Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Eric Lauer made his professional debut Friday night while the Padres issued temporary promotions to prospects Nick Torres and Luis Urias to cover openings at Triple-A El Paso created when outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Manuel Margot and second baseman Carlos Asuaje temporarily departed the Chihuahuas to play in the Futures Game Sunday night at Petco Park in San Diego.
Lauer, the 25th overall pick of the June draft, allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts with the Arizona rookie Padres.
With Renfroe, Margot and Asuaje officially on El Paso's "temporarily unavailable" list, Torres joined the Chihuahuas from Double-A San Antonio and 19-year-old Luis Urias was promoted to El Paso from high Single-A Lake Elsinore.
Second baseman Urias was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in his Triple-A debut Friday night. Left fielder Torres was 1-for-4 as the 51-37 Chihuahuas dropped a 4-3 decision at Salt Lake.
Shortstop Alexi Amarista (.391) was 3-for-5 with a double. Catcher Austin Hedges (.389) was 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs. Center fielder Auston Bousfield (.304) was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Starting right-hander Bryan Rodriguez (4-2, 3.98 earned run average) allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Left-hander Buddy Baumann (1.06) issued a walk with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 otherwise perfect innings. Right-hander Leonel Campos (3.28) allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout in an inning.
Two other pitchers turned in strong outings in the Padres system Friday night.
Right-handed starter Walker Lockett (3.19 ERA) allowed an unearned run on two hits with six strikeouts in six innings for high Single-A Lake Elsinore. Right-hander Angel Mejia (3.38 ERA) allowed a hit with four strikeouts in five scoreless innings for short-season Single-A Tri-City.
AROUND THE FARM:
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (6-9, 28-57) - Missions 10, TULSA 5: 2B Nelson Ward (.233) and RF Nick Schulz (.289) were each 2-for-4 with a homer, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored. 1B Taylor Lindsey (.211) was 3-for-5 with a double, a steal, two RBIs and two runs scored. SS Jose Rondon (.281) was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. 3B River Stevens (.259) was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. LF Luis Tejada (.321) was 2-for-5 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. C Rocky Gale (.216) had a triple in four at-bats for two RBI. Starting RHP Aaron Northcraft (3.21) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings. RHP Rafael De Paula (3-2, 2.65) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in two innings. LHP Jose Torres (1.17) had a strikeout in two perfect innings for his first save.
HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (8-8, 40-46) - Storm 3, MODESTO 2 (11 innings): DH Fernando Perez, a product of Otay Ranch High, hit an 11th-inning homer to lead Lake Elsinore to the win. Perez (.281) was 2-for-5 with a double and his fourth homer. 3B Ty France (.190), a San Diego State product, had a double in four at-bats with a run scored. SS Javier Guerra (.211) was 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. RHP Phil Maton (0.59 ERA) followed Lockett and allowed a walk with three strikeouts in two otherwise perfect innings. RHP Colby Blueberg (1-1, 2.04) allowed a run on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in three innings.
LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (7-9, 43-43) - TinCaps 3, WEST MICHIGAN 2: SS Ruddy Giron (.195) was 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. 3B Carlos Belen (.232) had a RBI double in four at-bats. CF Alan Garcia (.184) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Starting LHP Thomas Dorminy (2-2, 3.18 ERA) allowed two runs on eight hits with a strikeout in six innings. RHP Corey Kimber (3.26) allowed two hits and a walk with a strikeout over three scoreless innings to get his first save.
SHORT SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (13-9) - HILLSBORO 2, Dust Devils 1 (11 innings): SS Chris Baker (.288) was 2-for-5. Starting LHP Tim Berry, a graduate of San Marcos High, made his debut in the Padres' system and allowed a run on four hits and a walk with a strikeout over three innings in front of Mejia. RHP Mark Zimmerman (1.74) allowed a hit in two scoreless innings. RHP Chasen Ford (0-1, 3.86) gave up the decisive run on three hits and a walk before retiring a hitter in the 11th.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (8-7) - Diamondbacks 9, PADRES 3: INF Denzell Gowdy (.226) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. 3B-LF Tyler Selesky (.333) had a RBI double in four at-bats. RHP Henry Henry (4.66 ERA) followed Lauer and allowed three runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. RHP Starlin Cordero (4.66) allowed a run on three hits with three strikeouts in two innings. RHP Brandon Morrow (1.80) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts in an inning. RHP Andres Munoz (8.53) allowed two hits and a walk with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. RHP Wilmer Torres (2.84) allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout in an inning.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (10-20) - ORIOLES-1 6, Padres 2: INF Felix Suarez (.242) was 1-for-2 with a walk, his eighth steal and a RBI. Starting LHP Jose Cabrera (3.00 ERA) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings. RHP Jose Hernandez (1.38) issued a walk in an otherwise perfect inning. LHP Eduardo Solano (1-1, 1.98 ERA) gave up four unearned runs on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts in two innings.