Tuesday kicked off another week in the Padres’ system but the bats did not heat up with the change to a new month. The three teams in action all went down, scoring four runs collectively while the TinCaps had their series opener washed away in Lake County.

Oklahoma City Dodgers 5, Chihuahuas 2

Key Statistics: LF Tim Lopes, 2-for-4, R; 1B Rangel Ravelo, 3-for-4, 2B; 2B Matthew Batten, 1-for-3, R, HR (2), BB, RBI; LHP Jay Groome, 6 IP, 3 BB, 9 K; RHP Drew Carlton, IP, H, 2 K; RHP Eric Hanhold (L, 3-1) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R (4 ER), 3 BB

Jay Groome had his best outing of 2023. (Photo: Jorge Salgado)

Prospect Watch: El Paso opened up a six-game series against Oklahoma City with a crushing loss at home. After receiving six hitless innings from starter Jay Groome, El Paso took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Eric Hanhold allowed five runs in the ninth and Oklahoma stole one away from the hometown nine. … Despite the loss, the work of Groome was an overwhelmingly positive development. Last week, the big lefty allowed eight runs in 4.2 innings at home against Salt Lake. On Tuesday he didn’t allow a hit in six innings of work. He walked three and struck out nine, the most Groome has tabulated since June 26 last year, when he was pitching in Double-A Portland for the Red Sox organization. Groome allowed 22 runs in 20 April innings as he struggled to consistently get ahead in counts. Tuesday’s outing could be a building block for Groome to find the success he had at the end of the 2022 season. … First baseman Rangel Ravelo had three hits, including a double. The former Cardinal is currently riding a six-game hitting streak. Overall, Ravelo is hitting .351/.464/.404 with El Paso. … Matthew Batten reached base twice and slugged his second homer of the season. The 27-year-old infielder has struggled offensively out of the gate in 2023 with a K-rate that is up eight points from last year. Despite the contact issues, Batten has a robust 18.5% walk rate that ranks tenth in the Pacific Coast League and has helped him to a respectable .366 on-base percentage.

Roster Moves: On Tuesday, righthander Julio Teheran requested and was granted his release. Jon Heyman indicated that the Padres may have interest in re-signing him. Teheran went 2-2 with a 6.84 ERA in five starts with El Paso. Righthander Sean Poppen was activated from the development list and will take the vacated roster spot.

Tulsa Drillers 11, Missions 1

Ripken Reyes is off to a fast start in San Antonio. (Photo: San Antonio Missions)

Key Statistics: 2B Ripken Reyes, 1-for-2, BB; 1B Pedro Castellanos, 1-for-4, RBI; CF Daniel Johnson, 1-for-4, 2B; LHP Jackson Wolf (L, 2-3) 2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 K; RHP Seth Mayberry, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 K

Prospect Watch: The Missions made the nearly eight-hour trek to Tulsa and managed just three hits in a blowout loss. … Second baseman Ripken Reyes was the only Missions batter to reach base more than once. He singled and drew a walk. Reyes has reached base in eight of the nine games he has played with San Antonio in 2023. In the small, nine-game sample the former USD infielder is hitting .357/.561/.464. … Last week, southpaw Jackson Wolf dominated, earning MadFriars Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season. On Tuesday, however, Wolf took the loss. He completed just two innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, including a homer. The 24-year-old has had a pair of sterling outings this season and a pair where he has been hit hard. The inconsistency has resulted in a bloated 5.60 ERA for the former West Virginia hurler. Despite the rough stretches, Wolf has shown increased velocity and has had no issues missing bats. He’s racked up 29 strikeouts in 17.2 innings this season. … Righthander Seth Mayberry pitched 2.1 scoreless innings down the stretch in the loss. The 22-year-old was drafted in 2019 in the 39th round out of high school in Virginia. While Mayberry has walked eight in 8.2 innings this year, he’s notched 11 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .179 average.

TinCaps rained out
The TinCaps had their series opener in Lake County rained out. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday. Wednesday’s game is scheduled to start at 9:05am San Diego time.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2, Storm 1

Key Statistics: 3B Graham Pauley, 1-for-4, 2B; DH Albert Fabian, 1-for-3, 2B, BB, RF Kai Murphy, 1-for-3, R, 2B; RHP Henry Baez, 5 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K; RHP Dwayne Matos (L, 1-1) 2 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Ruben Galindo, 2 IP, H, BB, 3 K

Padres prospect Dwayne Matos pitches for the Lake Elsinore Storm

Dwayne Matos delivers for the Storm. (Photo: Dinur Blum)

Prospect Watch: In a rare 11 am start time at The Diamond, the Storm bats hit the snooze button and they lost their series opener against the Quakes to snap a seven-game winning streak. The two teams are tied for first place in the Cal League South Division. … Reigning MadFriars Player of the Week Graham Pauley had a double in four at-bats. The 22-year-old is tied for eighth in the Cal League with six doubles this season and his 1.026 OPS ranks third in the league. … While the Storm struggled to score runs, their pitching staff continued to shine Tuesday afternoon. Righty Henry Baez pitched the first five innings and allowed just one earned run on three hits. The 20-year-old walked a pair and struck out five Quakes. It was the second straight outing in which Baez worked five innings. Over his last ten innings, Baez has allowed just two runs while striking out 12. Overall, Baez has pitched to a 1.69 ERA. … Dwayne Matos took over for Baez and allowed the winning run but otherwise pitched well. He allowed a run on two hits in two innings. It was the first run Matos has allowed this year. The 22-year-old failed to make a club out of spring training but he was added to the Storm roster on April 11. In previous years, Matos has started in the majority of his appearances but in 2023, he appears to have fully transitioned into a bullpen role. In 12.2 innings with the Storm, Matos has allowed just five hits while pitching to a sparkling 0.81 ERA. … Ruben Galindo held the Quakes scoreless, recording the final six outs of the ballgame. He allowed just one hit while striking out three. The 22-year-old from Colombia is back in Lake Elsinore for the third straight season. After being hit hard last season, Galindo has been effective in 2023. He’s allowed just one run in 11.1 innings this season.

Posted by Kevin Charity

Kevin Charity has written for MadFriars since 2015 and has had work featured on Fox Sports San Diego. He is a lifelong San Diego native and is looking forward to seeing the current wave of prospects thrive in San Diego.

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