SS Van Gansen, LHP Liriano named Northwest League All-Stars

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

Shortstop Peter Van Gansen and left-handed reliever Elvin Liriano of the Padres short-season Single-A Tri-City affiliate have been named to the Northwest League All-Star team.

Van Gansen, 21, was the Padres 12th-round pick in June out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is hitting .317 (44-for-139) with a .395 on-base percentage. Van Gansen leads all Northwest League shortstops in fielding percentage, and he ranks fifth in batting average and on-base percentage. He's also fourth in hits.

Liriano, 22, is 2-0 with a 1.31 earned run average in 12 appearances for the Dust Devils. The Dominican Republic native has allowed 14 hits and eight walks with 28 walks in 20 2/3 innings for the Northwest League's first-half champions of the North Division.

The Northwest-Pioneer League All-Star Game will be played next Tuesday in Spokane.

Tri-City (23-17) scored a 6-1 win over Spokane on Tuesday.

Designated hitter Carlos Belen (.223) had two doubles in four at-bats with an RBI and a run scored. Center fielder Justin Pacchioli (.238) was 1-for-3 with two walks, his ninth steal and a run scored. Catcher Austin Allen (.200) was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored.

Right-handed starter Brett Kennedy (1.69 earned run average) allowed two hits with four strikeouts in three scoreless innings.

Right-hander Trevor Megill (2-0, 3.00) allowed a hit with two strikeouts over two scoreless innings. Left-hander Jerry Keel (2.95) allowed a run on three hits with two strikeouts in two innings. Right-hander Phil Maton (1.40) allowed a hit with five strikeouts in two scoreless innings to get his second save.

Right-handed starter Casey Kelly (cut finger) was activated from Double-A San Antonio's seven-day disabled list. Missions right-handed starter Elliot Morris was placed on the disabled list with elbow soreness.

AROUND THE FARM

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (54-49): Tacoma 9, CHIHUAHUAS 4 -- After winning a franchise record seven-straight road games, El Paso lost the opener of a homestand. CF Rymer Liriano (.277) was 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. 3B Will Middlebrooks (.333) was 2-for-4. 2B Casey McElroy (.275) was 1-for-5 with two RBIs. Starting RHP Daniel McCutchen (6-6, 4.50 ERA) gave up seven runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings. LHP Chris Rearick (5.09) allowed two runs on a hit and a walk with a strikeout in two innings.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (43-59): CORPUS CHRISTI 3, Missions 2 -- Casey Kelly (4.26 ERA) started and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over five innings. LHP Brandon Alger (3-4, 4.34) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. RHP Cody Hebner (0.00) walked two with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 hitless innings. 3B Duanel Jones (.258) hit his sixth homer for the Missions in four at-bats. 1B Luis Domoromo (.250) was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (39-62): Inland Empire 5, STORM 3 -- 3B Gabriel Quintana (.248 with a double) and SS Felipe Blanco (.206) were each 1-for-2 with a walk. Starting RHP Kyle Lloyd (5-8, 5.00 ERA) allowed two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (49-51): TIN CAPS 6, Dayton 5 -- SS Ruddy Giron (.305) was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a RBI and two runs scored. 3B Luis Tejada (.318) was 3-for-3 with a triple, a steal and three RBIs. 2B Luis Urias (.367) was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Starting RHP Michael Kelly (4.75 ERA) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts in four innings. RHP T.J. Weir (4-3, 3.90) allowed two hits and a walk with three strikeouts in three scoreless innings. RHP Yimmi Brasoban (2.70) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. RHP Colby Blueberg (0.89) struck out two in a perfect inning for his 14th save.

ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (13-17): BREWERS 5, Padres 4 -- RF Alan Garcia (.375) was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. RHP Pete Kelich (3.60 ERA) allowed a run on four hits with a strikeout in two innings. RHP Manuel Gonzalez (7.11) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts in four innings. RHP Jacob Nix (0-1, 4.91) gave up two unearned runs on a hit and two walks with a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (22-28): PADRES 3, Reds 1 -- Starting LHP Cristian Machuca (2-1, 3.41 ERA) allowed a run on six hits with six strikeouts in five innings. RHP Adrian Martinez (0.00) allowed a hit with a strikeout in two scoreless innings. RHP Diomar Lopez (0.00) walked one with a strikeout in an otherwise perfect inning for his first save.