Padres advance Minor League managers Quirk and Barajas

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

The Padres Wednesday advanced two former Major League catchers as managers in their minor league system and set the roster for short-season Tri-City as the Dust Devils prepared to open the Northwest League season Thursday night.

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Jamie Quirk, 60, was named the manager of Triple-A El Paso and Rod Barajas became the manager of Double-A San Antonio. The moves were made in the wake of Pat Murphy being promoted from the manager at El Paso to managing the Padres.

Quirk, who played parts of 18 seasons in the Major Leagues, was in his first season at the helm of the San Antonio Missions after managing high Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2014 during his first season with the Padres organization. Quirk was the bench coach of the Chicago Cubs in 2012-13. This is his 43rd season in professional baseball.

Rod Barajas, 39, was named the manager at San Antonio to replace Quirk. He had been serving as the hitting coach at Lake Elsinore in his second season in the Padres organization. The veteran of parts of 14 Major League seasons was the manager of the Arizona Rookie League Padres in 2014.

Meanwhile, the Padres have relocated their Northwest League affiliate from Eugene to 3,700-seat Gesa Stadium in Pasco, Wash. Anthony Contreras will manage the Dust Devils.

The 34-player Tri-City roster includes 20 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders and five outfielders. Eleven players on the roster are already signed players from the 2015 draft.

Among the most notable Tri-City players are catcher Austin Allen (fourth round pick, 2015 draft); outfielders Mason Smith (fourth round, 2013) and Justin Pacchioli (10th round, 2015); infielders Luis Urias (18 years old from Mexico) and Ty France (San Diego State, 34th round, 2015), and pitchers Jerry Keel (ninth round, 2015), Brett Kennedy (11th
round, 2015) and Walker Lockett (fourth round, 2012).

AROUND THE FARM:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (32-34): Chihuahuas 8, ALBUQUERQUE 4 - Left-handed starter Jason Lane (5-4, 4.46 earned run average) came off the seven-day disabled list to allow four runs on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts in six innings. RHP Jay Jackson (2.20 ERA) allowed a hit with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Marcos Mateo (1.93 ERA) struck out the side around allowing a hit in a scoreless inning. SS Ramiro Pena (.326) was 3-for-5 with a double, his third homer, two RBIs and three runs scored. RF Rymer Liriano (.280) had two doubles in three at-bats with two RBIs and a run scored. CF Abraham Almonte (.296) was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (28-35): The Missions' game against Midland, which would have been Barajas' debut as manager, was rained out and will be made of as part of a doubleheader Thursday.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (27-38): Stockton 9, LAKE ELSINORE 3 - Starting RHP Rafael DePaula (4-5, 4.32 ERA) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. 1B Marcus Davis (.268) had a double and a triple in three at-bats with a RBI. 2B Fernando Perez (.252) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. 3B River Stevens (.319) was 2-for-5 with a double, a steal and two runs scored.

LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (28-36): WEST MICHIGAN 5, TinCaps 2 - 3B Luis Tejada was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and a run scored in his first game with Fort Wayne. Starting LHP Thomas Dorminy (5-5, 4.41 ERA) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. LHP Kyle McGrath (3.51 ERA) allowed a hit
with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Seth Lucio (4.25 ERA) had two strikeouts in 1 1/3 perfect innings.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (9-7): WHITE SOX 5, Padres 1 - Starting RHP Emmanuel Clase (1.42 ERA) allowed five hits with five strikeouts over five scoreless innings. RHP Jonathan Guzman (0-1, 5.40 ERA) allowed five unearned runs on two hits and two walks with a strikeout in just two-thirds of an innings. RHP Luis Perez (4.25 ERA) struck out two in 1 1/3 perfect innings. C Joel Lezema (.345) was 2-for-3 with a walk.