The San Diego Padres, minor league affiliates, went 3-4 on Thursday.

Here is a recap of the day’s events.

El Paso Chihuahuas (Defeated Oklahoma City Dodgers 12-6) (38-55 on the season)

Jay Groome: 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 2 K (92 pitches, 54 strikes)

Oscar Mercado: (3-for-4), 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 SB

Brandon Dixon: (1-for-5), R, HR, 3 RBI

Luis Liberato: (2-for-5), R, 2B, RBI

Thanks to a pair of hits and a walk, the Dodgers were able to manufacture a run in the first inning against Jay Groome. Thankfully for the left-hander, he got run support and lots of it. Oscar Mercado homered in the second inning, his first with El Paso. Brandon Dixon belted a three-run home run the following frame. Ryan Ward homered in the fourth to cut Oklahoma City’s deficit to 4-2. Mercado singled in two in the fifth as part of a five-run inning.

102.1 MPH off the bat for Óscar Mercado! His first HR since joining El Paso!#FearTheEars pic.twitter.com/IrdEerqUe8

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) July 21, 2023

Groome was able to keep the Dodgers in check for most of the game, a two-run double in the sixth from Kole Calhoun and two-run home run in the seventh from Drew Avans ended his day, but he was still able to pick up his third win of the season. Mercado homered again in the ninth to cap off his best game as a Chihuahua.

San Antonio Missions (Lost to Frisco Roughriders 10-3) (44-43 on the season)

Gabe Mosser: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K (37 pitches, 22 strikes)

Jackson Merrill: (3-for-5), R, HR, RBI

Michael De La Cruz: (1-for-5), R, HR, RBI

Despite getting a 1-2-3 first inning, things went awry for Gabe Mosser and San Antonio in the bottom of the second. Two singles to lead off the inning, followed by a fielding error from first baseman Cole Cummings, allowing a run to score. Liam Hicks singled in a run two batters later. Another error in the inning, this time on a bad throw from shortstop Jackson Merrill, made it 3-0. Later in the inning, Luisangel Acuna singled in two as part of a five-run frame.

First Double-A home run for Jackson Merrill is in the books 📚

The top @Padres prospect crushes a curveball for @missionsmilb, his 11th dinger of the season: pic.twitter.com/KpPHPkyZ37

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 21, 2023

In the fourth inning, Merrill made up for his error earlier in the game with a solo home run to left field, his first since being promoted to Double-A. The Padres top prospect is now hitting .321 with a .964 OPS. Michael De La Cruz followed with a solo shot of his own. Daniel Johnson the drew a five-pitch walk before Marcos Castanon singled to center. An error by the centerfielder allowed Johnson to score from first.

Jose Espada allowed just one unearned run out of the pen in 3.2 innings while striking out three. The long reliever now has a 2.75 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 55.2 innings in 2023. Frisco added three more runs in the sixth, including a pair of long balls.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost to Lake County Captains 11-2) (45-42 on the season)

Henry Henry: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K (39 pitches, 25 strikes)

Lucas Dunn: (1-for-4), R, SB

Kervin Pichardo: (0-for-0), RBI, 3 BB, HBP

Not a lot went right for the TinCaps on Saturday. Henry Henry was efficient in three innings, allowing just one runs on 39 pitches. The bullpen kept them in it for most of the game despite only two base hits all game. Lake County scored ten runs in the final three frames, including a bases-clearing triple from Milan Tolentino, part of a five-RBI night. Fort Wayne was able to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth and scored twice to avoid the shutout. Kervin Pichardo reached base in all four of his plate appearances.

Lake Elsinore Storm (Defeated Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 18-0) (41-43 on the season)

Henry Baez: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K (75 pitches, 48 strikes)

Kai Murphy: (3-for-5), 3 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI

Samuel Zavala: (3-for-5), 4 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB

Ethan Salas: (2-for-3), 3 R, 2B, RBI, BB

Griffin Doersching: (1-for-4), R, HR, 3 RBI

To the 20… to the 10… Samuel Zavala takes it all the way to the house for an inside-the-park home run!! #StormTheLake pic.twitter.com/fvseuHuWMG

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) July 21, 2023

In the bottom of the first inning, Rancho Cucamonga starter Gabe Emmett was able to get Kai Murphy to fly out to left field. He proceeded to strike out Tyler Robertson. It seemed like any normal game, except that it wasn’t. It was the Samuel Zavala game. Normally manning centerfield, the Storm designated hitter on Thursday lasered a line-drive that got past Quakes centerfielder Jose De Paula. The 19-year-old prospect ran all the way around the bases for his ninth home run of the season. It would set the tone for the Storm’s best game of the year.

