Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Right-hander Kyle Lloyd pitched seven shutout innings for Double-A San Antonio Wednesday night and 18-year-old right-hander Anderson Espinoza made his debut in the Padres' system with Class A Fort Wayne.
Lloyd, 25, improved to 4-4 and lowered his ERA to 3.61 as he gave up six hits and a walk with a strikeout to lead the Missions (12-14 in the second half and 34-62 overall) to a 6-2 win at Frisco.
Right-hander Adam Cimber (2.43 ERA) followed Lloyd and allowed two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Left-hander Brad Wieck (0.00 ERA) allowed a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Center fielder Franchy Cordero (.322) led the Missions' attack, going 4-for-5 with a steal and a run scored. Catcher Rocky Gale (.222) was 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk and two runs scored. Third baseman River Stevens (.250) was 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored.
First baseman Luis Tejada (.317) was 2-for-3 with a walk. Right fielder Nick Schulz (.294) was 2-for-3 with two walks and a steal. Second baseman Nelson Ward (.228) was 2-for-4 with a walk.
Espinoza, who was acquired from Boston in the trade for left-hander Drew Pomeranz, allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks with a strikeout in three innings.
There was one move in the Padres' system Wednesday. Right-handed reliever Phil Maton was promoted from Class A Lake Elsinore to Triple-A El Paso when Chihuahuas' left-hander Keith Hessler joined the Padres as the 26th man for the doubleheader in St. Louis.
AROUND THE FARM:
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (56-41) - Memphis 10, CHIHUAHUAS 3: LF Jabari Blash (.272) was 2-for-4 with his 10th homer and two RBIs. 2B Carlos Asuaje (.330) was 2-for-4 with a double. CF Manuel Margot (.301) was 1-for-2 with two walks. RF Hunter Renfroe (.332) was 1-for-4 with a steal, an RBI and a run scored. Starting RHP Carlos Pimental (9-5, 6.04 ERA) allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts in four innings. Maton allowed a walk with four strikeouts in two otherwise perfect innings. RHP Michael Dimock (4.61 ERA) allowed four runs on three hits and three walks with a strikeout in two innings. LHP Daniel Moskos (3.83 ERA) allowed a walk in a hitless/scoreless inning.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (17-9, 49-47) -- The Storm was off Wednesday.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (9-17, 45-51) - WISCONSIN 14, TinCaps 6: 1B Brad Zunica (.262) was 2-for-4 with his 13th homer and three RBIs. LF Kodie Tidwell (.243) was 2-for-2 with three walks and a run scored. SS Ruddy Giron (.208) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. RHP Blake Rogers (1-3, 6.16 ERA) followed Espinoza and allowed seven runs on six hits and a walk in a third of an inning. RHP Louis Distacio (5.11 ERA) allowed a run on four hits and a walk with a strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. LHP Elvin Liriano (2.31 ERA) allowed a run on a hit and two walks with a strikeout in an inning.
CLASS A SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (17-16) - Dust Devils 6, EVERETT 5: RF Taylor Kohlwey (.246) hit a grand slam in four at-bats. 1B G.K. Young (.333) was 2-for-3 with a walk. C Kyle Overstreet (.200) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. 2B Nate Easley (.283) had a double in three at-bats with two runs scored. Starting RHP Angel Mejia (5.12 ERA) allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. RHP Will Stillman (2-0, 0.75 ERA) issued a walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 otherwise scoreless innings. RHP Diomar Lopez (1.08 ERA) allowed a hit and a walk with five strikeouts in three scoreless innings to get his first save.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (10-14) - Indians 14, PADRES 3: LF Tyler Selesky (.297) was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Catchers Jose Lezama (.292) and Tucker Pennell (.222) were each 1-for-2 with an RBI. RHP Henry Henry (0-2, 4.60 ERA) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in three innings. RHP Emmanuel Clase (27.00 ERA) allowed five runs (three earned) on two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. RHP Starlin Cordero (4.63 ERA) allowed four unearned runs on three hits and two walks with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. RHP Kyle Gauthier (4.76 ERA) allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in two innings. RHP Wilmer Torres (1.74 ERA) allowed two hits with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (13-25) - Orioles 1, PADRES 2: 3B Elvis Sabala (.196) was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. 2B Kelvin Alarcan (.261) was 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. Starting RHP Cristian Machuca (0-5, 6.95 ERA) allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings. LHP Adolfo Hernandez (2.25 ERA) allowed a run on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in three innings.