Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Right-handed pitcher Michael Kelly pitched seven scoreless innings for Double-A San Antonio on Thursday night and catcher Austin Hedges was 1-for-3 and picked off a runner in his return to Triple-A El Paso.
Kelly, 23, the 48th overall pick of the 2011 Draft, allowed three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Since being promoted to San Antonio, Kelly is 2-1 with a 2.29 ERA and has 35 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings.
Kelly and right-handed relievers Seth Simmons and Jason Jester combined on a five-hit shutout as the Missions (19-39) defeated Frisco, 4-0, in San Antonio. Simmons (0.00 ERA) allowed two hits with a strikeout in the eighth. Jester (1.86) pitched a perfect ninth.
Left fielder Nick Torres (.311), the Texas League Player of the Week last week, was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
Hedges, 23, the Padres' second-round pick in the 2011 Draft, was activated from the disabled list Thursday. He had been out since having surgery April 27 to remove the fractured hamate bone in the palm of his left hand. He also drew a walk Thursday.
Hedges was part of three moves involving catchers in the Padres' system. Ryan Miller was placed on the seven-day disabled list at San Antonio with a thumb injury and Miguel Del Castillo was promoted from Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore to San Antonio. Hedges filled an open spot at El Paso created when first baseman Josh Satin retired.
Meanwhile, designated hitter Brad Zunica (.259) was 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs as Class A Fort Wayne (34-26) scored a 4-3 win at Bowling Green. Shortstop Peter Van Gansen (.240) was 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Third baseman Carlos Belen (.189) was 1-for-3 with a walk, a steal, a RBI and a run scored. Right-handed starter Austin Smith (3.74 ERA), the Padres top Draft pick in 2015, allowed two hits on six hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. Left-hander Jerry Keel (1.23) allowed two hits with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Right-hander Corey Kimber (1-0, 0.00) allowed a run on a hit and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander Gerardo Reyes (2.08) struck out two in a perfect inning to get his fourth save.
Around the farm
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (35-24): Sacramento 6, CHIHUAHUAS 3. 3B Ryan Schimpf (.353) was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and a run scored. RF Hunter Renfroe (.309) was 2-for-5 with a triple. 2B Carlos Asuaje (.324) was 2-for-5 with a RBI. Starting RHP Fabio Castillo (0-3, 4.93) allowed six runs on 11 hits and a walk with three strikeouts in four innings. RHP Derek Eitel (2.54) struck out two in two perfect innings.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (28-32): Rancho Cucamonga 4, STORM 1. 2B Luis Urias (.319) was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Starting RHP Brett Kennedy (1-4, 2.97 ERA) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings. LHP Brad Wieck (1.50) struck out the side in the sixth. RHP Ben Paullus (1.20) pitched a perfect seventh. LHP Trevor Seidenberger (6.67) allowed a hit in a scoreless eighth. RHP Martires Arias (4.73) allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout in the ninth.
DSL PADRES (3-2): Padres 11, REDS 8. INF Eguy Rosario (.400) was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. CF Angel Santos (.417) was 2-for-3 with a double, three walks, a RBI and a run scored. C Bryant Aragon (.250) was 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs. Starting LHP Aaron Lezama allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings. RHP Angel Acevedo (1-0, 0.00) allowed two hits with a strikeout in 3 1/3 scoreless innings.