Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Two pitchers at the opposite end of the prospect spectrum turned in scoreless starts in the Padres' Minor League system on Sunday.
Eighteen-year-old right-hander Anderson Espinoza threw five shutout innings for Class A Fort Wayne. Espinoza, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox on July 15 in exchange for left-handed starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz, gave up three hits and two walks with four strikeouts, and he lowered his ERA with the TinCaps to 4.26 after three starts.
Right-hander Carlos Pimentel, 26, allowed two hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings, and he combined with three relievers to pitch a three-hit shutout for Triple-A El Paso.
Pimentel, who signed with the Padres as a Minor League free agent in the offseason, is 11-5 with a 5.37 ERA. He is tied for first in wins in the Pacific Coast League.
Left-hander Daniel Moskos (3.55 ERA) followed Pimentel and issued a walk in an otherwise perfect 1 1/3 innings. Right-hander Eric Yardley (3.93) gave up a hit in two-thirds of an inning. Righty Brandon Morrow (5.71) struck out one in a perfect inning to complete the Chihuahuas' 4-0 win at Las Vegas.
Catcher Héctor Sánchez (.400) was 2-for-4 with his 10th homer and two RBIs. Third baseman Diego Goris (.275) hit his fifth homer in five at-bats.
First baseman Taylor Lindsey (.282) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.329) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Left fielder Nick Torres (.313) had a double in three at-bats with a walk and a run scored for El Paso, which improved to 62-47.
Torres was promoted to El Paso on Sunday from Double-A San Antonio after outfielder Jabari Blash was recalled by the Padres from El Paso. When left-handed reliever Keith Hessler returned to El Paso, right-handed starter Michael Kelly was transferred from the Chihuahuas to San Antonio.
In other moves, left-handed starter Jerry Keel was promoted from Fort Wayne to Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore. Right-hander Jesse Scholtens was promoted from Class A Short-Season Tri-City to Fort Wayne.
Around the farm
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (19-18, 41-66) -- FRISCO 4, MISSIONS 2: RF Nick Schulz (.284) was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. DH Chase Jensen (.175) was 2-for-3 with a run scored. C Ryan Miller (.220) had a double in four at-bats with a run scored. Starting RHP Seth Simmons (1-3, 2.61 ERA) gave up four runs on 10 hits and a walk with three strikeouts in six innings. LHP José Torres (0.73) allowed two hits with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (21-16, 53-54) -- INLAND EMPIRE 8, STORM 7 (10 innings): 3B Ty France (.344) was 2-for-5 with his fourth homer and three runs scored. CF Michael Gettys (.299) was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. 1B Josh Naylor (.200) was 2-for-5 with a RBI. RF Franmil Reyes (.250) had a RBI double in four at-bats. LF Edwin Moreno (.261) was 1-for-4 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored. Starting RHP Zech Lemond (6.85 ERA) allowed seven runs on 11 hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. RHP Ben Paullus (4.88) allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. RHP Trey Wingenter (2.01) allowed two hits with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Phil Maton (1-1, 1.57) allowed an unearned run on a hit with two strikeouts in an inning to suffer the loss.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (15-21, 51-55) -- TIN CAPS 3, LANSING 2: Scholtens followed Espinoza and allowed a run on three hits with a strikeout in three innings. RHP David Bednar (2-2, 5.63) allowed a run on a hit with a strikeout in an inning to get the win. SS Ruddy Giron (.221) was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. CF Tyler Moore (.239) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. 3B Carlos Belen (.236) was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. LF Tyler Selesky (.480) was 2-for-4 with a RBI.
CLASS A SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (1-5, 20-24) -- VANCOUVER 3, DUST DEVILS 1: CF Buddy Reed (.237) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. 1B Kyle Overstreet (.199) and 3B Boomer White (.244) were each 2-for-4. DH G.K. Young (.257) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Starting LHP Headean (2-4, 4.98 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. RHP Mark Zimmerman (1.10) allowed two hits with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
ROOKIE-LEVEL ARIZONA PADRES (13-20) -- GIANTS 11, PADRES 3: SS Hudson Potts (.315) was 2-for-5 with a run scored. C Jose Lezama (.294) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. DH Tucker Pennell (.277) was 1-for-4 with a double and a walk with two runs scored. Starting RHP Lake Bachar (1-1, 2.78 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts in three innings. RHP DiSabatino (21.60) allowed five runs on three hits and two walks without retiring a hitter. RHP Jonathan Guzman (10.31) gave up a run on two hits and two walks with a strikeout in two innings. RHP Juan Arias (11.25) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Grant Zawadzki (4.41) struck out two in a perfect 1 1/3 innings.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (22-26) -- The DSL does not play on Sundays.