Jason Lane, Tommy Medica pace Triple-A El Paso win

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

Left-hander Jason Lane became the first El Paso starting pitcher to go 8 2/3 innings in the franchise's two-season history and first baseman Tommy Medica hit his first homer since the first week of the season as the Triple-A Chihuahuas scored a 7-4 Pacific Coast League win over Omaha on Tuesday night in the west Texas city.

Lane (4-4 with a 3.95 ERA) allowed four runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out two. Right-hander Jay Jackson (1.83 ERA) got his fourth save by striking out the only hitter he faced.

Medica (.257) was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. His only other homer this season came on April 10. Left fielder Alex Dickerson (.299) hit his fifth homer and was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Shortstop Ramiro Pena (.311) was 2-for-4 with a RBI.

Tuesday was a big night for two rehabbing Padres. Center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base to raise his batting average to .297 after 10 games of his rehab assignment with El Paso. Upton has been on the disabled list since the start of the season with a foot injury.

And right-handed starting pitcher Brandon Morrow pitched four shutout innings in his first rehab outing with Double-A San Antonio. Morrow, who has been on the disabled list since May 3 with right shoulder
inflammation, allowed two hits and a walk. He threw 54 pitches -- slightly below the target of 60-65 pitches -- with 31 for strikes. Morrow will likely make a second rehab start for the Missions on Sunday.

Meanwhile, El Paso, which evened its record at 26-26 Tuesday night, placed right-handed closer Marcos Mateo on the seven-day disabled list and added two pitchers. Right-hander Cory Mazzoni was returned to the Chihuahuas when first baseman Yonder Alonso was activated from the Major League club's disabled list. And right-handed starting pitcher Chris Smith returned to El Paso from San Antonio. The Missions did not make a corresponding move yet.

Around the farm

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (20-30): Arkansas 1, MISSIONS 0 -- DH Alberth Martinez (.252) was 3-for-4 with a double and was hit by a pitch as the Missions were shut out for the fifth time in their last 10games (3-7). RHP Bryan Rodriguez (3-7, 3.91 ERA) followed Morrow and suffered the loss on an unearned run despite not allowing a hit or a walk in 2 2/3 innings with two strikeouts. RHP Dennis O'Grady (5.46 ERA) gave up the game losing hit in 1 1/3 otherwise scoreless innings. RHP Tayron Guerrero had a strikeout in a perfect inning. Missions pitchers allowed only three hits.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (23-28): STOCKTON 13, Storm 7 -- C Ryan Miller (.371) was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and a run scored/. SS Jose Rondon (.275) had two doubles in five at-bats but also committed two errors. LF Yale Rosen (.212) hit a three-run homer. Starting RHP Kyle Lloyd (2-3, 4.28 ERA) allowed nine runs (five earned) on seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (21-30): The TinCaps had Tuesday off.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (3-0): Padres 4, ORIOLES 2 -- Starting RHP Joel Linares allowed three hits and a walk with six strikeouts over five scoreless innings to get the win. RHP Pedro Beltran allowed an unearned run on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts in three innings. LHP Joel Garcia allowed a run on two hits and two walks with a strikeout in an inning to get the save. 1B Enmanuel Arias (.375) was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.