Padres’ Minor League Round Up for June 10th

Only four of the five Padres’ minor league affiliates were in action last night, with only one of them being victorious. Late last week RHP Jason Lane completed his transition from left fielder to major league pitcher, when he pitched 3 1/3 perfect innings for the Padres. Lane may not be the only former big leaguer trying to pitch his way back to the Big Show. Jeff Francoeur, the former outfielder whom Sports Illustrated proclaimed The Natural, made his seventh, yes seventh, relief appearance of the season. However with a 4.26 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 3 walks, and 2 hit batsmen, Francoeur has a long way to go before he makes a 25-man roster as a pitcher. Though with Lane’s recent success never say never. Now let’s take a look down on the farm of the San Diego Padres.

Triple-A

Box Score

The El Paso Chihuahuas (31-35) lost to the New Orleans Zephyrs (35-30) 10-0.

Nothing went well for the Chihuahuas last night. Their offense was held to 3 hits. RF Jake Goebbert (.266) had the most success at the plate going 2-for-3. El Paso LF Travis Buck mustered the other hit, a double, to raise his average to .307 on the season.

The pitching staff fared no better. Starter Michael Nix pitched 5 innings allowing 5 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. Branch Kloess pitched 2 scoreless innings. The Chihuahuas’ third pitcher of the night Dennis O’Grady pitched an inning he would like to forget; he ended with a line of 1 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, and 1 K. With the score now 10-0, El Paso manager Pat Murphy, turned to his favorite pitching outfielder Francoeur to finish the game.

Tonight is El Paso’s third game of their four game series against the New Orleans Zephyrs. The Chihuahuas send Billy Buckner (4-2, 3.44 ERA) to the mound against Zephyr pitcher Brian Flynn (6-4, 3.15). Buckner will be making his third start since he was called up to the Padres for a spot start late last month. First pitch is at 8:35 pm ET.

Double-A

Box Score

The San Antonio Missions (33-21) defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks (31-33) 15-14.

If you are a baseball traditionalist, and enjoy the 1-0 pitching duels, well this game was not for you. Between the two teams there were 29 runs scored, 32 hits, 10 walks, and 6 home runs. Missions’ CF Reymond Fuentes led the team in hits with 4, 2 RBI, and 1 walk to raise his average to .284. 2B Casey McElroy led the team in RBI with 5 RBI, 3 of those coming on a 5^th inning home run. El Paso DH Jason Hagerty and 1B Lee Orr each added to the slug fest with a solo shot and a 2-run home run respectively.

Tonight begins a 12-game home stand for the Missions as they welcome the Midland RockHounds to Nelson Wolff Municipal Stadium. The Missions will send Leonel Campos (0-1, 2.95 ERA) to face RockHounds’ starter Chris Jensen (2-6, 4.52 ERA). First pitch is at 8:05 pm ET.

Single-A Advanced

The Lake Elsinore Storm had last night off. Tonight they begin a four-game series against the High Desert Mavericks before the 4-day All-Star break in Wilmington, DE. Four Storm were named to the All-Star roster. On the pitching side RHP Joe Ross (6-3, 2.82 ERA) and RHP Trevor Gott (2-3, 2.43 ERA) made the team. While 1B Diego Goris (.340/.363/.556) and RF Hunter Renfroe (.292/.366/.550) were Lake Elsinore’s position players to make the All-Star squad. A complete rundown on the All-Star roster.

Tonight the Storm send Bryan Rodriguez (1-4, 3.56 ERA) to the hill against Mavericks’ starter Dylan Unsworth (4-5, 6.07 ERA). First pitch is at 7:05 pm ET.

Single-A Low

Box Score

The Fort Wayne TinCaps (30-34) lost to the Lansing Lugnuts (28-36) 7-4.

The TinCaps starter Erik Cabrera earned a quality start lasting 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. However his bullpen could not get him the win. The bullpen allowed 3 runs in the last two innings to lose 7-4. TinCaps CF Mallex Smith and DH Ryan Miller both went 2-for-4 on the night.

Tonight the Lansing Lugnuts send Chase De Jong (0-4, 4.82 ERA) to face the Storm who has of the publishing of this article have yet to name a starter.

Rookie: Dominican Summer League

Box Score

The DSL Padres (2-7) lost to the DSL Orioles (8-1) 6-5.

Padres 3B Carlos Sosa went to 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. While Padres’ DH Jose Savinon and 2B Manuel Vizcaino both went 2-for-4 on the night. While the Padres did outhit the DSL Orioles 9-6, they did make 4 errors that lead to 2 unearned runs thus causing the Padres pitchers to work more than they needed.

Today the DSL Padres take on the DSL Orioles again at 10:30 am ET.

Keep the Faith.