San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: July 3

Chihuahuas 16, Albuquerque Isotopes 0 (F- 5 Innings)

Key Statistics: LF Taylor Kohlwey 4-4, HR (2), BB, 2 RBI; SS Matthew Batten 4-5, RBI; CF Brian O’Grady 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI; 1B Nick Tanielu 2-3, 3 RBI, SB (2); RF Ben Ruta 3-4, HR (4), 3 RBI; LHP Luke Westphal (W, 1-0) 5.0 IP, 0 H, 6 K

Prospect Watch:  The Chihuahuas only needed five innings of a rain-shortened evening to score a season-high 16 runs. Luke Westphal, signed out of the Atlantic League last week, didn’t give up a hit or walk in his first career Triple-A game. The only Isotopes baserunner reached on a two-out error in the fifth inning. While the game is official after five innings, Westphal is not credited with a no-hitter. Westphal, 32, went undrafted out of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh before eventually signing with the Minnesota Twins in 2015. He was released after the 2016 season and has worked in a variety of independent and international leagues since. When the Padres signed him, he was pitching for the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League with a 1.39 ERA and 40 strikeouts against 18 walks in 32.1 innings. The 6-foot-3, 230 pound lefty pitched well for Chicago Dogs of the Independent American Association over the last two years, though with a somewhat high walk rate. He’ll give the Chihuahuas staff some much-needed innings. … Left-handed hitting Brian O’Grady had three hits, including a double, as the Chihuahuas pounded out 20 hits to tie their season high despite the short game. The 29-year-old now sports a .306/.380/.628 line with 18 extra-base hits in 29 games while playing all three outfield positions. With the Padres struggling for outfield depth, he seems more of an option for the big club every day. … Taylor Kohlwey homered for the second consecutive night and collected four hits leading off for El Paso. He’s hit in each of the last seven games he’s started.

Missions 3, Corpus Christi Hooks 0

Key Statistics: DH Yorman Rodriguez 3-3; LF Michael Curry 1-2 HR (2), 2 RBI, BB; LHP Osvaldo Hernandez (W, 2-4) 6.0 IP 4 H 4 K; LHP James Reeves 2.0 IP 5 K; RHP Nick Kuzia 1.0 IP K

Prospect Watch: Dominant pitching gave San Antonio their third straight win after dropping the previous nine games. Osvaldo Hernandez allowed just four hits and didn’t walk a batter as he completed six innings for the first time this year. The 23-year-old lefty has had some strong outings, but has posted just a 4.72 ERA in 11 starts across 47.2 innings overall. He landed in our Top 25 prospects after missing most of 2019 with shoulder inflammation. Generously listed at six feet, the 2016 J2 classmember has some of the better athleticism in the system. … Lefty James Reeves followed Hernandez and struck out five of the six batters he faced. After starting the season strong in San Antonio, the 28-year-old got hit hard in a nine-game stint with El Paso. However, he’s worked three scoreless outings since returning to Double-A The Padres acquired Reeves from the Yankees for Greg Allen this winter. … Yorman Rodriguez, 23, collected three of the Missions’ seven hits. A minor league Rule 5 selection out of the Blue Jays organization this winter, Rodriguez has an OPS of just .585 between two levels this year after putting up a stellar .360/.387/.502 line in the low minors in 2019. While he caught previously, the Padres have just used the Venezuelan native at first base and DH.

Lansing Loons 8, TinCaps 6

Key Statistics:  DH Jonny Homza 2-3 HR (6), 2 RBI, 2 BB; 3B Kelvin Melean 3-4 2 2B, RBI, BB; RF Agustin Ruiz 2-5, 2B; 2B Reinaldo Ilarraza 2-4, SB (16); RHP Matt Waldron 7.0 IP 5 H 3 R 2 ER 2 BB 8 K; LHP Ramon Perez 1.0 IP 3 H 3 R 3 ER BB 2 K; RHP Edwuin Bencomo 1.0 IP H 2 R 2 ER BB 2 K

Prospect Watch: The TinCaps lost a three-run lead in the top of the eighth inning on a two-run home run, and then the Loons tacked on a final home run in the ninth, wrecking another strong outing by Matt Waldron. Waldron was the first TinCaps pitcher to throw for seven innings at home this year. The player named later in the Mike Clevinger deal has shown an increasing ability to mix a knuckleball in that could develop into a formidable weapon mixed in with his mid-90s fastball. He’s 24, so expect to see the Padres challenge him at Double-A soon. … Jonny Homza added two more hits, including his sixth homer, to continue a great season. The 22-year-old ranks among High-A Central leaders in OPS and walks while showing the defensive versatility to play around the infield when he’s not behind the plate. … Agustin Ruiz collected his tenth double of the year to match his season home run. The 21-year-old has improved since his last turn in the Summit City in 2019 with the Low-A club, but he needs to make more contact with 61 strikeouts in 43 games and a .236 batting average. He has bought into the organization’s mantra of not swinging at close pitches and looking for balls to drive.

Storm 8, Inland Empire 66ers 5

Key Statistics:  CF Robert Hassell III 3-5, 2B, RBI, BB, Sb (19); LF Angel Solarte 2-3 2B, 4 RBI; RHP Levi Thomas 3.2 IP 7 H 4 R 4 ER BB 3 K; RHP Ruben Galindo (W, 3-2) 2.1 IP 3 H R 3 K; RHP Michell Milano 1.0 IP BB 3 K; RHP Chase Walter (S,1) 1.0 IP K.

Prospect Watch: Angel Solarte hit a two-out, bases-clearing double to cap a five run fifth inning and put the Storm ahead. The club tacked on additional runs in their final two frames to seal the victory. Solarte, 20, had back-to-back multi-hit games for the first time since joining the Storm at the end of May for his full-season debut. … Robert Hassell III reached base in all four trips to the plate and connected on his 15th double of the season, good for third in the Low-A West League. He’s also third with 19 stolen bases in 21 attempts and fourth with 57 hits. He has a slash line of .289/.374/.457 at 19 years old, and it’s hard to envision him in Lake Elsinore for much more time after the All-Star break. … The Storm bullpen was strong in not allowing a run over the final three frames with six strikeouts on the last nine outs. Keep an eye on giant right-hander Chase Walter; he’s not hard to miss at 6-foot-7, 260 pounds. Walter was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Western Carolina University last summer. He has 14 strikeouts in 10 innings against six walks and five hits and has yet to allow an earned run.

ACL Mariners 7, ACL Padres 2 (Suspended – 4th)

Key Statistics: RHP Justin Lange 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 K

The ACL game was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning, although Justin Lange, who the Padres selected with the 34th overall pick last summer, was strong in his professional debut. The Llano, Texas, native sat mid-90s with his fastball, striking out three over three frames. The stats may ultimately be washed away if the game isn’t resumed.