the roster.
In one other move, right-handed pitcher Jason Jester was activated from San Antonio's disabled list to take the roster spot vacated when right-handed starter Cesar Vargas was promoted to the Padres.
AROUND THE FARM:
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (5-9) -- The Chihuahuas were rained out at Salt Lake, and the game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday.
LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (9-8) -- SOUTH BEND 7, TinCaps 4 -- Belen was 1-for-4 with two RBIs in his debut with Fort Wayne. Starting RHP Jean Cosme (2-1, 5.06 ERA) allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts in three innings. RHP Austin Smith (3.21) allowed three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. LHP Taylor Cox (2.00) allowed a run on a hit in an inning.