Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Outfielders Nick Torres and recently acquired Patrick Kivlehan homered and left-hander Frank Garces allowed two unearned runs on four hits over seven innings Monday night as Triple-A El Paso scored a 5-2 win over Fresno.
Elsewhere in the Padres system, Class A Fort Wayne catcher Austin Allen extended his hitting streak to 22 straight games.
Torres (.383) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Kivlehan (.240) was 2-for-3 with a solo homer. Catcher Austin Hedges (.345) was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. Right fielder Hunter Renfroe missed a second straight start Monday after being hit on his wrist by a pitch Saturday night.
Garces (5-6, 4.65 ERA) issued five walks with two strikeouts. Right-hander Brandon Morrow (6.75 ERA) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. Right-hander Kevin Quackenbush (2.25) struck out the side in a perfect inning to get his second save.
Allen (.321) had a RBI double in three at-bats to extend the longest hitting streak in the Midwest League this season. He is one shy of tying the Fort Wayne franchise record of 23 straight games set by former Padres third baseman Sean Burroughs in 1999.
AROUND THE FARM
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (22-22, 44-70): The Missions were off Monday.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (26-18, 58-56): The Storm was off Monday.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (18-26, 54-60): LANSING 7, TinCaps 4. 3B Carlos Belen (.221) was 1-for-2 with his eighth homer for two RBIs with a walk. Starting RHP Jake Nix (4.20 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings. LHP Elvin Liriano (1-1, 3.18) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks with a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. RHP Aaron Cressley (3.38) allowed a run on a hit and three walks with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings.
SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (4-7, 23-26): Boise 4, DUST DEVILS 1. LF Taylor Kohlwey (.215) was 1-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run scored. Starting LHP Will Headean (4.47 ERA) allowed an unearned run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings. RHP Evan Miller (1-3, 2.91) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning. LHP Nathan Foriest (3.86) allowed three walks in one-third of an inning. RHP Nick Monroe (5.63) allowed a run on two hits with five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (16-23): PADRES 7, Royals 2. LHP Logan Allen (0.00 ERA) issued a walk with two strikeouts in two innings in his second rehab start. LHP Dan Dallas (1-0, 0.00) issued two walks with five strikeouts in two hitless innings. RHP Andres Munoz (3.94) struck out two in a perfect fifth. RHP Kyle Gauthier (5.40) gave up two runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in three innings. CF Jack Suwinski (.247) was 3-for-5 with a double, a steal and a RBI. C Bryant Aragon (.200) was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (27-28): Reds 6, PADRES 3. SS Kelvin Melean (.242) was 4-for-5 with a run scored. C Juan Fernandez (.348) was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored. 3B Eguy Rosario (.340) was 1-for-2 with a walk and a steal. Starting LHP Cristian Machuca (4.63 ERA) allowed three hits with two walks and two strikeouts over four scoreless innings.