Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Red-hot outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Alex Dickerson each homered again Tuesday, as Triple-A El Paso scored an 11-7 win over New Orleans at Southwest University Park in El Paso.
Renfroe, 24, the Padres' third-ranked prospect, homered in his third straight game. He was 2-for-5 with two RBIs to raise his season batting average to .318. Renfroe is 12-for-27 over his last five games with three homers and eight RBIs.
Dickerson, 25, is even hotter. The Poway High and Indiana University product has reached base 10 times in his 11 plate appearances since he returned to the Chihuahuas after a 12-day stay with the Padres.
Dickerson was 3-for-4 with his sixth homer, three RBIs and three runs scored Tuesday. Dickerson has a 16-game hitting streak going around his stay in San Diego to raise his batting average to .415. He is 8-for-9 in his last three games with two walks, three home runs and seven RBIs.
Catcher Rocky Gale (.283) was 3-for-3 with his second homer and three RBIs.
Center fielder Manuel Margot (.289), the Padres top-rated prospect, was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, his 13th stolen base, a RBI and three runs scored. First baseman Josh Satin (.222) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Starting right-handed pitcher Daniel McCutchen (5-2, 6.25 earned run average) allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings to get the win.
Right-hander Aaron Northcraft (6.06 ERA) allowed a run on four hits with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. Right-hander Derek Eitel (3.06) struck out one in two-thirds of a perfect inning. Right-hander Leonel Campos (5.17) allowed two hits with three strikeouts in two perfect innings.
El Paso had 16 hits Tuesday to raise its team season batting average to .317. The Chihuahuas have nine or more hits in every game in May. El Paso is off Wednesday.
At Double-A San Antonio, Padres infielder Alexi Amarista began his rehab assignment going 2-for-5 with an RBI while playing both second and third in the field by design.
AROUND THE FARM
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (12-25) - Corpus Christi 2, MISSIONS 1 (13 innings): Amarista was one of three Missions with two hits. Catcher Ryan Miller (.259) was 2-for-4 with a walk and scored the Missions lone run. Infielder Nelson Ward (.238) was 2-for-5 with a double. Starting RHP Luis Diaz (4.98 ERA) allowed one run on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. LHP Kyle McGrath (3.00) allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. RHP Adam Cimber (2.35) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. RHP Jason Jester (2.92) allowed a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Rafael De Paula (0-1, 4.08) allowed a home run with two strikeouts in two innings to take the loss.
HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (17-22) - Rancho Cucamonga 4, STORM 2: Three of the four Rancho Cucamonga runs were unearned as the Storm committed five errors. Starting RHP Chris Huffman (2.84 ERA) allowed two unearned runs on a hit and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings. RHP Martires Arias (5.40) struck out three in two perfect innings. LHP Brad Wieck (2-1, 2.11) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 1 2/3 inning. RHP Aaron Cressley struck out the only hitter he faced. CF Franchy Cordero (.258) was 2-for-4 with a triple, a RBI and his sixth steal. LF Luis Tejada (.183) was 2-for-4 with his third homer.
LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (20-18) - TIN CAPS 4, Lansing 3 - Designated hitter Brad Zunica drove in all four Fort Wayne runs with a three-run double in four at-bats and a ground out. 3B Carlos Belen (.171) had a double in three at-bats with a walk and two runs scored. SS Ruddy Giron (.175) was 2-for-4. CF Michael Gettys (.281) had a double in three at-bats with a run scored, a walk and his 16th steal. Starting RHP Jean Cosme (3.77 ERA) allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in five innings. RHP Emmanuel Ramirez (1-0, 5.93) allowed a run on two hits and a walk in two innings. RHP Nick Monroe (3.86) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless eighth. RHP Trey Wingenter (0.00) allowed a hit with a strikeout in the scoreless ninth to get his first save.