Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Right-hander Brett Kennedy and two relievers combined on a five-hit shutout for high Single-A Lake Elsinore Monday night, and three other starting pitchers in the Padres' system had strong outings.
Kennedy, 21, the Padres' 11th-round pick in the 2015 draft, allowed four hits with nine strikeouts over seven scoreless innings to improve to 3-6 and lower his ERA to 3.77 as the Storm scored a 5-0 win at Modesto. Kennedy didn't issue a walk.
Right-hander Phil Maton (0.55 ERA) followed Kennedy and had a strikeout in a perfect eighth. Right-hander Gerardo Reyes (0.00) allowed a hit with a strikeout in the ninth to complete the shutout.
Catcher A.J. Kennedy led the Lake Elsinore (42-47 overall, 10-9 in the second half) offense with two doubles in four at-bats with a RBI and two runs scored.
Second baseman Luis Urias, 19, returned to Lake Elsinore after spending three games with Triple-A El Paso, where he was 4-for-9 with a home run, and went 1-for-3 with two walks and a RBI to raise his batting average to .324.
First baseman Ricardo Valenzuela (.275) had a two-run double in three at-bats and scored a run. Right fielder Franmil Reyes (.243) was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. Designated hitter Ty France (.313) was 1-for-2 with a run scored. France was also hit by two pitches.
Right-hander Jake Nix, 20, the Padres' third-round pick in 2015, allowed one run on five hits with four strikeouts in five innings for low Single-A Fort Wayne. He has a 4.18 ERA.
Right-hander Dauris Valdez (4.84 ERA), allowed two hits with eight strikeouts and no walks over six scoreless innings for the Dominican Summer League Padres. Left-hander Joseph Lucchesi, the Padres' fourth-round pick in June, allowed a hit with two strikeouts and no walks over three scoreless innings for short-season Single-A Tri-City.
Meanwhile, three Double-A relievers -- Kyle McGrath, Adam Cimber and Rafael DePaula -- all worked two hitless innings in a 12-inning Missions win.
In addition to Urias returning to Lake Elsinore, the Padres returned left fielder Nick Torres to Double-A San Antonio Monday. Both Torres and Urias were with El Paso as replacements for outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Manuel Margot and second baseman Carlos Asuaje, who were in San Diego Sunday playing in the Futures Game at Petco Park.
AROUND THE FARM:
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (53-37): The Pacific Coast League is off for its All-Star break.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (8-10, 30-58) - Missions 8, Springfield 3 (12 innings): 1B Taylor Lindsey (.219) was 2-for-5 with a double and a homer for four RBIs and two runs scored. SS Jose Rondon (.284) was 3-for-7 with two doubles and two runs scored. CF Franchy Cordero (.352) was 3-for-7 with a stolen base and a RBI. 2B Nelson Ward (.232) was 2-for-7. Starting RHP Seth Simmons (3.21 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk with a strikeout over six innings. LHP McGrath (1.24) struck out three in two perfect innings. RHP Cimber (1.98) issued a walk with a strikeout in his two hitless innings. RHP De Paula (4-2, 2.52) also had three strikeouts in two perfect innings to get the win.
LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (8-11, 44-45) - TinCaps 4, WEST MICHIGAN 3 (13 innings): 1B Brad Zunica (.256) hit his 10th homer in the top of the 13th to give Fort Wayne the win. Zunica was 1-for-6 with two RBIs. C Austin Allen (.303) was 3-for-3 with his seventh homer and a walk. 2B Peter Van Gansen (.225) was 4-for-5. LF Jose Carlos Urena (.174) homered in six at-bats. RHP Blake Rogers (4.61) followed Nix and allowed a run on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. LHP Nathan Foriest (4.24) allowed a run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. RHP Nick Monroe (3-2, 5.40) allowed four hits and a walk with two strikeouts over three scoreless innings to get the win. RHP Louis Distacio (4.15) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to get his second save.
SHORT SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (14-11) - Dust Devils 4, VANCOUVER 1: 2B Nate Easley (.278) was 1-for-2 with two walks, a RBI and two runs scored. CF Aldemar Burgos (.186) was 1-for-3 with a run scored. C Kyle Overstreet (.225) had a double in three at-bats with a walk. RHP Evan Miller (1-0, 0.00 ERA) followed Lucchesi and allowed a hit with three strikeouts in two innings. RHP Chasen Ford (3.24) allowed two hits and a walk with a strikeout in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. RHP Mark Zimmerman (1.50) had four strikeouts in 1 2/3 perfect innings. RHP Will Stillman (1.04) allowed a run on a hit and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. RHP David Bednar (0.00) struck out the only hitter he faced for his second save.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (9-8) - The Arizona Padres were off Monday.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (12-19) - Padres 2, White Sox 1: LF Danny Tovar (.244) was 2-for-3 with a RBI. 2B Luis Guzman (.262) was 2-for-3 with a steal and a run scored. CF Edward Burgos (.389) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. LHP Adolfo Hernandez (1.93 ERA) followed Valdez and allowed a run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning. RHP Oliber Guzman (2-0, 4.15) had a strikeout in two perfect innings to get the win.