Today’s action saw the Missions and Storm victors at home, while the TinCaps dropped an extra-innings affair, the Chihuahuas fell in a typical Triple-A West outing, and the newest members of the organization won a slugfest in the desert.

Patrick Kivlehan has had a strong September. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
Tacoma Rainiers 10, Chihuahuas 8
Key Stats: RHP Jose Quezada, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K; RHP Parker Markel, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K; 1B Taylor Kohlwey, 2-for-5, 2B; SS Matt Batten, 2-for-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI; LF Patrick Kivlehan, 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI
Prospect Watch: In a back-and-forth affair reminiscent of the classic PCL days, El Paso led this game 4-0 after the 1st inning. The scoring got started by a single off the bat of Matt Batten, who would also add a two-run home run to keep the rally alive and bring the Chihuahuas within two in the bottom of the 9th. The 26-year-old Batten has kept his momentum from a strong August going into September, raising his total slash line for the season to .290/.367/.376. … It was an excellent return to the Chihuahuas for Chihuahua, Mexico, native Jose Quezada. The 26-year-old righty was brought back to El Paso from the Missions on September 14th and delivered 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Quezada was the Padres’ 10th round selection in 2018 out of Texas Tech University. … The other zeroes on the scoreboard came courtesy of Parker Markel, who has

Taylor Kohlwey has had a breakout season. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)
continued his scoreless innings streak in the month of September to 6.2 innings pitched across five appearances. The 31-year-old joined the Padres in the offseason as a free agent after spending 2020 at the Los Angeles Angels’ alternate site. In 55.1 innings this year, he has struck out 87 batters. … A pair of hits has helped Taylor Kohlwey blaze through September in much the same way he did July, with a .386/.472/.568 slash line for this month. The 27-year-old Kohlwey has set career highs in most every category as he’s hit .325 in 354 at-bats, 287 of those coming after being promoted to El Paso. … After a forgettable summer stateside, 2021 Olympian Patrick Kivlehan has rebounded nicely this month, buoyed by tonight’s two-double game. The 31-year-old Kivlehan, a 2012 fourth round pick of the Seattle Mariners, is batting .308 this month, after .194 and .167 marks in July and August, respectively.

Esteury Ruiz has been a consistent contributor to San Antonio since returning from injury. (Photo: Joe Alexander)
Missions 8, Corpus Christi Hooks 6
Key Stats: LHP Jerry Keel, 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K; LHP Sam Williams (W, 3-2), 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, BB, 2 K; CF Esteury Ruiz, 2-for-4, 2B, R, 4 RBI; 2B Ethan Skender, 2-for-4, R, RBI

Sam Williams got the win on Thursday. (Photo: Rey Holguin)
Prospect Watch: The Missions were boosted by the second consecutive quality start for Jerry Keel. Keel, the Padres’ ninth round selection in 2015 out of Cal State Northridge, has rebounded from a rough summer to post a 1-1 record and 4.50 ERA in three September starts for San Antonio. … The win went to fellow lefty Sam Williams, who saw a streak of nine straight outings without allowing a run end in his last appearance, but started another one of his own tonight. The 25-year-old Williams, a native of Canton, Ohio, was signed by the Padres after the 2019 draft. …San Antonio rallied for three runs in the first inning, and five runs in the seventh, and both outbursts had Esteury Ruiz at the center of them, driving in a pair of runs with a single in the first, and clearing the bases with a double plus error which credited him with two more RBI. The 22-year-old Ruiz was acquired along with Matt Strahm in a trade with Kansas City in the summer of 2017. … Since being promoted from Fort Wayne, all Ethan Skender has done is hit. In fact, he’s only failed to get a hit in three of the 19 games he’s played for the Missions. The 24-year-old Skender has become one of the better stories of the second half, as he’s playing his first full season of professional ball due to injuries and the pandemic. The native of Metamora, Illinois was drafted in the 28th round by the Padres in 2016.

Edwuin Bencomo continues to deal for the TinCaps. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Dayton Dragons 6, TinCaps 5 (F/10)
Key Stats: RHP Edwuin Bencomo, 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K; CF Robert Hassell III, 1-for-3, R, 3 BB; 3B Justin Lopez, 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB; 2B Ripken Reyes, 1-for-1, 2 R, 3 BB
Prospect Watch: Down 5-0 after three innings, Fort Wayne rallied back furiously late in the game, with two runs in the 7th, and three in the 9th, before falling in extras in Dayton. The comeback was backed by three innings of scoreless relief courtesy of Edwuin Bencomo. Bencomo, a 22-year-old righty from Rio Chico, Venezuela, has a 78:18 K:BB ratio and 1.08 WHIP in 65.2 innings this

