San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: August 16

Reno Aces 4, Chihuahuas 2

Key Statistics: 1B Tirso Ornelas, 2-for-4, R, HR (18), RBI; CF Jose Azocar, 2-for-4, 3B; SS Mason McCoy, 1-for-4, R, HR (5), RBI; RHP Gabe Mosser (L, 6-6) 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Lake Bachar, IP, H, 2 K

Prospect Watch: The Aces scored three times in the first inning and held on to defeat the Chihuahuas in El Paso. … Tirso Ornelas’ fantastic season continued as the 24-year-old connected on a solo shot – his 18th homer of the season. He also added a single that was hit harder (100.3 mph) than his home run (96.2 mph and 379 feet). Ornelas also made his second appearance at first base. The left-handed-hitting Ornelas is sporting a .908 OPS this season and has set a new career-high in homers. He is just four RBIs from tying the career-high he set last year. After a brutal first three weeks of the season, Ornelas has maintained his strong performance for four months. … Shortstop Mason McCoy connected on his fifth homer of the season for his only hit of the night. The 29-year-old infielder has been one of the best hitters in the PCL over the last two weeks. His 1.063 OPS over that timeframe is the ninth-best in the circuit over that time frame. The minor league veteran struggled at the plate for most of his first season in the organization, but his recent hot streak has pushed his OPS to .689. … Righty Gabe Mosser struggled early but held the Aces scoreless over his last four innings. The major blemish for Mosser was a three-run home run by former big leaguer Kyle Garlick in the first. Mosser completed six innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out two. It was the sixth time this season that Mosser has pitched at least six innings in a start. In 22 games (21 starts), Mosser has pitched to a 5.79 ERA.

Missions 3, Amarillo Sod Poodles 2 (10 innings) 

Key Statistics: CF Connor Hollis, 2-for-6, RBI; 1B Robbie Tenerowicz, 2-for-4, 2B, BB; DH Michael De La Cruz, 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI; RHP Sam Whiting, 5 IP, 5 H, ER, K; LHP Miguel Cienfuegos, 3.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 K; RHP Raul Brito (W, 3-3) 1.2 IP, H, K

Prospect Watch: The Missions blew a one-run lead in the ninth, sending this game to extra innings. After they kept the Soddies off the scoreboard in the top of the tenth, Connor Hollis delivered an RBI single to give the Missions a dramatic, walk-off win at The Wolff. … For Hollis, the game-winning hit capped a multi-hit night. The 29-year-old has provided versatility for the Missions but has struggled offensively. After winning the Texas League batting title in his first season in the organization in 2022, the former Rays farmhand has been unable to match that production over the last two seasons. He is sporting a solid 16% K-rate this year but has only a paltry .285 slugging percentage. … Michael De La Cruz had a nice night at the plate with three hits, including a double. The 31-year-old backstopm who has played sparingly this season, has had trouble getting anything going offensively when given the opportunity. After posting a .699 OPS last season in San Antonio, he’s dropped to .590 this season. De La Cruz is in his 11th season in professional baseball but has yet to make an appearance in the big leagues. … Righty Sam Whiting made his second start for the Missions, and while he didn’t miss many bats, he was very effective. Whiting completed five innings for the third time this season and allowed just one run on five hits. He didn’t allow a walk and struck out one. The 23-year-old from UC Santa Barbara has pitched for three affiliates, bouncing back and forth between the bullpen and rotation in all three spots. In 20 appearances (16 starts) between Lake Elsinore, Fort Wayne, and San Antonio, Whiting has a 3.02 ERA in 62.2 innings.

Dayton Dragons 6, TinCaps 5

Key Statistics: C Ethan Salas, 1-for-4, R, 2B; RF Joshua Mears, 2-for-4, R, HR (10), 3 RBI; DH Ethan Long, 3-for-4, R, HR (1), RBI; RHP Enmanuel Pinales, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K; RHP Tyler Morgan (L, 4-6) IP, 5 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 K; LHP Harry Gustin, IP, H, K

Prospect Watch: The TinCaps trailed by five going into the eighth inning before mounting a valiant comeback that came up just short. … Right fielder Joshua Mears continued his torrid stretch, connecting on yet another monster homer. His 435 foot three-run shot was his tenth homer of the season. Mears extended his hitting streak to four games, and he has had multiple hits in three of them. The 23-year-old from Washington has been revitalized in August after struggling mightily in July. In 54 August at-bats, Mears is hitting .370/.382/.642 with four homers, 11 RBI, and a manageable 25.5% strikeout rate.  … Ethan Long connected on his first High-A homer as part of a three-hit night. The former ASU first baseman has taken advantage of the opportunities given him this season after beginning the year in extended spring training. Long, 23, has dealt with wrist injuries over the last few years, including three different surgeries. In 50 games between Lake Elsinore and Fort Wayne, the undrafted free agent is hitting .285/.408/.430 with 13 doubles and four homers. … Ethan Salas connected on his sixth double in his last nine games as he continues to make harder contact. While his batting average continues to hover right below .200, the 18-year-old has a .240 isolated power rate with a stellar 14.5% strikeout rate this month. … Righty Enmanuel Pinales made the start and pitched well but did not factor in the decision. The 23-year-old pitched five shutout innings, scattering five hits. He walked two and struck out six. Pinales has pitched well this season, posting an ERA below 3.75 every month except in June. The righty doesn’t have one exceptional pitch, but he’s kept Midwest League hitters off-balance.

Inland Empire 66ers 4, Storm 3

Key Statistics: SS Brandon Butterworth, 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB, 2B, SB (4); C Colton Vincent, 2-for-3, R, BB; DH Leodalis De Vries, 1-for-4, 2B, RBI; RHP Ian Koenig, 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K; LHP Zack Qin (L, 0-1) 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K

Prospect Watch: The Storm led going into the seventh, but Inland Empire scored two runs in the seventh to win Lake Elsinore. … Shortstop Brandon Butterworth continues to impress in his pro debut. The former NC State shortstop reached base three times with a single and a pair of walks, and added his fourth stolen base. The Padres drafted the Charlotte native in the 12th round in July. Butterworth is hitting .342/.419/.447 in nine games for the Storm. … Colton Vincent also reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk. The 24-year-old out of Florida State spent most of the season in the Arizona Complex League, where he posted an .827 OPS in 41 games. In eight games with the Storm, Vincent has a solid .762 OPS. The former undrafted free agent is still looking for his first professional homer. … Ian Koenig built on last week’s solid start by throwing five more strong innings, allowing a pair of runs on four hits. The Santa Cruz native walked one and struck out six. Koenig hadn’t gone more than four innings in an outing in his first three months working back from Tommy John surgery, but he’s now done it in each of his last two starts. During that span, he’s allowed three earned runs while averaging more than a strikeout per inning over 11 frames.