Padres Down on the Farm: May 23 (Morejon makes ’23 debut for LE/Missions score 14/Groome hit hard for EP)
Credit: Lake Elsinore Storm
Here is a recap of the day’s events.
El Paso Chihuahuas (Lost 13-7 to the Reno Aces) (19-27 on the season)
Jay Groome: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 5 BB, 6 K (98 pitches, 56 strikes)
Preston Tucker: (3-for-5), 2 R, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI
Alfonso Rivas: (1-for-3), 2 R, 2 BB
Kevin Plawecki: (1-for-3), 2 RBI, 2 BB
Jay Groome was hit hard Tuesday night for eight runs on nine hits and five walks. The Aces had six players have multiple hits, including Jake McCarthy, who capped off an eight-run fifth inning with a three-run home run off Nabil Crismatt. The Aces took a 10-2 lead and never looked back. McCarthy, Kyle Lewis, and Alek Thomas combined to go 9-for-17 with seven runs, a double, and three home runs while driving in 10.
El Paso held a brief 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on the heels of a two-run single from Kevin Plawecki. The recently signed catcher has a .973 OPS in three games since joining the Chihuahuas. Preston Tucker had three extra-base hits on the evening, including a solo shot in the seventh inning.
San Antonio Missions (Beat Amarillo Sod Poodles 14-4) (20-20 on the season)
Efrain Contreras: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 8 K (91 pitches, 56 strikes)
Daniel Johnson: (2-for-2), 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB
Michael De La Cruz: (3-for-3), 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Connor Hollis: (2-for-4), R, 2 RBI
Ripken Reyes: (1-for-3), R, 2 RBI, HBP
The Missions returned to .500 with a season-high 14 runs scored (most by team since 8/26/22 vs Midland) despite only two extra-base hits, going 6-for-14 with RISP. San Antonio had four players with multiple hits, including catcher Michael De La Cruz, who reached base all five times he came to bat.
Efrain Contreras was strong for the majority of his start on Tuesday, holding the Sod Poodles scoreless through the first four innings. Amarillo got to Contreras in the fifth, including a two-out, two-run single from Caleb Roberts, chasing him from the game. Lake Bachar relieved him, picking up his second win on the season.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (Lost 11-4 to Lansing Lugnuts) (15-25 on the season)
Jairo Iriarte: 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 K (72 pitches, 44 strikes)
Nathan Martorella: (2-for-3), R, 2B, 2 BB
Brandon Valenzuela: (2-for-5), R, 2B, RBI
Lucas Dunn: (1-for-5), R, 2B, RBI
Eager to jump out to a lead, Fort Wayne was able to manufacture a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday. After a walk to first baseman Nathan Martorella, Lucas Dunn doubled to center field. Brandon Valenzuela singled him in the next at-bat for a 2-0 TinCaps lead.
Despite an early lead, the Lugnuts piled on 11 runs, including nine in the fourth and fifth innings. Lansing designated hitter Jonny Butler had three hits, including a double while scoring and driving in a pair.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Defeated Rancho Cucamonga 4-3 ) (21-16 on the season)
Austin Krob: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K (82 pitches, 49 strikes)
Nick Vogt: (1-for-4), R, HR, RBI
Griffin Doersching: (2-for-4), R, 2 2B, RBI
Rosman Verdugo: (1-for-3), RBI, BB, SB
Nick Vogt opened the game in exciting fashion, sending a 2-2 pitch laser over the left field wall to give the Storm a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Adrian Morejon made his first rehab appearance of the season. The lefty faced three batters, walking two and striking out one before leaving the game. Morejon, 24, went 5-1 with a 4.24 ERA in 26 relief appearances for the Padres last season. If he can stay healthy, he should be able to return to the Padres sometime in early June.
Autin Krob took over for Morejon and was lights out for Lake Elsinore. The 2022 12th-rounder from Texas Christian University struck out six in 4.1 scoreless innings. Krob now has a 1.86 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 29 innings this season for the Storm.
Griffin Doersching had two doubles, including one in the fourth inning to drive in Graham Pauley. The first baseman doubled again in the seventh before scoring on a single from Rosman Verdugo.
In extra innings, Lake Elsinore manufactured some situational inning, scoring on a sac fly. Kobe Robinson picked up the win, his fifth of the season, after shutting down the Quakes the final three innings of the game, allowing just one hit. Robinson has struck out 21 in 19 innings this season to the tune of a 1.89 ERA.
Wednesday’s Probables:
El Paso: Matt Waldron (0-4, 7.45 ERA, 47 K)
San Antonio: Nolan Watson (2-2, 1.27 ERA, 22 K)
Fort Wayne: TBD
Lake Elsinore: TBD
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.