Smith wins PCL honor after 7 shutout innings

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

Right-hander Chris Smith of Triple-A El Paso has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week after throwing seven scoreless innings for the Chihuahuas on Sunday.

Smith, 34, allowed three runs on 10 hits with 14 strikeouts in 14 innings in two starts last week. Signed as a Minor League free agent before the start of the season, Smith is 3-5 with a 3.61 ERA in 15 starts with the Chihuahuas.

On Sunday, Smith took a no-hitter into the sixth against Reno in El Paso and finished allowing no runs on three hits and no walks with six strikeouts over seven innings in the Chihuahuas' 4-1 win.

El Paso (56-53) split their past two games with Reno, losing, 4-3, Monday. Center fielder Travis Jankowski (.477) was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored Monday to end his run of hitting safely in each of his first 10 games since being promoted to the Chihuahuas from Double-A San Antonio. Jankowski was 3-for-4 Sunday.

Shortstop Ramiro Pena (.312) was 5-for-8 the past two days with two triples, his fourth homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks was 3-for-8 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored and is hitting .341 since being optioned to El Paso from the Padres on July 22.

Right-handed starter Colin Rea (2-2, 4.39 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts over seven innings Monday. Right-hander Nick Vincent (3.96) struck out one in a perfect inning.

El Paso placed first baseman-left fielder Tommy Medica on the seven-day disabled list Monday. Infielder Diego Goris was promoted from Double-A San Antonio to El Paso.

Infielder Cory Spangenberg made his rehab debut with San Antonio on Monday and had an RBI triple in three at-bats with a walk. Spangenberg has been sidelined with the Padres since June 30 with a bone bruise to his left knee.

Around the farm

Double-A San Antonio (47-61): Corpus Christi 4, MISSIONS 2 (10 innings). Starting RHP James Needy (2.64 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts in eight innings. LHP Brandon Alger (3-5, 4.46) gave up two runs on two hits and four walks with two strikeouts in two innings to suffer the loss. CF Alberth Martinez (.272) was 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.

Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore (39-68): INLAND EMPIRE 17, Storm 3. Starting RHP Ernesto Montas (0-2, 11.57 ERA) allowed nine runs on 11 hits and a walk with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings as the Storm's losing streak reached seven games.

Class A Fort Wayne (54-51): The TinCaps were off Monday.

Class A Tri-City (26-19): The Dust Devils were off Monday for the Northwest League All-Star break.

Arizona Rookie League Padres (15-19): PADRES 8, Reds 7 (12 innings). 2B Tyler Moore (.216) was 3-for-6 with a steal and a run scored. C Wilfri De La Cruz (.250) was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Starting RHP Starling Ynfante (7.12 ERA) allowed six runs on nine hits with four strikeouts in four innings. LHP Will Headean (4.24) allowed a hit with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Jordan Guerrero (2.93) allowed a hit and two walks with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Elliot Ashbeck (2-0, 3.98) allowed one run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts over four innings to get the win.

Dominican Summer League Padres (24-31): PADRES 6, White Sox 5. DH Ariel Ortega (.333) was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. RF Luis Asuncion (.245) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. 2B Joneiqui Sanchez was 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs in his debut. Starting RHP Jaimito Lebron (9.00 ERA) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning. LHP Cristian Machuca (3.44) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings. RHP Jonathan Guzman (2-1, 2.28) walked two with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning to get the win. RHP Luis Perez (1.99) allowed a run on two hits in the ninth but got the save.