Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Designated hitter Luis Tejada had four hits and five RBIs Thursday night and catcher Austin Allen continued his early-season hot streak with two more hits as Class A Fort Wayne took a 10-2 win over South Bend in Fort Wayne.
Meanwhile, right-hander Bryan Rodriguez and two relievers combined for a six-hit shutout in Double-A San Antonio's 5-0 win at Springfield.
It was the first five-RBI game of his career for Tejada, a 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic. He was 4-for-5 with two doubles to raise his batting average to .320.
Allen was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored as his average dropped to .680. Allen, 22, is off to a 17-for-25 start with a .690 on-base percentage, a .920 slugging percentage and a 1.610 OPS.
Third baseman Ty France (.345) was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Second baseman Peter Van Gansen (.417) was 3-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI.
Right-hander Brett Kennedy (1-0, 3.35 ERA) gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings as Fort Wayne improved to 5-3. Left-hander Jerry Keel (1.80 ERA) allowed two walks with three strikeouts in three hitless innings. Left-hander Taylor Cox (1.50) pitched a perfect ninth.
The 24-year-old Rodriguez (1-0. 1.54 ERA) allowed three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over seven innings as San Antonio improved to 4-3. Right-hander Rafael De Paula (2.70) allowed two hits with a strikeout in the eighth, and left-hander Brandon Alger completed the shutout, allowing a hit with a strikeout in the ninth.
First baseman Mike Olt gave the Missions all the runs they needed with a three-run homer. Left fielder Nick Torres (.444) returned from a sprained ankle to go 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Infielder-outfielder River Stevens, 24, was promoted from Fort Wayne to Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore on Thursday. He was hitting .286 with two home runs and four steals.
Around the farm
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (1-5): TACOMA 4, Chihuahuas 1. C Jason Hagerty (.429) was 2-for-3 with a homer for the Chihuahuas' lone run. Right-handed starter Jeremy Guthrie (0-2, 6.23 ERA) allowed three runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. El Paso opens its home season Friday night at Southwest University Park.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (5-3): Rancho Cucamonga 4, STORM 1:. CF Franchy Cordero (.250) and 2B Luis Urias (.286) were each 2-for-4. Starting RHP Martires Arias (0-1, 4.35 ERA) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in six innings. LHP Brad Wieck (0.00) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless seventh. RHP Colby Blueberg (1.80) allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout in two innings.