San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: April 19

Chihuahuas rained out

Inclement weather forced the postponement of Saturday’s game in Albuquerque. The clubs will play a double-header on Sunday afternoon.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals 6, Missions 0 (12 innings)

Key Stats: LHP Jackson Wolf 5 IP, 3 H, 5 K; RHP Manuel Castro 2 IP, 5 K, BB; RHP David Morgan 2 IP, 2 H, 3 K, BB; RHP Eduarniel Núñez (L, 0-1) 1.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R (3 ER), 3 K, BB; 1B Romeo Sanabria 3-for-5; SS Francisco Acuña 2-for-5; RF Tyler Robertson 2-for-5, SB (5)

Prospect Watch: This game went to the twelfth inning scoreless before Northwest Arkansas ran away with six runs in the top of the frame. San Antonio finished the game with more hits than the Naturals, but went 3-for-19 with runners in scoring position and somehow left 18 runners on base. … Jackson Wolf has become something of a forgotten man in the Padres organization, but the lefty is off to a stellar start to the season. The 25-year-old, who was reacquired from the Pirates for Kervin Pichardo last spring and lost his spot on the 40-player roster in August, tossed five more scoreless innings, punching out five while extending his season-long streak of not issuing a walk. Wolf, who still works right around 90 mph with his fastball, has given up only two runs over his first 14 innings of the year, striking out 16. After not getting an invitation to big league spring training, he is looking to put himself back in line for an opportunity in the majors. Wolf has worked five innings in back-to-back games and is holding opponents to a .192 average. His first taste of Double-A was back in 2022. … Before things fell apart for Eduarniel Núñez in the twelfth, the bullpen got several strong outings. Manuel Castro punched out five of the seven batters he faced as he extended his scoreless inning streak to seven innings to open the year. The righty relies on a fastball with remarkable carry on it. Saturday, he drew seven whiffs on 19 swings while allowing just one ball in play. On the year, he has 17 strikeouts against two walks. … Fellow hard-throwing reliever David Morgan worked two scoreless frames of his own, setting down three batters on strikes. The 25-year-old from Orange County has struck out 14 of the 27 batters he’s faced this year. He issued his first free pass of the season when he intentionally walked Royals super-prospect Jac Caglianone. … The Missions offense had 10 hits on the day, all singles. Romeo Sanabria accounted for three of them, pushing his season average to .375. He’s already collected at least three hits in five games this season.

Lake County Captains 11, TinCaps 3

Key Stats: RHP Isaiah Lowe 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K; LHP Fernando Sanchez 2 IP, 2 K; Jose Sanabria 1.1 IP; LF Jack Costello 3-for-5, HR (2), 2 RBI; SS Brandon Butterworth 3-for-4

Prospect Watch: For the second straight outing, righty Isaiah Lowe failed to get out of the first inning. The Padres’ seventh overall prospect coming into the year, Lowe had a solid showing on opening day, but threw over 30 pitches in both of the subsequent outings while giving up eight earned runs in just 1.1 combined innings. Lowe surrendered a laser beam of a homer on his first pitch Saturday afternoon and then issued a walk before rebounding to record back-to-back strikeouts. He couldn’t keep it going however, as he walked the bases full before giving up two singles that forced him to give way. Lowe, who is working to incorporate two new pitches, has walked six of the 31 batters he has faced so far this year after keeping his walk rate to 10.3% last season. … Tasked with getting 25 outs, the TinCaps bullpen had mixed results. Lefty Fernando Sanchez kept things from getting entirely out of hand by working a pair of scoreless innings and striking out two. The only runner he allowed was a hit batter. The 24-year-old from Mexico, who has been in the Padres organization since 2019, is holding opponents to a .148 average and has 10 punchouts through eight innings this year, helping him work around six walks. … Utility infielder Jose Sanabria was called on with two outs in the eighth inning to save the bullpen with his first professional pitching appearance. With a steady diet of low-velocity offerings, the 22-year-old set down all four hitters he faced. He’s just 1-for-17 at the plate in limited action this year. … Jack Costello connected on his second homer of the year as part of his second consecutive multi-hit game. The University of San Diego product, who has been splitting time between first base and left field, got off to a rough 5-for-39 start to the year without an extra-base hit, but he’s now 6-for-14 in his last three contests to raise his OPS nearly 250 points. … Brandon Butterworth collected his first three-hit game of the year to push his average up to an even .300 on the season. The North Carolina State product is pairing solid up-the-middle defense on the infield with a steadying presence at the bottom of the lineup.

Storm 9, Fresno Grizzlies 6

Key Stats: CF Kasen Wells 1-for-4, HR (1), BB, 2 SB (9); SS Ryan Jackson 2-for-4, 2 2B, BB; 3B Zach Evans 4-for-4, HR (1), SB (1); RHP Bryan Balzer 0.1 IP, H, 3 ER, 3 BB, HBP; RHP Mario Zabala 2 IP, 3 H, 2 K; LHP Bodi Rascon 3 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 K, 3 BB

Prospect Watch: Lake Elsinore picked up where they left off Friday night, jumping out to a three run lead in the top of the first. Unfortunately, starter Bryan Balzer struggled to dial in his command, walking the first three batters he faced and hitting another before a one-out single drove him from the game. The 20-year-old from Japan who John discussed in detail with Marty Caswell this week, has shown high-octane stuff in his first pass at full-season ball, but has issued eight walks in 7.1 innings across three starts. … Bodi Rascon made his second appearance as he continues to build back up following 2023 Tommy John surgery. The lefty allowed one run over three innings, walking three but also recording three strikeouts. Rascon, 24, should pitch his way higher in the organization as he increases his workload. … Zach Evans gave the Storm the early lead with his first homer of the year, then he kept cooking all night. The 22-year-old, drafted in the ninth round out of Division II Lenoir-Rhyne last year, went 4-for-4 with a walk and has now reached base in eight of his last nine games. The 6-foot-4 righty is hitting .358/.410/.491 while striking out in less than 20% of his plate appearances. … Leadoff batter Kasen Wells connected on his first professional homer to put Lake Elsinore back ahead in the fourth inning. The diminutive left-handed hitter also drew a walk and – in keeping with his profile a bit more – swiped two more bases. The 16th-round pick out of junior college in Texas has converted on nine of his 10 attempts and is now tied for the Cal League lead.