Padres moves spark pitcher shuffle in Minors
Relievers Rearick, Maurer promoted to big leagues
Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
The promotions of relief pitchers Chris Rearick and Brandon Maurer to the Padres from Triple-A El Paso on Friday triggered a ripple of moves in the organization.
Right-handed reliever Nick Vincent was optioned to the Chihuahuas from the Padres. El Paso also added right-handed pitchers Adam Cimber, Jerry Sullivan and Bryce Morrow from Double-A San Antonio, while sending right-handed pitchers Casey Kelly and Stephen Kohlscheen to the Missions.
The Padres promoted left-handed reliever Chris Nunn from Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore to San Antonio.
On the field Saturday, Otay Ranch High product Fernando Perez led the Storm to a 6-5 California League win over Modesto at Lake Elsinore, while El Paso and San Antonio both lost.
Designated hitter Perez, 21, was 3-for-4 with two doubles, four RBIs and a run scored for Lake Elsinore (2-1). He is off to a .400 start. Storm center fielder Auston Bousfield (.444) was 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and three runs scored.
Right-handed starter Ronald Herrera picked up the win for Lake Elsinore, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings. Right-hander Eric Yardley got the save, allowing a hit with a strikeout in 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Center fielder Abraham Almonte homered for El Paso Saturday, a night after becoming the first hitter in Chihuahuas' history to get five hits in a game. But Tacoma posted a 10-2 win over El Paso (1-2) at Southwest University Park.
Left-handed starter Robbie Erlin allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks against four strikeouts in five innings. He took the loss. Right-handed reliever Leonel Campos allowed a hit and two walks with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Designated hitter Alex Dickerson was 2-for-4 with a double for the Chihuahuas. Left fielder Tommy Medica was 2-for-4. Third baseman Brett Wallace was 2-for-3. But El Paso was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
At San Antonio, infielder Diego Goris' first-inning homer was one of two hits for the Missions (1-2) in a 4-2 loss to Tulsa.
Right-handed starter Bryan Rodriguez allowed three runs on nine hits with two strikeouts over five innings to take the loss. Nunn allowed a run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in his two-inning Missions debut.
The opener for Class A Fort Wayne was postponed a third straight day due to wet ground at the Great Lakes ballpark in Midland, Mich. The problem there is not rain. The ground from last winter's record frost is thawing, and water is seeping up from under the surface.