Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Ryan Schimpf's two-run homer Saturday and five straight singles Sunday afternoon gave Triple-A El Paso two straight walk-off wins over the weekend, while right-handed pitchers Dinelson Lamet (Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore) and Michael Kelly (Double-A San Antonio) scored impressive wins.
The weekend was marked by considerable movement in the system.
Outfielder Alex Dickerson rejoined El Paso on option from the Padres as right-hander Leonel Campos was promoted from El Paso to the Major League team for one game Saturday. He was then replaced by Tayron Guerrero on Sunday.
Dickerson's return to El Paso led to the Chihuahuas sending outfielder Yeison Asencio back to San Antonio. In turn, the Missions sent infielder River Stevens back to Lake Elsinore.
Right-handed pitcher Angel Mejia was transferred from extended spring training in Arizona to Class A Fort Wayne, and left-handed pitcher Will Headean was transferred from Fort Wayne to extended spring training.
Lamet, 23, improved to 6-1 with a 1.67 ERA in Lake Elsinore's 6-1 win at Lancaster on Sunday. He allowed three runs on seven hits and four walks with four strikeouts in five innings.
Kelly, 23, celebrated his promotion to San Antonio by holding Midland to two runs on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts in the Missions 11-9 win Saturday. Sunday's game at San Antonio was rained out and will be made up when the Missions visit Midland.
Trailing, 6-4, going into the bottom of the ninth at El Paso Sunday, the Chihuahuas scored three times to defeat New Orleans 7-6 and improve to 19-17. A night earlier, Schimpf's two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th gave El Paso a 10-8 win over New Orleans.
After an inning opening walk drawn by Diego Goris, the Chihuahuas Sunday got consecutive singles by Hunter Renfroe, Schimpf, Dickerson, Nick Noonan and catcher Ricardo Valenzuela Sunday. Valenzuela's single drove home Dickerson with the winning run.
Right fielder Renfroe (.300) was 3-for-5 with his sixth homer, three RBIs and two runs scored Sunday. Shortstop Noonan (.298) was 3-for-5 with a double. Second baseman Goris (.364) was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, a RBI and two runs scored. Schimpf (.312) was 2-for-3 with two walks, a RBI and a run scored.
Right-handed starter Carlos Pimentel (6.63 ERA) allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings. Left-hander Daniel Moskos (2.60) allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout in two scoreless innings. Right-hander Jose Dominguez (2-1, 2.75) pitched a perfect ninth.
Right-hander Fabio Castillo allowed four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in seven shutout innings Saturday night in his first Triple-A start. Right-hander Eric Yardley (0.00) struck out one in a perfect eighth.
But New Orleans scored eight runs in the ninth to tie the game. Right-hander Aaron Northcraft (6.00) allowed six runs on four hits and two walks without retiring a hitter. Left-hander Keith Hessler (9.00) allowed two runs on four hits with a strikeout in an inning while blowing the save. Right-hander Derek Eitel (2-0, 3.18) allowed two hits with a strikeout in two scoreless innings to get the win.
First baseman James Loney (.342) was 3-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored. Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.341) was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, a RBI and two runs scored. Goris (.346) was 2-for-6 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. Center fielder Manuel Margot (.285) had a triple in two at-bats for two RBIs and a run scored. And Asencio (.364) was 2-for-4 with a RBI before returning to San Antonio.
Around the farm
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (12-23): MISSIONS 11, Midland 9. The bullpen struggled after Kelly departed Saturday. LHP Kyle Bartsch (8.31 ERA) allowed three runs on four hits in one-third inning. RHP Rafael De Paula (4.02) allowed two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. LHP Brandon Alger (10.93) allowed four runs on three hits and two walks with a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. RHP Jason Jester (3.48) retired the only hitter he faced to get the save. DH Mike Olt (.272) had a double and his third homer in three at-bats for two RBIs and a run scored. C A.J. Kennedy (.176) was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. 3B Gabriel Quintana (.237) was 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored. CF Auston Bousfield (.212) was 2-for-4 with a double, his eighth steal, a RBI and two runs scored.
CLASS A ADVANCED ELSINORE (17-20): Storm 6-1, LANCASTER 5-3. LHP Brad Wieck (1.83 ERA) followed Lamet on Sunday and allowed a hit with two strikeouts in a perfect inning. RHP Jose Torres (1.96) allowed two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Colby Blueberg (1.59) worked a perfect ninth to get his sixth save. 1B Trae Santos (.204) was 3-for-4 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored. On Saturday night, right-handed reliever T.J. Weir (2.00 ERA) made the start in a "bullpen" game and allowed one run on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts in three innings. LHP Taylor Cox (0-1, 2.00) allowed three runs (two earned) on a hit and three walks with a strikeout in two innings. CF Franchy Cordero (.261) was 3-for-4 with a RBI and his fifth steal.
CLASS A FORT WAYNE (19-18): WEST MICHIGAN 7-1, TinCaps 1-0. Starting RHP Walker Lockett (1-3, 3.00 ERA) suffered the loss Sunday despite allowing only one run on five hits with three strikeouts in seven innings. RHP Trey Wingenter (0.00) had a strikeout in a perfect inning. 1B Brad Zunica (.245) was 2-for-4. On Saturday, 2B Peter Van Gansen (.254) was 3-for-4 with a double. CF Michael Gettys (.280) was 2-for-4 with his 15th stolen base and a run scored. Starting RHP Mejia allowed three runs on five hits and a walk in his Storm debut.