Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Alex Dickerson hit his seventh homer as a pinch-hitter to extend his hitting streak to 21 games, and shortstop Nick Noonan and right fielder Hunter Renfroe also homered Monday night as Triple-A El Paso opened a road trip with a 6-1 win at Iowa.
Elsewhere in the Padres' farm system, left-handed starter Logan Allen and right-handed relievers Gerardo Reyes and Trey Wingenter combined on a two-hit shutout for Class A Fort Wayne, and center fielder Franchy Cordero had four hits and three RBIs to lead Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore to a 14-5 win over Bakersfield.
Dickerson's three-run shot capped a five-run sixth for El Paso, which improved to 23-20. The homer extended the streak that is both the longest in Chihuahuas history and the longest in the Pacific coast League this season while raising his batting average to .414.
Noonan (.328) was 2-for-3 with his second homer with two RBIs and two runs scored. Renfroe (.325) hit his ninth homer in four at-bats. Center fielder Manuel Margot (.279) was 2-for-4 with a walk.
Left-handed reliever Frank Garces (3.58 ERA) made a spot start for El Paso and allowed one run on six hits with five strikeouts in five innings.
Right-hander Aaron Northcraft (3-0, 5.48 ERA) allowed a hit and two walks in a scoreless inning to get the win. Right-hander Derek Eitel (3.54) allowed a hit and a walk with five strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander Rafael De Paula, who was promoted from Double-A San Antonio earlier Monday, allowed a hit with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning.
DePaula was promoted when the Padres recalled left-handed reliever Keith Hessler from El Paso. The Chihuahuas also activated second baseman-outfielder Jose Pirela, who had been optioned to El Paso from the Padres, and returned first baseman Josh Satin to extended spring training.
Around the farm
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (13-30): FRISCO 11, Missions 1. SS Jose Rondon (.268) was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an error. 1B Taylor Lindsey (.235) was 2-for-4 with an error. RF Yeison Asencio (.272) had an RBI double in four at-bats. Starting RHP Bryan Rodriguez (2-4, 3.97 ERA) allowed eight runs (six earned) on 12 hits and a walk with a strikeout in six innings.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (20-25): STORM 14, Bakersfield 5. Cordero (.292) was 4-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. LF Edwin Moreno (.245) was 3-for-5 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. RF Luis Tejada (.200) was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. 2B Luis Urias (.305) was 1-for-2 with a double, three walks and four runs scored. DH River Stevens (.224) and 1B Trae Santos (.206) were each 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (23-21): TIN CAPS 3, West Michigan 0. Allen (3-2, 1.91 ERA) allowed two hits with five strikeouts over six innings. Reyes (2.53) struck out two in two perfect innings. Wingenter (0.00) worked a perfect ninth to complete the shutout and pick up his third save. 2B Kodie Tidwell (.211) was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. CF Michael Gettys (.301) was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.