Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Taylor Lindsey, Manuel Margot and Luis Urias paced the hitters and right-hander Aaron Northcraft pitched six shutout innings Tuesday as two of the hottest teams in the Minor Leagues continued to win in the Padres' system.
Triple-A El Paso defeated Memphis 9-2 in the West Texas city to improve their Pacific Coast League-best record to 56-40. The Chihuahuas hold a 6 1/2 game lead in the PCL's pacific southern division.
And Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore ran its winning streak to eight games with a 12-5 win at Inland Empire. The Storm leads the second-half California League standings with a 17-9 record (49-47 overall).
Third baseman Lindsey (.366) was 4-for-4 and finished with the first cycle in Chihuahuas history. He had three RBIs and hit his second Triple-A homer. Center fielder Margot (.300) had a double and two triples in five at-bats with three runs scored. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.328) hit his sixth homer in four at-bats with three RBIs.
Shortstop Nick Noonan (.327) was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Catcher Austin Hedges was 2-for-3 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. First baseman Héctor Sánchez (.429) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Northcraft (4-0, 4.46 ERA) allowed three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over his six shutout innings. Right-hander Derek Eitel (3.04) allowed a run on two hits and two walks in an inning. Right-hander Leonel Campos (4.54) allowed a run on three hits with three strikeouts in two innings.
Second baseman Urias, 19, was 3-for-4 with his fifth homer, a walk, a steal, two RBIs and three runs scored to raise his batting average to .336. Urias also started a triple play.
Catcher A.J. Kennedy (.306) was 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored. First baseman Ricardo Valenzuela (.234) was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Third baseman Josh VanMeter (.268) had a two-run double in three at-bats. Left fielder Edwin Moreno (.246) had a triple in five at-bats for three RBIs. Shortstop Javier Guerra (.206) was 0-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored. Right fielder Franmil Reyes (.239) had a double in four at-bats with a walk, a RBI and two runs scored.
Starting left-hander Thomas Dorminy (8.76 ERA) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk with a strikeout in 4 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Ben Paullus (2-1, 3.80) allowed a hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Right-hander Trey Wingenter (2.74) allowed a hit with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. Right-hander Colby Blueberg (2.53) struck out two in a perfect inning.
AROUND THE FARM:
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (11-14, 33-62) -- FRISCO 4, MISSIONS 2: CF Franchy Cordero (.293) opened the game with his fourth homer. RF Nick Schulz (.281) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. RHP Walker Lockett (0-1) allowed four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings in his first start for San Antonio after being promoted from Lake Elsinore. RHP Jose Rafael De Paula (2.59 ERA) allowed a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. LHP José Torres (0.96) struck out two in a perfect inning.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (9-16, 45-50) -- The TinCaps were off Tuesday.
CLASS A SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (16-16) -- DUST DEVILS 8, EVERETT 6: DH G.K. Young (.296) had a double and a homer in five at-bats for three RBIs. RF Taylor Kohlwey (.246) was 2-for-5 with a steal and two runs scored. SS Chris Baker (.305) had two doubles in four at-bats with a steal, a run scored and a RBI. Chris Mattison (.155) was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. LF Aldemar Burgos (.193) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. 2B Nate Easley (.282) had a double in four at-bats with a double, a walk, a RBI and two runs scored. Starting RHP Emmanuel Ramirez (4-1, 3.03 ERA) allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in six innings. RHP Evan Miller (3.38) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in an inning. RHP Jesse Scholtens (1.04) allowed a hit with a strikeout in two scoreless innings to record his first save.
ROOKIE-LEVEL ARIZONA PADRES (10-13) -- DIAMONDBACKS 16, PADRES 4: 3B Denzell Gowdy (.245) and 2B Ariel Ortega (.230) were each 2-for-4 with a RBI. LF Tyler Selesky (.296) was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. C Bryant Aragon (.167) was 1-for-3 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored. Starting RHP Mayky Perez (2-1, 2.70 ERA) allowed six runs (only one earned) on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Jonathan Guzman (10.54) allowed five runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in an inning. RHP Andres Munoz (5.59) struck out three in 1 1/3 perfect innings. RHP Juan Arias (9.53) allowed three runs on three hits in an inning. RHP Gant Zawadzki (4.50) gave up two runs on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in an inning. LHP Ben Sheckler (3.27) issued a walk with three strikeouts in an otherwise perfect inning.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (13-24) -- The Padres' game against the Diamondbacks was suspended after two innings by rain.