Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Double-A San Antonio pitchers extended their scoreless-innings streak to 24 with a second straight shutout on Saturday night, and recently-acquired first baseman Josh Naylor hit a grand slam as Class A Lake Elsinore scored a fifth straight win.
But all the news from the Padres' farm system was not good.
Right fielder Hunter Renfroe, who leads the Pacific Coast League in home runs and extra-base hits, left Triple-A El Paso's game after being hit on the back of his hand by a pitch. There were no further details.
Right-handed starter Seth Simmons and left-handed reliever José Torres combined on a four-hitter, as the Missions scored a 1-0 win over Frisco in San Antonio.
Simmons (2.37 earned run average) allowed three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings, while Torres allowed a hit with four strikeouts over the final three innings to complete the shutout, as San Antonio improved to 21-22 in the second half of the Texas League and 43-70 overall.
Designated hitter Trae Santos (.154) drove in the game's only run with a single in three at-bats. Shortstop River Stevens (.254) was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Center fielder Franchy Cordero (.323) had a double in three at-bats.
The Advanced Class A Storm (26-17, 58-55) scored a 7-1 win over Bakersfield in Lake Elsinore.
Naylor (.289) was 1-for-4 with his slam.
Shortstop Javier Guerra (.203) was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Second baseman Luis Urias (.326) was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Left fielder Edwin Moreno (.272) was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Catcher Ricardo Valenzuela (.242) had a double in three at-bats with a run scored.
Starting right-handed pitcher Brett Kennedy (5-7, 3.22 ERA) allowed a run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in seven innings. Right-hander Ben Paullus (4.72 ERA) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning. Right-hander Trey Wingenter (1.85 ERA) allowed two hits with a strikeout in a scoreless inning.
There were two moves in the Padres' system on Saturday.
Right-handed reliever T.J. Weir was promoted from Lake Elsinore to San Antonio. Infielder-outfielder Kodie Tidwell was activated from the 7-day disabled list at Class A Fort Wayne and promoted to Lake Elsinore.
Around the farm
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (63-52) - Tacoma 7, CHIHUAHUAS 5: The Chihuahuas have dropped four straight series but still lead the PCL's Pacific South division by six games. Catcher Héctor Sánchez (.376) was 2-for-4 with a double, his 12th homer and two RBIs. Shortstop Nick Noonan (.330) was 2-for-4 with his fourth homer. Center fielder Manuel Margot (.313) was 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. First baseman Taylor Lindsey (.280) had a double in two at-bats with an RBI and a run scored. Designated hitter Austin Hedges (.345) had an RBI double in four at-bats. Right-hander Daniel McCutchen (9-8, 6.33 ERA) started and allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts in six innings. Righty Michael Dimock (4.75 ERA) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. Righty Eric Yardley (3.66 ERA) allowed a hit in two-thirds of a scoreless inning. Righty Brandon Morrow (7.11 ERA) gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning.

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CLASS A FORT WAYNE (18-24, 54-58) - LANSING 7, TinCaps 4: Catcher Marcus Greene Jr. (.239) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Right fielder Alan Garcia (.217) was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Second baseman Tyler Moore (.249) was 2-for-5 with a double. First baseman Tyler Selesky (.404) was 2-for-5. Righty Angel Mejia (1-3, 6.92 ERA) started and allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Right-hander Blake Rogers (5.98 ERA) allowed a run on a hit and three walks with a strikeout in two innings. Righty David Bednar (4.66 ERA) struck out one in a perfect inning.
SHORT-SEASON CLASS A TRI-CITY (3-6, 22-25) - Boise 4, DUST DEVILS 0: Southpaw Joey Lucchesi (1.80 ERA) started and allowed two hits with seven strikeouts in four scoreless innings. Righty Braxton Lorenzini (2-3, 7.62 ERA) allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings. Righty Diomar Lopez (2.25 ERA) allowed a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning. Right fielder Luis Asuncion (.228) was 1-for-2 and was hit by a pitch.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (15-22) - The Padres were off Saturday.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (27-27) - BLUE JAYS 2, Padres 1: Second baseman Eguy Rosario (.338) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. First baseman Elvis Sabala (.231) was 1-for-2. Lefty Jose Cabrera (2.75 ERA) started and allowed a hit with two walks and three strikeouts in three scoreless innings. Lefty Adolfo Hernandez (1.36 ERA) allowed three hits and three walks with six strikeouts in five scoreless innings. Righty Edwuin Bencomo (0-2, 5.63 ERA) gave up two unearned runs on a hit without retiring a hitter in the bottom of the ninth to take the loss.