Jankowski, Torres, Jones extend streaks
Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Two outfield prospects in the Padres system continue on lengthy hitting streaks.
Double-A San Antonio center fielder Travis Jankowski was 2-for-4 on Saturday to reach base for his Texas League-high 25th straight game. He also has an active, eight-game hitting streak (12-for-35). Jankowski, 23, the 44th-overall pick in the 2012 Draft, is hitting .352 for San Antonio, the fifth-highest average in the Texas League. Jankowski is also second in the Texas League with 13 steals and fourth with a .444 on-base percentage.
Class A Fort Wayne right fielder Nick Torres was 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored on Saturday night. Torres has an active 10-game hitting streak (15-for-40 with a home run, six RBIs and nine runs scored) and has hit safely in 22 of Fort Wayne's first 27 games. Torres, 21, the Padres fourth-round pick last June, is hitting .343 (the fourth-highest mark in the Midwest League) with a .400 on-base percentage.
Another hot prospect with the TinCaps is 21-year-old first baseman-third baseman Duanel Jones, who hit his third homer in four games on Saturday night. He was 2-for-4 with his fifth homer and three RBIs to raise his batting average to .326. Jones is tied for the Midwest League lead in RBIs (24) and tied for second in home runs.
They are not the only hot hitters in the Padres system.
Triple-A El Paso first baseman Cody Decker had his second straight 4-for-5 game on Saturday night to raise his batting average from .209 to .286 in two games. His 8-for-10 binge includes two home runs and seven RBIs. He is 11-for-24 (.458) during a five-game hitting streak, with four homers and 15 RBIs.
With center fielder Abraham Almonte being promoted to the Padres on Saturday, center fielder Rico Noel was transferred from extended spring training to the El Paso roster. Noel hit .258 with 32 steals for the Chihuahuas last season. Noel was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly in his season debut on Saturday night.
AROUND THE FARM:
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (18-12): Las Vegas 11, CHIHUAHUAS 4 - Starting RHP Daniel McCutchen (0-2, 5.51 earned run average) allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in five innings. RHP Stephen Kohlscheen (7.16 ERA) allowed five runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in an inning. RHP Jay Jackson (0.00 ERA) allowed an unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts in two innings. LHP Chris Rearick (3.60 ERA) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning. 3B Brett Wallace (.324) was 2-for-5 in the game between the Pacific Coast League's top two teams in the Pacific South division
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (13-16): Corpus Christi 11, MISSIONS 1 - Starting RHP Elliot Morris (1-2, 3.38 ERA) gave up six runs on eight hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. SS Trea Turner (.314) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. RF Tyson Gillies (.343) was 2-for-4 and scored the Missions' lone run.
HIGH CLASS A LAKE ELSINORE (15-15): LANCASTER 3, Storm 1 - Starting RHP Rafael De Paula (2-2, 4.03 ERA) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits with eighth strikeouts over eight innings. RHP Luis Hernandez (2.81 ERA) allowed a run on three hits in two innings. 1B Yale Rosen had an RBI triple in four at-bats but committed an error.
LOW CLASS A FORT WAYNE (10-17): TIN CAPS 5, Lansing 1 (11 innings) - CF Michael Gettys (.266), the Padres' 19-year-old, second-round pick in last June's Draft, was 3-for-5 with a double. SS Felipe Blanco (.276) was 2-for-4. Starting RHP Yimmi Brasoban (3.60 ERA) allowed a run on three hits and four walks with four strikeouts in five innings. RHP Colby Blueberg (1.35 ERA) allowed a run on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts in two innings. LHP Payton Baskette (1-1, 4.61 ERA) allowed a hit and two walks in a scoreless inning to get the win.