Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Right-hander Michael Kelly threw six scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut Sunday, while Austin Hedges, Casey McElroy and Jabari Blash homered in the Chihuahuas' 7-1 win at Sacramento.
Meanwhile, the Padres' two full-season Class A affiliates finished the first halves of their season and entered the All-Star break.
Kelly, 23, the 48th overall pick in the 2011 Draft, celebrated his second advancement this season by allowing two hits and no walks to pick up the win. Kelly had started the season with Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore and made six starts for the Storm (1-3, 5.83 ERA) and seven for Double-A San Antonio (2-1, 2.55 ERA) before joining the Chihuahuas.
Right-handed reliever Eric Yardley (1.76 ERA) followed Kelly and had a strikeout in two perfect innings. Right-hander Derek Eitel (2.53) allowed a run on a hit with three strikeouts in the ninth.
Catcher Hedges (.309) had a double and his fourth homer. Left fielder Blash (.229) was 1-for-2 with his fifth homer, two RBIs and two walks. McElroy (.313) went deep in one of his five at-bats.
Center fielder Manuel Margot (.292) was 2-for-5 with his 18th stolen base and a run scored. Shortstop Nick Noonan (.313) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored as El Paso improved to 40-26.
Lake Elsinore finished the first half of the California League season fourth in the South Division with a 32-38 record. The Storm will host the California-Carolina Leagues All-Star Game on Tuesday night at The Diamond.
Infielders Luis Urias and Josh VanMeter and relief pitchers Colby Blueberg and Brad Wieck, plus the entire coaching staff, will represent the Storm in the All-Star Game.
Class A Fort Wayne finished fifth in the final East Division first-half standings of the Midwest League. TinCaps' center fielder Michael Gettys will start for the East in the Midwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Grand Rapids, Mich. Catcher Austin Allen and right-handed starting pitchers J.C. Cosme, Jacob Nix and Enyel De Los Santos are also on the East Division All-Star team.
AROUND THE FARM:
SAN ANTONIO (22-47) -- Corpus Christi 8, MISSIONS 4: RHP Zech Lemond allowed eight runs on nine hits and three walks with two strikeouts in three innings in his Double-A debut. RHP Adam Cimber (2.00 ERA) allowed a walk with two strikeouts in three otherwise perfect innings. RHP Tayron Guerrero (3.00) gave up two hits with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Rafael DePaula (2.79) struck out two in a perfect inning. 2B Nelson Ward (.235) was 3-for-5 with an RBI. SS Jose Rondon (.282) was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. DH Gabriel Quintana (.235) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
LAKE ELSINORE (32-38) -- Storm 7, VISALIA 5: Starting RHP Brett Kennedy (2-5, 4.19 ERA) allowed five hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five scoreless innings. LHP Brandon Alger (7.20) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings. RHP Ben Paullus (2.79) allowed a run on two hits in one-third of an inning. RHP Trey Wingenter (3.72) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning. RHP Phil Maton (1.23) allowed an unearned run on a hit in an inning to earn his first save. VanMeter (.284) was 2-for-5 with his ninth homer and two RBIs. Urias (.316) was 2-for-5 with a double and a RBI. 1B Trae Santos (.224) homered in four at-bats for two RBIs. C Jose ruiz (.202) was 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI.
FORT WAYNE (36-34) -- Bowling Green 13, TINCAPS 0: Starting RHP Austin Smith (1-5, 5.92 ERA) allowed eight runs on six hits and four walks in 1 1/3 innings. LHP Nathan Foriest (6.23) allowed two runs on two hits and five walks with a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.
SHORT-SEASON CLASS A TRI-CITY (2-1) -- DUST DEVILS 7, Everett 3: Starting LHP Will Headean gave up two hits with eight strikeouts over five scoreless innings. RHP Chasen Ford allowed three unearned runs on two hits and two walks with a strikeout in one inning. RHP Will Stillman issued a walk with three strikeouts in an otherwise perfect two innings. RHP David Bednar struck out two in a perfect inning. 2B Nate Easley (.357) had two triples and two runs scored in five at-bats. DH Alan Garcia (.300) had two doubles in five at-bats with two RBIs and a run scored. SS Chris Baker (.273) was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. RF Taylor Kohlwey (.200) had a two-run triple in three at-bats.
DSL Padres (6-7): The Dominican Summer League doesn't play on Sundays.