Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Hunter Renfroe hit his third homer in six games and Alex Dickerson extended his hitting streak to 26 straight games on Saturday night, as Triple-A El Paso scored a 7-2 win at Omaha to move into the lead in the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Southern Division.
The Chihuahua's fourth straight win boosted their record to 27-21.
Right fielder Renfroe hit one of three homers for El Paso. He was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Renfroe (.316) is fifth in the PCL with 11 homers and tied for fourth with 35 RBIs.
Third baseman Ryan Schimpf (.310) was 1-for-4 with his seventh homer. Catcher Rocky Gale (.278) was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, while recording his third homer.
Dickerson, who played first base on Saturday after the Padres sold James Loney (who had a June 1 contract opt out) to the New York Mets, had a double in three at-bats with an RBI and a run scored. Dickerson, who leads the PCL with a .407 batting average, was also hit by a pitch.
Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.337) was 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored.
Left-handed reliever Frank Garces (3.21 earned run average) made a spot start for the Chihuahuas and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk while posting five strikeouts over six innings.
Right-hander Derek Eitel (4-0, 3.09 ERA) allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning to get the win. Right-hander Kevin Quackenbush made his first appearance since being optioned to El Paso by the Padres and issued a walk and struck out five in two hitless innings.
To replace Loney on the 25-man roster, the Chihuahuas recalled first baseman Josh Satin from extended spring training.
At Lake Elsinore, Luis Urias, who started at shortstop for the slumping Javier Guerra, was 3-for-5 with a run scored to lead the Storm to a 7-2 win over Stockton. Urias, 18, raised his batting average to .314.
Third baseman Josh VanMeter (.303) had two doubles in four at-bats with a walk and two runs scored. Right fielder Luis Tejada (.245) was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and two RBIs. Left fielder River Stevens (.239) had a double in three at-bats with a sacrifice fly.
Right-handed starter Brett Kennedy (1-2, 2.66 ERA) allowed two runs (one earned) on nine hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Left-hander Taylor Cox (1.84) struck out one in 1 1/3 perfect innings. Right-hander Ben Paullus struck out one in a perfect ninth.
Around the farm
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (15-33): Arkansas 3, MISSIONS 1
Left fielder Nick Torres (.272) was 3-for-4 with a double, while third baseman Gabriel Quintana (.235) had an RBI triple in three at-bats. Center fielder Yeison Asencio (.255) was 1-for-2 with a walk and scored San Antonio's lone run. Righty Bryan Rodriguez (2-5, 3.91 ERA) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. Right-hander Ramon Benjamin (6.65 ERA) allowed two hits with three walks in 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
LOW CLASS A FORT WAYNE (25-24): LAKE COUNTY 14, TinCaps 4
First baseman Ty France (.240) was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Designated hitter Brad Zunica (.245) was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Catcher Austin Allen (.352), who leads the Midwest League in batting average, was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Southpaw Logan Allen (3-3, 3.03 ERA) allowed five runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. Righty Blake Rogers (13.50 ERA) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Right-hander Angel Mejia (5.40) allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with a strikeout in 2 2/3 innings.