Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Infielders Nick Noonan and Carlos Belen had game-winning hits in big innings Saturday night to cap late rallies that carried two Padres Minor League affiliates to come-from-behind wins.
Shortstop Noonan hit a tie-breaking two-run double to break a 4-4 tie as Triple-A El Paso rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat Fresno, 6-4, in a Pacific Coast League game in the Texas city.
Third baseman Belen hit a three-run homer in a five-run top of the ninth as Class A Fort Wayne posted a 7-4 Midwest League victory at Kane County.
Noonan, a graduate of Francis Parker High, was 2-for-4 with four RBIs, while raising his average to .307 for the 13-15 Chihuahuas.
Right fielder Hunter Renfroe (.291) had a double and a triple, drove in a run and scored a run for El Paso. Third baseman Casey McElroy (.378) was 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Designated hitter Diego Garcia (.344) was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Right-handed starter Daniel McCutchen (5.56 ERA) allowed four runs on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts in seven innings. Right-hander Aaron Northcraft (2-0, 1.35 ERA) allowed a walk in a hitless inning to get the win. Left-hander Frank Garces (3.94) worked a perfect ninth to get his first save.
Belen's homer was his first of the season for the 17-13 TinCaps.
Second baseman Peter Van Gansen (.260) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. C Kyle Overstreet was 2-for-4 with two RBIs in his Fort Wayne debut. CF Michael Gettys (.255) was 1-for-3 and was hit by a pitch. He stole his 14th base of the season and scored two runs.
Right-handed starter Jacob Nix (3.24 ERA) allowed a run on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander Enyel De Los Santos (3.16) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings.
Left-handed reliever Jerry Keel (1-3, 2.84) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning to get the win. Right-hander Nick Monroe (3.14) allowed a run on a hit in an inning.
Around the farm
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (9-20) -- CORPUS CHRISTI 2, Missions 0: Starting RHP Bryan Rodriguez (2-2, 3.29 ERA) allowed two runs on three hits and two walks with a strikeout in seven innings. RHP Eric Yardley (2.70) walked one in an otherwise perfect inning. 2B Nelson Ward (.240) was 2-for-4.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (12-18) -- SAN JOSE 2, Storm 0: CF Franchy Cordero (.248) was 2-for-4 with a double and scored the Storm's lone run. LF Edwin Moreno (.219) was 2-for-3. Both San Jose runs were unearned. Starting RHP Elliot Ashbeck allowed one unearned run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings in his Lake Elsinore debut. LHP Kyle McGrath (0.00) allowed a hit and an unearned run with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. LHP Brad Wieck (2.04) gave up a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Martires Arias (5.85) struck out one in a perfect inning.