Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Offense is what has carried Triple-A El Paso to a 37-25 start and first place in the Pacific Coast League's Pacific South Division. And the Chihuahuas' offense was at it again Sunday, getting 13 hits in an 11-3 win over Sacramento in El Paso. As a team, El Paso is hitting .313 on the season.
Right fielder Hunter Renfroe, third baseman Ryan Schimpf and left fielder Jabari Blash all homered Sunday.
Renfroe (.313) was 3-for-5 with his 21st double, 15th homer and five RBIs. Schimpf was 2-for-4 with his 15th homer (the second-highest total in the PCL) for two RBIs. Blash (.245) was 2-for-4 with his fourth homer and a steal.
Center fielder Manuel Margot (.302) was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.326) was 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored.
Right-handed starter Daniel McCutchen (7-3, 5.20 ERA) gave up one unearned run on two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over six innings. Right-hander Michael Dimock (2.45) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander Eric Yardley (2.70) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. Left-hander Daniel Moskos (1.95) allowed a hit before getting the final out.
The bats were also hot for Class A Fort Wayne, which had 17 hits in a 7-3 win at Dayton to improve to 35-28.
Catcher A.J. Kennedy (.235) was 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored for the TinCaps. Midwest League All-Stars Michael Gettys (.322) and Austin Allen (.328) each had three hits, as did Peter Van Gansen (.245). Center fielder Gettys was 3-for-5 with a double and a walk. Catcher Allen, who was the TinCaps' designated hitter Sunday, was 3-for-5 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Second baseman Van Gansen was 3-for-5 with a triple, a RBI and a run scored.
Right-handed starter J.C. Cosme, 20, improved to 7-2 with a 2.64 ERA. He allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts over six innings. Right-hander Blake Rogers (3.65) allowed a run on four hits with two strikeouts over two innings. RHP Gerardo Reyes (1.96) struck out one in a perfect ninth.
AROUND THE FARM
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (19-42): CORPUS CHRISTI 3, Missions 2. CF Auston Bousfield (.194) was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. 3B River Stevens (.333) was 1-for-3 with a RBI. Starting RHP Kyle Lloyd (2-3, 5.05 ERA) allowed all three runs on five hits and four walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (28-35): Rancho Cucamonga 5, STORM 3. RF Franmil Reyes (.239) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. SS Javier Guerra (.205) was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Starting RHP Walker Lockett (1-3, 3.06 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts in five innings.
DSL PADRES (3-4): The Dominican Summer League does not play on Sundays.