Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Shortstop Chris Baker hit a homer in his first start for Class A Fort Wayne, right-handed starter Walker Lockett was promoted to Triple-A El Paso and four starting pitchers turned in strong outings in the Padres' farm system on Saturday night.
Baker, who was promoted from short-season Class A Tri-City on Friday, was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in his first start with the TinCaps to lead Fort Wayne (21-34 in the second half, 57-68 overall) to a 2-0, Midwest League victory over Lake County in Fort Wayne.
First baseman Brad Zunica (.245) was 1-for-3 and was on base when Baker homered.
Left-handed starter Thomas Dorminy (4-4, 3.18 earned run average) allowed five hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings for the TinCaps. Right-hander Louis Distacio (3.55 ERA) allowed a hit with a strikeout in two scoreless innings to get his third save.
Lockett, 22, who is 9-7 overall with a 2.77 ERA, completed his single-season tour of the Padres' full-season affiliates with his promotion to El Paso. He started the season at Fort Wayne and advanced to Advanced Class A Lake Elsinore, Double-A San Antonio and now El Paso.
Meanwhile, the Chihuahuas scored a 5-1 victory at San Lake to close in on the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Southern Division title. El Paso is 67-60, with a magic number of 12.
Left-handed starter Frank Garces (4.63 ERA) allowed one unearned run on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings. Left-handed reliever Daniel Moskos (5-2, 2.96 ERA) struck out two in two perfect innings to get the win. Right-hander Derek Eitel (3.96 ERA) walked two with a strikeout in a hitless/scoreless inning. Left-hander Buddy Baumann (1.17 ERA) allowed a hit with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
First baseman Diego Goris (.286) had a double in three at-bats with two RBIs. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.328) was 2-for-3 with a steal and a walk. Third baseman José Rondón (.261) was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Designated hitter Héctor Sánchez (.345) was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Left fielder Nick Torres (.313) had a double in three at-bats with a run scored.
Elsewhere, right-handed starter Chris Huffman (3.90 ERA) allowed a run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over seven innings for Lake Elsinore and right-hander Dinelson Lamet (5-7, 3.39 ERA) allowed a run on five hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Other moves in the Padres' system on Saturday included right-handed pitcher Daniel McCutchen going from El Paso to San Antonio; left-handed reliever and shortstop Nick Noonan being sent to El Paso by the Padres, and left-handed reliever Keith Hessler and infielder-outfielder Patrick Kivlehan going from El Paso to the Padres.
Around the farm:
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (29-26, 51-74): NORTHWEST ARKANSAS 5, Missions 2: Center fielder Franchy Cordero (.312) was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while DH Gabriel Quintana (.249) was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Righty Adam Cimber (2.61 ERA) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings, and righty Jake Smith (4.50 ERA) allowed a run on a hit with a strikeout in an inning.
ADVANCED CLASS A LAKE ELSINORE (31-25, 63-63): LAKE ELSINORE 2, Lancaster 1: Righty Zech Lemond (6-4, 6.23 ERA) followed Huffman and struck out one in a perfect inning. Right-hander Phil Maton (1.64 ERA) struck out one in a perfect inning for his ninth save. Catcher A.J. Kennedy (.235) had two doubles in four at-bats with a run scored, while shortstop Ruddy Giron (.500) was 1-for-2 with an RBI, two walks and a steal. Second baseman Luis Urias (.323) was 2-for-4 with a double, while DH Fernando Perez (.219) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Center fielder Michael Gettys (.304) was 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
SHORT-SEASON CLASS A TRI-CITY (8-15, 27-34) - Salem-Keizer 6, TRI-CITY 2: Center fielder Buddy Reed (.226) had a double in three at-bats, with a walk and a run scored. Righty Cal Quantrill (0-2, 1.84 ERA) started and allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Righty Daniel Erb (2.48) allowed two unearned runs on a hit and a walk with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings, while right-hander José Reyes (0.00) struck out one in a perfect inning.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (21-28) - INDIANS 6, Padres 2: First baseman Luis Anguizola (.353) had an RBI double in four at-bats, while left fielder Jose Savinon (.375) was 1-for-4 with a steal and a walk. Southpaw Dan Dallas (1-2, 3.12 ERA) started and allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Righty Seth Lucio (8.10 ERA) retired the only hitter he faced, while right-hander Lake Bachar (3.45 ERA) struck out two in two perfect innings. Right-hander Andres Munoz (5.49 ERA) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning, while righty Starlin Cordero (2.84 ERA) struck out one in 1 2/3 perfect innings. Righty Wilmer Torres (2.66 ERA) pitched a perfect inning.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (34-32) - PADRES 4, Reds 3: Catcher Blinger Perez (.213) was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI, while second baseman Luis Guzman (.286) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Center fielder Angel Santos (.252) was 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. Right-hander Angel Acevedo (2.86 ERA) started and allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Righty Jose Hernandez (4.10 ERA) issued a walk in an otherwise perfect 1 2/3 innings, while lefty Eduardo Solano (3-1, 4.05 ERA) allowed a hit with five strikeouts in three scoreless innings.