Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Second baseman Luis Urias Wednesday won the duel honors of being named the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the Advanced Class A California League, while Triple-A El Paso scored twice in the top of the 10th to score a 4-2 win at Albuquerque and reduce their magic number to eight to win their second straight Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern Division title.
Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.323) was 2-for-6 and drove in the tie-breaking run in the top of the 12th. Right-fielder Hunter Renfroe was 2-for-4 with two walks and the double that scored Asuaje with the second run in the 10th.
Third baseman José Rondón (.235) was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Center fielder Manuel Margot (.302) was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Strarting right-hander Bryan Rodriguez (5.03 earned run average) allowed a run on four hits with two strikeouts in six innings. Left-hander Buddy Baumann (1.09 ERA) struck out two in a perfect inning. Right-hander Jason Jester (6.00) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings.
Right-hander Derek Eitel (5-1, 3.78) allowed a hit with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings to get the win. Left-hander Daniel Moskos (3.16) retired the only hitter he faced. Right-hander Leonel Campos (4.31) retired both hitters he faced to get his first save.
Urias, 19, was the youngest player in the California League at the start of the season. An excellent fielder, Urias ranks second in the league with a .323 average and fifth with a .391 on-base percentage. He has 22 doubles, three triples and five home runs for 41 RBIs. He has scored 66 runs in 109 games.
Urias has drawn 36 walks this season while striking out only 34 times.
There was considerable movement in the Padres system Wednesday. Right-handed starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet was promoted from Double-A San Antonio to El Paso and right-handed reliever Phil Maton was promoted from Lake Elsinore to El Paso. Right-handed starter Michael Kelly was placed on El Paso's seven-day disabled list.
Left-handed starter Jerry Keel was promoted from Lake Elsinore to San Antonio. Right-handed reliever Luis Diaz was activated from San Antonio's disabled list and transferred to Lake Elsinore.
Left-handed starting pitcher Logan Allen and catcher Marcus Greene Jr. (concussion) were activated from Single-A Fort Wayne's disabled list. Right-handed reliever Corey Kimber was promoted from Fort Wayne to Lake Elsinore. C Hunter Redman was transferred from Fort Wayne to short-season Single-A Tri-City.
AROUND THE FARM:
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (31-27, 53-75) - MISSIONS 4, Frisco 3 (10 innings): 1B Trae Santos (.184) was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs. DH Ryan Miller (.228) was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. C Rocky Gale (.213) was 2-for-5. 3B Josh VanMeter (.192) was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. LF Luis Tejada (.236) had a double in one at-bat. Starting RHP Seth Simmons (1.94 ERA) allowed a run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings. LHP José Torres (1.31) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning. LHP Kyle McGrath (1.37) struck out one in a perfect inning. RHP Yimmi Brasoban (5-2, 2.84) blew the save but picked up the win, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings.
ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (31-28, 63-66) - Rancho Cucamonga 4, STORM 2: RF Franmil Reyes (.269) was 3-for-4 with a double. CF Michael Gettys (.309) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Urias was 1-for-4 with a RBI. Starting LHP Dylan Stoops allowed a run on six hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in five innings. RHP Gerardo Reyes (0-3, 5.91 ERA) allowed three runs on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts in an inning. RHP Trey Wingenter (2.08) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. RHP Lake Bachar (0.00) struck out one in a perfect inning.
SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (22-37, 58-71) - TINCAPS 2, Great Lakes 1: 3B Carlos Belen (.228) was 2-for-4 with his 11th homer. DH Tyler Selesky (.322) was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. LHP Logan Allen (3.02 ERA) allowed a run on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings in his return from the disabled list. RHP David Bednar (3.38) struck out one in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. RHP Austin Smith (4-6, 4.78) allowed a hit and two walks with five strikeouts in four scoreless innings to get the win.
SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (10-17, 29-36) - Salem-Keizer 5, DUST DEVILS 4: CF Buddy Reed (.244) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. C Wilfri De La Cruz (.314) was 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored. DH Luis Asuncion (.237) was 0-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Starting RHP Eiler Sanchez (0-1, 7.94 ERA) allowed five runs on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. LHP Nathan Foriest (3.97) allowed two hits with a strikeout in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. RHP Diomar Lopez (3.19) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. RHP Jose Ruiz (0.00) struck out one in a perfect inning.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (23-28) - The Padres' game was cancelled by rain.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (36-33) - DSL PADRES 6, DSL Orioles 9: SS Kelvin Melean (.291) was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs. 2B Kelvin Alarcon (.254) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. 3B Elvis Sabala (.232) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. RF Yordi Francisco (.204) was 1-for-3 with a RBI, a walk and a steal. LF Carlos Taveras (.250) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. 1B Felix Suarez (.194) was 0-for-2 with two walks, a steal and a run scored. Starting LHP Jose Cabrera (2.79 ERA) allowed two runs on a hit and six walks with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. RHP Luiz Martinez (6-4, 12.05) allowed four runs on a hit with three walks and a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. RHP Edwuin Bencomo (5.24) allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Miguel Roman (7.50) struck out two in a perfect inning.