Padres Down on the Farm: April 7 (Wolf throws 5 shutout for SA/Dixon homers twice for EP)
The San Diego Padres affiliates went 2-2 on the night.
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 9-4)
Fernando Tatis Jr.- (0-for-5) 1 K
Brandon Dixon- (3-for-4) 2 HR, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, BB
Alfonso Rivas– (2-for-3) 3B, 2B, Run, BB, K
Jay Groome- 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 4 K (86 pitches/52 strikes)
The Chihuahuas lost in Sacramento to the River Cats by the score of 9-4. El Paso could not contain the River Cats’ offense, as they scored in five of the first seven innings in the game. Jay Groome was knocked around for six earned runs in the game as he lasted five innings for El Paso. The southpaw almost made the Padres’ major league team out of the spring, but the Padres decided to stay with Ryan Weathers instead. Ray Kerr threw an inning in relief and allowed a run.
Brandon Dixon homered twice in the loss and went 3-for-4 in the game. Dixon is a veteran of the minors who was born in La Jolla. The 30-year-old third baseman is nothing more than minor-league depth at this point in his career. Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0-for-5 in the game, batting out of the leadoff spot. Tatis is hitting .222 early on in his Triple-A season. The Padres’ star player is due to return to the majors on April 20 against the Diamondbacks.
San Antonio Missions (Won 2-0)
Pedro Castellanos– (2-for-4) 2 K’s
Daniel Johnson– (1-for-4) 2 Runs
Jackson Wolf– 5 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K (46 pitches- 30 strikes)
CD Pelham– 1 IP, Save
San Antonio got two runs on the road and was able to maintain the Drillers’ offense in a 2-0 win in Tulsa. A win against the Dodgers Double-A affiliate is sweet, as the Missions totaled six hits in the game. Pedro Castellanos led the offense with two hits, and Daniel Johnson scored two runs in the game. Jorge Ona went 0-for-2 on the night with two K’s and a walk. There is not much thunder from Ona, who was once considered a top prospect in the system.
Jackson Wolf pitched really efficiently in his putting today, only throwing 46 pitches in five complete innings. The southpaw spun the ball well on the day, changing speeds on his breaking stuff and getting ahead of the Drillers’ hitters. Wolf has some decent upside and may be able to contribute one day to the Padres. Kevin Kopps pitched two innings and showed an impressive slider, striking out three batters. Kopps has a chance to contribute very soon to the Padres bullpen.
Jackson Wolf has a funky delivery from the left side. Lots of breaking stuff mixed with a 90-92 mph fastball @missionsmilb #Padres pic.twitter.com/7N9ir9sgcc
— James E. Clark 3 (@EVT_JClark) April 8, 2023
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 8-2)
Juan Zabala– (2-for-3) 2B, 2 RBI, K
Jakob Marsee– (3-for-4)
Josh Mears- (0-for-2) BB, Run, K
Victor Lizarraga– 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, BB, 2 K (59 pitches- 34 strikes)
The TinCaps lost on the road to the Michigan Whitecaps on Friday afternoon. The home team scored five runs in the first two innings, and Fort Wayne could not respond. The TinCaps did bring the game to a 5-2 score in the fifth inning as catcher Juan Zabala drove in a pair of runs, hitting out of the nine-spot in the order. That was the closest the Storm came in the game, as the bullpen allowed three late runs for Michigan.
Local product Victor Lizarraga was on the mound, and he did not pitch well in his debut with the TinCaps. The right-hander allowed five earned runs and was only able to get eight outs in the game before exiting. There will be better games from this right-handed pitcher.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Won 2-1)
Albert Fabian– (1-for-3) RBI, K
Tyler Robertson– (1-for-3) Run
Anthony Vilar– (1-for-2) HR, RBI, R, BB, K
Manuel Castro– 3 IP, 2 H, 5 K (33 pitches- 26 strikes)
Lake Elsinore got off to an early lead, recording a run in the third and fourth inning, and that was enough for a 2-1 win over Visalia. The Storm are 2-0 on the season. Visalia outhit Lake Elsinore in the game but were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Storm only managed two hits in the game but made the most of it by crossing two runs in the game. Catcher Anthony Vilar, a 15th-round pick in 2021, hit his second homer in as many days. The 24-year-old out of Miami is producing early in this 2023 season.
Manuel Castro started the game and went three shutout innings, striking out five batters. Castro is 20 and from Mexico. He was roughed up a bit last season with Lake Elsinore but still struck out 55 batters in 40.1 innings pitched. There is some upside with this undersized right-handed pitcher. Fernando Sanchez, a 22-year-old left-hander, relieved Castro and went two innings, allowing a run and striking out three batters. Ruben Galindo threw three solid shutout inning for Lake Elsinore, striking out five batters. Cole Paplham pitched a scoreless ninth to record his first save of the 2023 season.
Saturday’s Probables
El Paso- Anderson Espinoza (0-1) 9.00 ERA
San Antonio- Duncan Snider (0.00 ERA)
Fort Wayne- Adam Mazur (0.00 ERA)
Lake Elsinore- TBD
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.