Padres Minor League Roundup For August 8th

New Padres’ GM A.J. Preller. Mandatory Credit-utsandiego.com

The San Diego Padres told a familiar story on the field Friday night. It was a tale of excellent pitching coupled with a lack of offense. Yet another close, low scoring, frustrating loss. This time of year can get interesting for teams out of the hunt. It’s the time of year that general managers make decisions for the future direction of their franchise. Who will be back next year? Who will be replaced by their younger and hungrier counterparts down in El Paso and San Antonio?

The Padres outfield has been a perennial source of underachievement, injuries, and scandal; a prime position in clear need of upgrades and overhauls. If only the team had a top outfield hitting prospect waiting in the wings. EUREKA! EL PASO! That’s right, The Padres #6 overall prospect Rymer Liriano has been making an absolute mockery of pitchers since joining the Chihuahuas in July. The six-foot, two-hundred and thirty pound Dominican is hitting .473 in the hitter friendly PCL and is showing no signs of slowing down. If last night’s game was any indication, he’s just heating up. How about a stolen base stopping phenom?

After all, the Padres have allowed NINE stolen bases in the past five games. N-I-N-E. Well, it just so happens that Austin Hedges, the #1 overall catching prospect  in Major League Basesball, currently plays in San Antonio. While his bat still hasn’t quite matured, his average would probably be on par with those of our current backstops. The future is now. Well, almost. {related-category]

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Triple A: El Paso Chihuahuas (58-62)

Remember that Rymer Liriano guy? Yeah, well so will the Salt Lake Bees. Liriano was a tough out for the Bees and led the Chihuahuas to a 6-5 victory. After Matt Wisler gave up a three run homer in the 1st, Liriano led off the 2nd inning with a double and scored alongside Taylor Lindsey on a Rico Noel double to right. El Paso would go on to tie it in the top of the 3rd on a Tyler Greene solo shot. Deciding that a tie wouldn’t be sufficient, the Chihuahuas jumped out in front with a three run lead following a single and back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles by Greene, Goebbert, and Liriano in the top of the 5th. The Bees put a dent in the lead the following inning when Wisler gave up a solo shot, and showed some late life in the bottom of the 9th, but were ultimately cut short. It was a nice win for the Chihuahuas. Wisler was hittable for most of  last night, giving up nine hits, while fanning six. Aside from the first inning, he was able to work himself out of jams and stay out of trouble. Wisler is ranked #68 in the MLB top 100 prospects, so it would be nice to see his ERA drop from 5.30 before the season ends.

Future Friar of the Game

Rymer Liriano: 2-for-3, 2 2B, R, RBI, BB, K

Tyler Greene: 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K

Future Friar of the Game

Matt Wisler: 6 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 K, 2 HR

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Double A: San Antonio Missions (59-59)

It took them 14 innings but the Missions won against the North West Arkansas Naturals 6-3. Everyone got a hit tonight, which was nice to see. Austin Hedges has a multi-hit game which was even nicer to see. As for the actual events of the game, Alex Dickerson put the first run up on the board in the top of the 2nd inning when he hit a solo home run to center field. The Naturals tied it up in the bottom of the 2nd on a bases loaded walk, but the threat would end one batter later on a ground ball to the third baseman, Diego Goris. The Missions came up swinging in the 3rd, and put up two runs on three singles and a double. The Naturals would chip away at the lead in the 4th, scoring a run. It could have been more had it not been for Hedges nailing a baserunner trying to steal second. NW Arkansas would eventually tie things up in the bottom of the 9th on a wild pitch. Diego Goris homered in the 14th to put the Missions up 5-2. Hedges would score the final run on a bases loaded walk to wrap things up.

Future Friar of the Game

Austin Hedges: 2-for-6, 2K, Pickoff at 1st, Threw out baserunner attempting to steal 2nd

Future Friar of the Game

Travis Jankowski: 1-for-7, RBI, K, GIDP

Yeison Asencio: 1-for-6, 2b, RBI, 3 K

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Single A: Lake Elsinore Storm (64-54)

Last night was Andrew Cashner‘s highly anticipated rehab assignment in Lake Elsinore. Cashner, who has been out since the third week of June, did not disappoint. The Storm did, however, in this 6-2 loss to the High Desert Mavericks. Although Cashner only pitched two innings, he gave up just one hit and struck out three. Nineteen of his twenty four pitches were thrown for strikes. The team struggled to hit for power with just one of their eight hits going for extra bases. Collectively, Lake Elsinore struck out ten times and walked just twice. Mallex Smith couldn’t manage to get a hit in the leadoff role, but was able to get on base with a walk in the 1st inning. Jose Rondon Struggled, going 1-for-4 while striking out three times. Bryan Rodriguez struggled when he came in to relieve Cashner, giving up five runs (four earned) in his six innings. Coby Cowgill also struggled when he came in to relieve Rodriguez in the 9th inning. Cowgill gave up a hit, a walk, and one earned run in his one inning of work. Lake Elsinore has lost six of their last eight games. The Storm plays the Mavericks again tonight at 6:05 pm in Lake Elsinore.

Future Friar of the Game

Benji Gonzalez: 3-for-4, RBI, K, CS

Friar of the Game

Andrew Cashner: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Future Friar of the Game

Jeudy Valdez: 0-for-4, 2 K

Duanel Jones: 0-for-4, 2 K

Luis Domoromo: 0-for-4

Mandatory Credit: Arizona Tourism and Events

Rookie: AZL Padres (12-27) Lost 2-6

Rookie: DSL Padres (13-45) Lost 1-3