Padres’ Minor League Roundup For April 30th

Kyle Blanks-Mandatory Credit: Albuquerque Journal.

In the final day of April, 2014, the Padres’ minor league affiliates finished Wednesday up with a 2-2 record for the third time in four days. Each game was close, excluding the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps game, which was a lopsided loss for the Baby Friars. Here is your Padres’ minor league roundup for April 30th!

Triple-A

The El Paso Chihuahuas (9-17) lost to the Fresno Grizzlies (11-16) by a final of 6-5.

For the first several innings, this game looked to be a pitcher’s duel, until Fresno blew the doors open with a 4-run fifth inning, and looked to cruise to an easy win until El Paso came charging back with 2 runs in the seventh, 1 in the eighth, and 2 in the ninth, falling just short in their comeback attempt.

Gary Brown drove in three for the Grizzlies, while Brooks Conrad, Kyle Blanks, and Tyler Greene all had multi-hit games in the loss for the Chihuahuas. Juan Pablo Oramas got leveled by Fresno, giving up 4 earned in 4 2/3 innings of work. Three other relievers saw the mound for El Paso, with Hector Ambriz giving up the final 2 runs for the Chihuahuas. Five pitchers combined to get the job done for Fresno, with Eric Cordier recording the victory.

The teams return to the diamond on Thursday, continuing their series at 7:35 p.m. CST. As of this writing, Fresno has not announced a starter for Thursday’s game, while El Paso will have Keyvius Sampson (0-2, 4.79).

Box Score

Double-A

The San Antonio Missions (10-15) lost to the Frisco RoughRiders (17-9) by a score of 2-1.

A night after recording a season-high 16 hits, the Missions were held to a season-low 2 hits in a pitcher’s duel, that left San Antonio on the short end of the stick. A brilliant performance by Frisco’s Jerad Eickhoff tossed 7 1/3 innings, allowing the two hits, and only 1 earned run. He struck out 7 and walked only 1 hitter.

The offense for Frisco, or the absence of, came by way of an RBI single from Ryan Rua, and then the win was sealed with a long home run from Roughned Odor off of reliever Adys Portillo. Matt Wisler went 5 frames for the Missions, allowing 1 earned run, but it ws Portillo who took the loss due to the long ball.

The Missions and RoughRiders continue their 4-game set on Thursday, as Luke Jackson (3-0, 2.63) pitches for Frisco, while San Antonio counters with Josh Greer (0-3, 2.40). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CST.

Box Score

Single-A Advanced

The Lake Elsinore Storm (16-11) defeat the Visalia Rawhide (17-10) by a score of 4-3.

An exciting ending in last night’s game, continues the Storm’s winning streak at six games. Lake Elsinore was once again carried by strong starting pitching, but Visalia wasn’t going to lay down. Down three runs early, they began to make their comeback, scoring single runs in each of the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to force the Storm to make take their final at-bat of the game. After being held scoreless, the teams played some free baseball. Visalia was held with out a run for the first time in four innings, and the Storm capitalized by walking-off with the win.

Zach Eflin pitched a gem for the Storm, going 6 1/3 innings, while only allowing one earned run and striking out six. Brandon Alger coughed up the lead for Lake Elsinore, before Ben Paullus allowed his inherited runs to score for a blown save, and then garnering the win in extras. Visalia used six different pitchers, none of whom did exceptionally well, with Enrique Burgos taking the loss.

Cory Adamson, Diego Goris, and Luis Domoromo all had two hits apiece for the Storm, while Brandon Drury, Alex Glenn, and Brandon Jacobs (no, not that one) paced Visalia at the plate with a pair of hits each as well. The Storm look to complete the sweep on Thursday, as they send Colin Rea (3-0, 4.30) up against Visalia’s Spencer Arroyo (2-1, 2.56) at 7:05 p.m. PST.

Box Score

Single-A Low

The Fort Wayne TinCaps (10-15) get the doors blown off by the Great Lakes Loons (15-11) by a score of 15-4.

The Loons pounced from the opening inning, and added to additional frames of scoring 5 runs each, in a complete blowout of the Fort Wayne TinCaps Wednesday night. Fort Wayne didn’t help their cause, extending innings well beyond what is considered normal, committing a total of 6 errors in the contest. A water spigot even got into the act, but at the end of the night, Fort Wayne was looking for answers.

The TinCaps lead all of minor league baseball with 49 errors committed in 2014, as they suffered their most lopsided defeat of the young season. ‘Caps starter Pete Kolich didn’t have much of a chance, as he allowed 8 runs (3 earned), over 4 innings. By the time he came out, it was simply mop up time for the bullpen. The sole highlights for Fort Wayne, was that Dustin Peterson and Fernando Perez each had a pair of knocks in the loss.

Great Lakes had five members of their lineup with multiple hits on the night, as the team totaled 15 runs on 15 hits, on 6 errors by Fort Wayne. Loons’ starter Greg Harris cruised to an easy win, going 5 innings and allowing a single run. The teams face-off again on Thursday, with the visiting Loons giving Jonathan Martinez (3-2, 3.41) the nod against the TinCaps’ Coby Coghill (1-0, 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CST.