Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Hunter Renfroe hit a two-run homer and Carlos Pimentel and three relievers combined on an eight-hit shutout Wednesday night as Triple-A El Paso defeated Las Vegas 5-0 to clinch a second straight Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern division title.
In other Padres' minor league news, the team named their seven players who will play in the Arizona Fall League; right-handed closer Jason Jester, who is now with El Paso, was named to the Double-A Texas League post-season All-Star team, and top pitching prospects Cal Quantrill and Anderson Espinoza piggy-backed in a win for Single-A Fort Wayne.
--The Padres are planning to send center fielders Franchy Cordero (Double-A San Antonio) and Michael Gettys (Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore); infielder Josh VanMeter and relief pitchers Jester, Kyle McGrath, Phil Maton and Brad Wieck to the AFL.
--Jester, 25, the Padres' 23rd round pick in the 2014 draft, was 2-1 with a 2.54 earned run average and 14 saves in 16 opportunities for San Antonio this season. He had 53 strikeouts against seven walks in 39 innings over 34 appearances.
--Quantrill, the Padres' top first-round pick (eighth overall) in the June draft, made his debut at Fort Wayne and allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in three innings. Espinoza (1-3, 4.73 earned run average), who is ranked the top prospect in the Padres system, followed Quantrill and allowed a run on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts in four innings.
Pimentel (12-7, 5.12 ERA) allowed four hits and a walk with six strikeouts over five innings to open El Paso's ninth shutout of the season. Right-hander Eric Yardley (3.17) allowed a hit in a scoreless sixth. Left-hander José Torres (0.00) gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless seventh. And Jester (4.70) completed the shutout with two scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and a walk with a strikeout.
El Paso is 73-65 and has a six-game lead in their division with five games to play.
    
Renfroe (.306) raised his RBI total to 104 with his two-run homer. Left fielder Auston Bousfield (.220) gave El Paso the only run it needed with a solo homer as part of a 2-for-3 game. Pinch-hitter Nick Torres (.322) had a run-scoring double. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.325) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
AROUND THE FARM:
    
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (34-31, 56-78) - MIDLAND 11, Missions 8: C Ryan Miller (.230) had two homers in four at-bats for six RBIs. 1B Luis Tejada (.253) was 3-for-4 with a double and a triple with two RBIs and a run scored. 3B VanMeter (.196) hit a two-run homer in four at-bats. Starting LHP Tim Berry (2-4, 7.78 ERA) allowed 11 runs (six earned) on 11 hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. McGrath (1.29) allowed a hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. RHP Yimmi Brasoban (2.67) walked two in a hitless/scoreless inning.
ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (34-31, 66-69) - STORM 4, Modesto 3 (10 innings): 3B-SS Ruddy Giron (.484) was 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored. DH Ty France (.319) was 4-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. France singled home Giron with the decisive run in the bottom of the 10th. 1B Josh Naylor (.268) was 2-for-4. RF Franmil Reyes (.274) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. 2B Luis Urias (.328) and rehabbing Padres SS Alexi Amarista (.250) were each 1-for-4 with a run scored. Starting RHP Luis Diaz (3.12 ERA) allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits with three strikeouts in five innings. RHP Gerardo Reyes (5.18) struck out three in two perfect innings. RHP Trey Wingenter (1.93) allowed two hits with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP David Bachar (1-0, 4.50) struck out two in a perfect inning to get the win.
SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (25-40, 61-74) - TIN CAPS 6, Great Lakes 4: C Austin Allen (.322) was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk with two runs scored. CF Taylor Kohlwey (.375) was 2-for-4 with a RBI and two steals. 1B Tyler Selesky (.298) had a double in three at-bats with a walk and two runs scored. LF Jose Carlos Urena (.234) was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. 3B Carlos Belen (.222) was 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. RHP Evan Miller (3.00 ERA) followed Quantrill and Espinoza and allowed a run on two hits in an inning. RHP David Bednar (2.84) struck out one in a perfect inning to get his second save.
SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (13-20, 32-39) - EUGENE 3, Dust Devils 2 (12 innings): LF Tyler Moore (.259) was 3-for-6. 1B Hunter Redman (.179) was 2-for-3 with two walks. Starting RHP Eiler Sanchez (5.91 ERA) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings. RHP Dominic DiSabatino (0.00) allowed a walk with a strikeout in an otherwise perfect inning. LHP Trevor Seidenberger (0.00) allowed a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Jose Ruiz (0.00) gave up two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. LHP Ben Sheckler (0-1, 0.00) gave up an unearned run on a hit with three strikeouts in two innings to suffer the loss.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (25-30) - The Arizona Rookie League season is completed.
    
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (36-33) - The DSL season is completed.