Innings: 2
Home Runs: 3
Runs: 5
Fun: A Lot of pic.twitter.com/E2eqi3RMS5

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) July 21, 2023

Griffin Doersching and Murphy each hit two-run home runs in the second inning. In the third inning, Zavala his second home run of the game, this time of the normal variety. It was the first of three runs in the inning.

Samuel Zavala leaves the ballpark and now has TWO home runs in two at bats tonight!!#StormTheLake pic.twitter.com/IIhAeXSceQ

— Lake Elsinore Storm (@Storm_Baseball) July 21, 2023

The Quakes changed pitchers hoping for a change of fortunes, but it was more of the same in the fourth inning. Murphy led off with a solo shot. Robertson walked, followed by Zavala, who singled to right. Ethan Salas proceeded to double to right. Devin Ortiz singled to left, bringing both Zavala and Salas in for another four-run inning. The Storm would add on three more runs in each the fifth and sixth innings.

While all the runs were happening, Henry Baez managed to turn in one of his best outings of the season, shutting down Rancho Cucamonga in five scoreless frames. The right-hander struck out four while allowing just four hits. The bullpen held onto the 18-0 shutout, the most runs Lake Elsinore has scored in a game this season.

DSL Padres Brown (Lost to DSL Arizona Red 4-3) (12-19 on the season)

Wilmer Ramirez: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K

William Santana: (1-for-1), 2 R, 2 BB

Alexander Garcia: (1-for-4), 2 RBI

Wilmer Ramirez had one of his best starts of the season on Saturday. The left-hander struck out three and allowed just three hits in five innings. The only run came in the first inning, thanks to a pair of singles and a wild pitch. The Padres opened the fifth with a pair of singles from William Santana and Moises Valdez. Alexander Garcia grounded out, but Santana was able to score, tying the game. Valdez came around to score two batters later on a single to left center from Yoiber Ocopio.

The Padres extended its lead to 3-1 in the seventh when Garica singled in Santana. Arizona didn’t go away, though—a hit by pitch and two straight singles, followed by a throwing error. Two batters later, Arizona pulled off a double steal and tied the game on another throwing error. A walk-off single ensued to end the game.

DSL Padres Gold (Defeated DSL Orioles Orange 5-1) (19-12 on the season)

Jesus Lopez: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K

Hugo Sanchez: (2-for-4), 2B, 2 RBI

Jose Cordero: (2-for-3), R, 2 3B, RBI

Ismael Javier: (2-for-2), 2B, 2 RBI, HBP

The Orioles struck first on Thursday with a first-inning run thanks to a Padres error, but it would be the only lead they would have all game. Ismael Javier singled in Kevin Hacen and Oliver Carillo in the bottom of the first. Carillo would score again in the second on an RBI double from Hugo Sanchez. Jose Cordero tripled in a run on the sixth, his second three-bagger of the game. Cordero would score on a single from Sanchez has the Padres routed the Rockies 5-1.

ACL Padres (Lost to ACL Rockies 7-1) (17-15 on the season)

Luis Gutierrez: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 0 K

Romeo Sanabria: (1-for-2), R, HR, RBI, BB

Alain Camou: (2-for-4), 2 2B

Padres starter Luis Gutierrez struggled to find his control on Thursday and left after getting only out. He was tagged for three runs, including an RBI single from Luis Mendez. The Rockies racked up 11 hits on the day, scoring seven runs. The Padres, meanwhile, were limited to just four hits. The only run came on a home run from Romeo Sanabria.

Friday’s Probables:

El Paso: Ryan Weathers (0-2, 4.03 ERA, 38 K)

San Antonio: Jackson Wolf (8-8, 3.39 ERA, 104 K)

Fort Wayne: Austin Krob (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 14 K)

Lake Elsinore: TBD

DSL Brown: TBD

DSL Gold: TBD

ACL Padres: TBD

Al Scott

Al was born in Fresno, California with a passion for talking and writing about sports. The lifelong Padres fan is currently attending Fresno State as he pursues a degree in broadcast journalism. In addition to being a student, he does public address announcing at both the high school and collegiate levels.