Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Two of the top three prospects in the Padres organizations starred Friday night as Triple-A El Paso scored a 7-5 victory over Tacoma.
Right fielder Hunter Renfroe, the Padres'No. 3 ranked prospect, hit his second homer in as many games. He was 2-for-4 with his second homer with two RBIs and two runs scored for the 5-9 Chihuahuas.
Center fielder Manuel Margot was 3-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI to raise his batting average to .269. Margot, considered the second-best prospect in the Padres system, is 10-for-25 in a six-game hitting streak for the Chihuahuas.
Shortstop Nick Noonan (.281) was 2-for-3 with a double, a RBI and a run scored.
Right-handed starter Greg Reynolds (1-1, 6.75 earned run average) allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings to get the win. Right-hander Jose Dominguez (3.24 ERA) allowed a hit in two scoreless innings. RHP Michael Kirkman (4.50) struck out one in a perfect inning to pick up his first save.
Meanwhile, rehabbing right-hander Brandon Morrow made his first start for Double-A San Antonio and allowed four runs on six hits and two walks in five innings to earn the win in the Missions' 8-4 win over Midland in San Antonio.
Right-hander Kyle Lloyd (4.66 ERA) allowed two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in three scoreless innings. Right-hander Adam Cimber (1.29) worked a perfect ninth for the 6-8 Missions.
Left fielder Nick Torres (.333) led the San Antonio offense, going 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored.
Designated hitter Alberth Martinez (.154) was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Third baseman Taylor Lindsey (.267) was 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Second baseman Nelson Ward (.250) was 2-for-4.
There were two notable games by prospects with Class A Fort Wayne (9-7).
Center fielder Michael Gettys, the Padres second-round pick in the 2014 draft, was 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Gettys also stole two bases, giving him 11 on the young season. He is hitting .279.
And after going hitless in back-to-back games, catcher Austin Allen was 2-for-4 in the TinCaps 7-6, 10-inning loss at South Bend. Allen's season batting average still dropped to .520. He scored a run and drove in a run.
San Diego State grad Ty France (.264) was 3-for-5 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. Left fielder Rod Boykin (.196) was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a steal.
Right-handed starter Walker Lockett allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts in five innings to see his earned run average climb from 0.53 to 2.86.
Right-hander Elliot Ashbeck (1.64 ERA) allowed a hit with seven strikeouts in four scoreless innings. Left-hander Jerry Keel (0-2, 2.70) allowed an unearned run in the 10th to suffer the loss.
Around the farm
Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore (8-8) - BAKERSFIELD 10, Storm 0: Starting RHP Michael Kelly (0-2, 11.91 ERA) allowed nine runs on seven hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.