Robert Hassell III continues to contribute in all facets since joining the TinCaps. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
year for the TinCaps. Bencomo was signed as a free agent by the Padres in the spring of 2016. … A trio of walks has Robert Hassell III at nine free passes in 16 games since being promoted to the TinCaps, and 66 overall on the season. The 2020 1st round pick is slashing .250/.338/.517 in September. … The game was tied in the top of the 9th by a two-RBI single off the bat of Justin Lopez. Lopez, a 21-year-old infielder from Bobare, Venezuela, is now on a five-game hitting streak. … The TinCaps got three walks at the top and bottom of the order, as Ripken Reyes also worked his way on base via the free pass three times while batting ninth. Reyes, the Padres’ 30th round selection in 2019 out of USD, joined Fort Wayne on August 17th after batting .364 in nine games for Lake Elsinore.

Jackson Wolf in action in the ACL. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
Storm 5, Inland Empire 66ers 3
Key Stats: LHP Jackson Wolf, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K; LHP Hazahel Quijada (W, 4-1), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K; RHP Alek Jacob (S, 2), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K; SS Jarryd Dale, 2-for-4, R, RBI, SB; 3B Cole Cummings, 2-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI;
Prospect Watch: It was an impressive win for the Storm, who continue to get big contributions from players acquired in or after this season’s draft. The game was started by Jackson Wolf, who built on his three scoreless in his last start with two more scoreless innings of work. Wolf, a 6-foot-7 lefty from West Virginia who was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, has a 1.33 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB through 15 innings in his first pro season. … The win went to fellow southpaw Hazahel Quijada, who is now 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 15 appearances for Lake Elsinore. Quijada, the Padres’ 17th round selection in 2018 out of UC Riverside, spent most of 2019 on the injured list with an elbow injury he rehabbed through the pandemic. debuting with the Storm in late July after making one outing in the Arizona Complex League. … The save went to 2021 16th rounder Alek Jacob who has now gone 17.2 innings in 12 appearances without allowing an earned run. In that span, the 23-year-old Gonzaga product has struck out 27 batters against one walk, helping him to a 0.79 WHIP. … With two hits, a run, RBI, and stolen

Cole Cummings has had an excellent pro debut. (Photo:Jerry Espinoza)
base, Jarryd Dale continues to thrive in September and earn consistent playing time at shortsop. The 21-year-old Aussie is slashing .296/.385/.407 for the month. … Former UCSB Gaucho and 2021 UDFA Cole Cummings has continued a breakout summer that has him nearing, meeting, and even exceeding some of his collegiate numbers at the start of his professional career. In his first 117 plate appearances of professional baseball, Cummings is slashing .326/.444/.554. In 359 plate appearances of NCAA ball, Cummings slashed .321/.447/.467.

James Wood has stolen 10 bases this season. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
ACL Padres 10, ACL Cleveland 6
Key Stats: LHP Matt Sparling (S, 1), 2 IP, 2 , 0 R, BB, K; CF James Wood, 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB; 2B Nerwilian Cedeno, 3-for-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI; LF Justin Farmer, 3-for-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI; SS Charlis Aquino, 2-for-3, 2B, R, 3 RBI;
Prospect Watch: The ball travels especially well in the desert air now that the Monsoon is over and moisture has left the area, and it showed in this game, with the Padres winning a slugfest in Peoria. They did get two scoreless innings from Matt Sparling for his first professional save, however. Sparling, signed after the 2021 draft out of Florida Atlantic, is a 23-year-old lefty who has debuted professionally to the tune of 9.1 scoreless innings and a 0.96 WHIP. In his FAU bio, he says his unusual skill is the ability to solve a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute. … Pacing the offense from the leadoff spot, James Wood scored two runs to go with his pair of hits, RBI, and a walk. The 19-year-old Wood, an IMG Academy product, has had a very impressive professional debut, slashing .359/.457/.500 in the ACL. He has walked 12 times in 24 games, and has stolen 10 bases. … Nerwilian Cedeno continues to make the most of his playing time, slugging his second home run of the season, and second in three games. In that three game span, Cedeno is 8-for-13 with five doubles and two home runs. The 19-year-old native of Rio Tucani, Venezuela,

Charlis Aquino offers upside at the plate and positional versatility on the infield. (Photo: Jerry Espinoza)
debuted in the Complex League on August 23rd. … Tonight was the first three-hit night of Justin Farmer ‘s professional career. The 22-year-old outfielder, signed out of Florida International after the draft, is slashing .302/.415/.581 in 16 games. … Charlis Aquino ‘s two hits, including a double, earned him his first multi-hit game since August 11th, when he was playing for Lake Elsinore. The 19-year-old shortstop was promoted to Lake Elsinore at the beginning of August, and returned to the Complex League on August 21st after the Storm returned all their players from COVID-19 protocols.