Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Outfielders Alex Dickerson, Hunter Renfroe and Manuel Margot continued their torrid hitting for Triple-A El Paso Tuesday night while high Single-A right-hander T.J. Weir was named the California League Pitcher of the week.
Weir, 24, the Padres' 17th-round pick in the 2014 draft, made two appearances for the Storm last week and allowed no runs on three hits with a walk and 12 strikeouts over eight innings. He went seven innings against Stockton on May 27 in his third start of the season and allowed three hits with a walk and 12 strikeouts in seven shutout innings.
On the season, Weir has a 3-2 record with a 1.45 earned run average in 15 appearances (three starts). He has allowed 21 hits and seven runs (five earned) with 10 walks and 40 strikeouts in 31 innings.
Meanwhile, Dickerson, Renfroe and Margot helped El Paso defeat Sacramento 8-3 in the opener of a homestand to improve to 29-22. The Chihuahuas lead the Pacific coast League's Pacific South division.
Right fielder Renfroe (.320) had his 16th double and 12th homer in four at-bats for three RBIs and two runs scored.
Third baseman Ryan Schimpf (.304, 1-for-3, two runs scored) hit his 10th homer, and his third in four games, for El Paso. First baseman Jose Pirela (.233) hit his first homer in four at-bats for three RBIs.
Dickerson (.411) extended his hitting streak to 29 straight games with an infield single in the eighth inning. He was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a run scored. The Poway High product leads the PCL in batting and has the second-longest hitting streak in professional baseball this season.
Margot, 21, was 3-for-4 with a run scored to push his batting average to .299. He is regarded as the top prospect in the Padres system.
Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.341)was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Right-handed starter Jeremy Guthrie (3-5, 6.60 ERA) allowed two runs on nine hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings to get the win. Right-hander Derek Eitel (2.96) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk with a strikeout in an inning. Left-hander Keith Hessler (3.00) and right-hander Kevin Quackenbush each allowed a hit in a scoreless inning.
There was more movement in the system Tuesday.
Right-hander Michael Dimock was reinstated from El Paso's restricted list following a 50-game suspension. Right fielder Nick Schulz and right-handed starting pitcher Luis Diaz were placed on Double-A San Antonio's seven-day disabled list.
Right-handed pitcher Seth Simmons was promoted from extended spring training to San Antonio and left-handed reliever Nathan Foriest went from extended spring training to low Single-A Fort Wayne. Right-handed pitcher Angel Mejia was transferred from Fort Wayne to extended spring training.
AROUND THE FARM
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (16-34) - NORTHWEST ARKANSAS 5, Missions 1: RF Yeison Asencio (.259) was 2-for-4. LF Nick Torres (.275) had a double in four at-bats with a run scored. Starting RHP Kyle Lloyd (2-1, 4.45 ERA) allowed four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in three innings. LHP Brandon Alger (8.71) allowed two hits with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. LHP Kyle McGrath (2.16) allowed a hit and a walk with a scoreless inning. Simmons allowed a hit with a strikeout in his Missions debut. RHP Rafael De Paula (3.80) struck out the side around a walk in an otherwise perfect inning.
HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (25-27) - The Storm was off Tuesday.
LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (27-25) - TIN CAPS 5, South Bend 1: LF Kodie Tidwell homered in four at-bats to stretch his hitting streak to 11 straight games. DH Nick Vitter (.154) was 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. SS Ruddy Giron (.185) was 1-for-3 with a triple, a RBI and a run scored. 2B Peter Van Gansen (.238) was 1-for-3 with a RBI. Starting RHP Thomas Dorminy (2.81 ERA) allowed a run on eight hits with three strikeouts in five innings. LHP Jerry Keel (2-4, 1.44) gave up two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Phil Maton (1.64) allowed two hits with five strikeouts in two scoreless innings to record his first save.