Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Austin Allen and Luis Tejada continued their hot hitting for Class A Fort Wayne, while Ryan Schimpf hit a two-run homer and Hunter Renfroe had three hits for Triple-A El Paso, as both the TinCaps and Chihuahuas scored 10 runs in home victories Friday night.
Elsewhere in the Padres farm system, right-handed starting pitcher Cesar Vargas allowed one hit with seven strikeouts for Double-A San Antonio. Vargas lowered his earned run average to 1.42, although the Missions would suffer a 2-0 loss at Springfield.
Friday night's home opener for defending Pacific Coast League Pacific South Division champion El Paso attracted 9,635 to Southwest University Park to see a 10-3 victory over Reno.
Right fielder Renfroe, 24, the Padres' first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2013 draft responded with his best game of the young season, going 3-for-5 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored to raise his average to .241.
Third baseman Schimpf (.235) was 2-for-4, including his first homer, with two RBIs and two runs scored for the 2-5 Chihuahuas. Shortstop Nick Noonan (.273), from Francis Parker High, was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.348) was 2-for-5 with a run scored and left fielder Jose Pirela (.182) had a double in four at-bats for two RBIs.
Right-handed starter Daniel McCutchen (2-0, 7.36 ERA) allowed three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in six innings to pick up the win. Right-handed reliever Leonel Campos (3.60 ERA) allowed a hit with five strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander Derek Eitel (0.00) allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth.
In Fort Wayne's 10-3 victory over South Bend, four players had two hits for the TinCaps, who are off to a 6-3 start and leading Minor League Baseball in runs scored (63 in nine games) while ranking among the top three leaders in six other offensive categories.
For the second straight game, Allen's batting average (.655) fell despite getting two hits. The 22-year-old catcher, the Padres' fourth-round pick last June, was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored and is off to a 17-for-29 start with the bat.
Right fielder Tejada (.357) was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored to raise his RBI total for the past two games to seven.
Shortstop Peter Van Gansen (.429) was 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored. Center fielder Michael Gettys (.242) was 2-for-5 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. Designated hitter Kodie Tidwell (.136) had a two-run double in three at-bats and second baseman Daniel Bravo had a hit with two RBIs in his Fort Wayne debut.
Three TinCaps pitchers each worked three innings and allowed a run.
Right-hander Jacob Nix (9.64) allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout. Left-hander Logan Allen, 18, who is ranked the fifth best prospect in the Padres system, allowed a run on four hits and a walk with four strikeouts to get credit for the win while lowering his ERA to 1.50. Left-hander Will Headean (1.13) allowed a run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
In the Texas League, left-hander Ramon Benjamin (0-1, 7.36 ERA) followed Vargas and gave up a hit in front of a two-run homer in one-third of an inning to suffer the loss for the 4-4 Missions.
Right-hander Eric Yardley (3.38) worked the final, perfect two-thirds of an inning and had a strikeout.
Catcher Rocky Gale (.222) was 2-for-3 for the Missions. The Padres top two prospects are off to slow starts. Center fielder Manuel Margot is hitting .148 for El Paso. Shortstop Javier Guerra is hitting .125 for Lake Elsinore.
In moves Friday, El Paso placed right-handed pitcher Cory Mazzoni on the seven-day disabled list and promoted right-handed pitcher Aaron Northcraft from extended spring training. Bravo joined Fort Wayne from extended spring training.
AROUND THE FARM:
HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (5-4): Rancho Cucamonga 5, STORM 3 - 1B Trae Santos (.115) and C Jose Ruiz (.296) were each 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. 2B Luis Urias (.313) was also 2-for-4. Starting RHP Michael Kelly (0-1, 7.00) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts in five innings. LHP Jose Torres (1.42) allowed a run on two hits with three strikeouts in two innings. RHP T.J. Weir (0.00) had a strikeout in two perfect innings.