Dominican Padres off to 4-0 start

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

Last season, the Padres of the Dominican Summer League had one of the worst records in the Minor Leagues -- 17-54, or a .210 winning percentage. This season, the Dominican Padres are off to a 4-0 start and sit atop their division.

The Padres have two wins over both the Diamondbacks and the Orioles after a 6-5, 10-inning win over the O's on Wednesday afternoon at the Padres' academy in Najayo, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.

Right-handed starter Emmanuel Ramos, 20, allowed two hits and two walks with six strikeouts over four scoreless innings Wednesday. Right-hander Juan Arias (1-0, 0.00 ERA) allowed a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in 2 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win.

Left fielder Dayan Olmo, 18, was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs on Wednesday. He is off to a .316 start. Designated hitter Angel Santos (.571) was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. First baseman Enmanuel Arias, 20, is off to a .455 start. He was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Third baseman Manuel Vizcaino (.231), 19, was 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored.

There was one move in the Padres' farm system Wednesday, as right-handed pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen was transferred from Triple-A El Paso to Double-A San Antonio.

Around the farm

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (26-27): Omaha 6, CHIHUAHUAS 2 -- Starting RHP pitcher James Needy (5-3, 7.33 ERA) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Daniel McCutchen (4.66 ERA) allowed one walk in 2 1/3 otherwise perfect innings. RHP Leonel Campos (3.46 ERA) struck out three in two perfect innings. RF Rymer Liriano (.283) was 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI. 3B Brett Wallace (.277) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (21-30): MISSIONS 10, Arkansas 6 -- San Antonio had 16 hits. CF Travis Jankowski (.333) was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. CF Alberth Martinez (.264) was 3-for-5 with a RBI. RF Hunter Renfroe (.226) was 1-for-4 with his third homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. LF Yeison Asencio (.267) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. C Jason Hagerty (.168) had two doubles in four at-bats with a RBI. SS Trea Turner (.326) was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Starting RHP Elliot Morris (4.67 ERA) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. RHP Aaron Northcraft (3.20 ERA) allowed a hit with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. LHP Brandon Alger (3-1, 3.71 ERA) allowed a walk with three strikeouts in two innings to get the win. RHP Michael Dimock struck out two in a perfect ninth.

HIGH CLASS A LAKE ELSINORE (23-28): The Storm had Wednesday off.

LOW CLASS A FORT WAYNE (21-31): BELOIT 8, Fort Wayne 7 -- 1B Trae Santos (.252) hit a grand slam in three at-bats. It was Santos' seventh homer of the season. Cf Michael Gettys (.228) was 1-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored. LF Franchy Cordero (.214) was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a double. SS Ruddy Giron (.397) was 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Beloit scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth off RHP Seth Lucio (3-2, 4.85 ERA) to score the walk-off win. Lucio allowed three runs on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in a third of an inning to blow the save and suffer the loss. Starting LHP Jose Castillo (5.40 ERA) allowed five runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. RHP Chris Huffman (3.80 ERA) allowed a hit and a walk with five strikeouts in 3 2/3 scoreless innings.