Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Right fielder Hunter Renfroe hit his 15th homer of the season Friday night for Triple-A El Paso and Tri-City rallied to defeat Everett 5-4 at Wasco, Wash., in the Dust Devils' opener of the short-season Single-A Northwest League season.
At Visalia, third baseman Josh VanMeter hit a two-run homer and shortstop Javier Guerra had a run-scoring single as high Single-A Lake Elsinore (31-37) scored a 4-3 win.
Right-handed Storm starter Walker Lockett (3.20 earned run average) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings. Right-hander Phil Maton (1-0, 1.42 ERA) held Visalia scoreless, allowing only a walk with a strikeout over two innings to get the win.
VanMeter (.280) was 2-for-4. Guerra (.203) was 1-for-3. First baseman Trae Santos (.226) was 2-for-3 with a walk. Second baseman Luis Urias (.316) was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
At Wasco, catcher Kyle Overstreet was 2-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored. Second baseman Nate Easley was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Starting right-handed pitcher Emmanuel Ramirez allowed two unearned runs on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts in four innings.
Right-hander Diomar Lopez allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings to get the win. Right-hander Aaron Cressley struck out two in 2 1/3 perfect innings to get the save.
Renfroe (.321) was 2-for-5 with three RBIs in 39-28 El Paso's 5-4, 11-inning loss at Sacramento. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.336) was 3-for-4 with a steal and a walk. Infielder Casey McElroy (.318) was 2-for-5 with a double and a RBI.
Starting Daniel McCutchen (5.08 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits with a strikeout in seven innings.
Left-hander Buddy Baumann (1.13) struck out one in a perfect eighth. Right-hander Michael Dimock (2.61) allowed a run on a hit with two strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander Jose Dominguez (3-2, 2.97) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning to take the loss.
Around the Farm:
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (21-46) - Missions 3-0, MIDLAND 2-1: 1B Taylor Lindsey (.212) was 2-for-4 in the doubleheader with a walk, a stolen base and a RBI. LF Nick Torres (.311) was 2-for-6 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored. RF Nick Schulz (.279) was 2-for-5. RHP Kyle Lloyd (4.89 ERA) started the first game and allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings. RHP Rafael De Paula (2-1, 2.89) struck out two in two perfect innings to get the win. RHP Jason Jester (1.96) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to get his ninth save. RHP Seth Simmons (0-1, 2.70) started the second game and allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four innings to suffer the loss. LHP Jose Torres (1.59) allowed a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (36-32) - Bowling Green 13, TIN CAPS 5: C Austin Allen (.320) was 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored. DH Brad Zunica (.255) had a double in two at-bats with a run scored. RF Jhonatan Pena (.224) was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. The TinCaps committed five errors. Starting RHP J.C. Cosme (7-3, 2.88 ERA) allowed seven runs on seven hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings, although only two of the runs were earned. RHP Blake Rogers (3.38) allowed a run on four hits with a strikeout in 3 2/3 innings. RHP Elliot Morris allowed two runs on two hits with three strikeouts in two innings. RHP Nick Monroe allowed three runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in an inning.
DSL Padres (5-7) - WHITE SOX 5, Padres 3 - Starting RHP Henry Henry (3.00 ERA) allowed a run on two hits with four strikeouts in three innings. LHP Cristian Machuca (0-2, 4.15) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four innings. RF Edward Burgos (.471) was 2-for-2 with two walks.