San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: August 19

Chihuahuas 7, Round Rock Express 5

Key Stats: SS Matthew Batten 3-for-6, HR (4); LF Patrick Kivlehan 2-for-5, HR (18); 3B Nick Tanielu 2-for-3, 2B, 2 BB; RHP Caleb Boushley 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 K, 2 BB; RHP Shaun Anderson 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 1 BB

Prospect Watch: After giving away the lead in the eighth, the Chihuahuas got a two-run homer from Matt Batten in the 10th to win their first game under new manager Eric Junge. Batten, 26, finished the night with three hits to push his average at Triple-A over .300. The versatile defender has provided league-average offense and has even appeared on the mound in four games for El Paso this year. … Luis Campusano had a single and a walk on the night, extending his on-base streak to nine since he missed the first week of this month. While the 22-year-old catcher wasn’t ready to meet lofty expectations when he opened the year on the big league roster despite never playing in the upper minors, he’s regrouped well this season and remains one of the top catching prospects in baseball. … With starting pitching getting harder and harder to come by in the system, Caleb Boushley turned in a much-needed five innings. The 27-year-old righty allowed three runs, but struck out five and kept the club in the game. Originally a 33rd-round pick back in 2017, the Wisconsin native has been an effective swingman for the organization.

Missions 8, Corpus Cristi Hooks 5

Key Stats: RF Esteury Ruiz 1-for-5, HR (5); 3B Allen Cordoba 2-for-4, BB, 2B, BB; SS Eguy Rosario 1-for-4, 2B; RHP Pedro Avila 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 3 K, 3 BB

Prospect Watch: The Hooks jumped on starter Pedro Avila for four runs in the first, but five Missions relievers combined for 7.1 innings of scoreless work to give the offense time to come back for the victory. Avila, 24, opened the year in the bullpen, but has made five straight starts for San Antonio, allowing 11 runs in 16.1 innings of work. In relief, he posted an ERA of 3.38 in his first year of action after Tommy John surgery in late 2018. … Allen Cordoba, who has had quite a journey since spending the 2017 season on the big league roster as an unprepared Rule 5 pick, had a pair of hits and a walk on the night, pushing his team-high OPS to .862. The 25-year-old, who is a third baseman at this point, has improved his output each month since joining San Antonio in June, and has struck out just four times in his last 72 plate appearances.

West Michigan Whitecaps 4, TinCaps 3

Key Statistics:  SS Chris Given 2-4; DH Jonny Homza 1-2, BB; CF Reinaldo Ilarraza 0-3, BB SB(30); LHP Danny Denz 5.0 IP 7 H 2 R 2 ER BB 2 K; RHP Luke Boyd (L, 1-1) 1.1 IP 3 H 2 R 2 ER 2 K

Prospect Watch:  Through seven starts, Danny Denz has been the TinCaps best pitcher, posting a 1.46 ERA in his first 24.2 innings of High-A ball. While his strikeout-to-walk ratio is a  pedestrian 18:11, the 5-foot-9 lefty has only given up 15 hits. The undrafted Memphis Tiger came in on an 18.2 scoreless inning streak, tied for the second-longest stretch in the High-A Central league this year, but allowed a run in the first. Denz has a fastball that sits around 89-92 and can touch 94, a curve and a changeup all of which he can throw for strikes or get the batter to chase.  His start tonight was a good indication of the type of pitcher that he is even without his best stuff.  He mixed it up and kept his team in the game.  He’s a fun guy to watch. … Adam Kerner, another undrafted signee from 2020, is one of the better defensive catchers in the league. He threw out one of two runners attempting to steal, for a league-best 24 this season.  The former USD Torero has also hit a little through his first 10 games in August with three doubles, a home run and seven RBI, for a .250 batting average.  In his draft year, he hit .305/.364/.492 and actually signed with the Padres after running into Padres Special Advisor Logan White at a summer league game. … Catcher Jonny Homza, who has been hampered by a shoulder issue, started his second straight game as the designated hitter. He reached twice on the night.

Inland Empire 66’ers 5, Storm 4

Key Statistics: CF Robert Hassell III, 2-for-3, R, 2 BB, RBI, 2 SB (29, 30); 3B Lucas Dunn. 2-for-5, R; 1B Carlos Luis, 3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI; RHP Nick Thwaits, 6 IP, H, 4 BB, 5 K; RHP Seth Mayberry, IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K; RHP Miguel Rondon (L, 2-4) 0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, BB

Prospect Watch: The Storm led this one 3-1, going into the eighth inning before Inland Empire tied it. The Storm briefly took the lead in the 10^th inning but the 66’ers plated a pair to win in a walk-off. … Robert Hassell III did his part for the Storm offense, as he reached base four times and knocked in a run. The 19-year-old also wreaked havoc on the bases, stealing two more bases to run his season total to 30. Hassell only has five homers this season but outside of that, he has lived up to the considerable hype around him going into 2021. There isn’t much Hassell III has to prove at the Low-A level – he is hitting .356/.446/.489 this month after putting up a .939 OPS in July. … Carlos Luis stroked a pair of doubles and singled as part of a three-hit night. It was Luis’ fourth multi-hit game of August in only nine appearances. The 21-year-old first baseman hit a paltry .145/.217/.182 in July but has turned things on in August. In 39 plate appearances this month, Luis is hitting .324/.359/.569 with six extra-base hits, including a homer. … The Storm pitching staff has struggled as a whole all year, but righty Nick Thwaits turned in one of the strongest outings all year for Lake Elsinore. Thwaits pitched six shutout innings, allowing just one hit. He did walk four batters but was able to limit the damage. The 21-year-old righty from Ohio has a 1.93 ERA in three August starts, spanning 14 innings. His control has been a little spotty at times but opponents are hitting just .200 this month after tagging him for a .333 clip in July.

ACL Padres 4, ACL Royals Gold 1

Mark has the game story from the rare Arizona Complex League start that can be considered important to the big league club.