San Diego Padres Daily Farm Report: July 18

Tacoma Rainiers 9, Chihuahuas 5

Key Statistics: CF Brandon Lockridge 2-for-3, R, BB; RF Yonathan Perlaza 2-for-4, R, HR (10), 4 RBI; C Luis Campusano 1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI; LHP Wes Benjamin (L, 3-6) 1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, BB, 2 K; LHP Omar Cruz 3 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Francis Peña, IP, 2 K

Prospect Watch: The Rainiers scored eight runs in the second inning then held on for the victory against the Chihuahuas. … Yonathan Perlaza connected on a three-run shot, his tenth homer of the year as part of a multi-hit game that raised Perlaza’s average to an even .300. Perlaza has some swing-and-miss to his game, but since June 1, he’s looked much sharper at the plate. Over his last 36 games, the former KBO slugger is hitting .311/.427/.519 with an excellent 15.9% walk rate, and a 20.1% K-rate. He’s also scored at least one run in eight consecutive games. With his homer, he’s reached double digits in homers and stolen bases (11) for the third straight season minor league season. … Center fielder Brandon Lockridge reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk. The 28-year-old has hit well in 13 games since being optioned to Triple-A, batting .308/.419/.500 with a homer and three stolen bases. Lockridge’s sprint speed is among the fastest in professional baseball, and his defensive prowess makes him a candidate for a roster spot when the Padres can add two additional players in September. … After a rough outing from soft-tossing Wes Benjamin, the Chihuahuas bullpen kept this game from developing into a laugher. Omar Cruz tossed three solid innings, allowing just one run. He walked two and notched a pair of strikeouts. Cruz struggled badly in June, pitching to an ERA north of nine. He’s been much better in July – in 10.1 innings, he’s posted a 3.48 ERA with six walks and 10 strikeouts. 

Amarillo Sod Poodles 6, Missions 0

Key Statistics: Francisco Acuña 1-for-4; 3B Devin Ortiz 1-for-4; RHP Enmanuel Pinales (L, 5-5) 3 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB; J.B. Wendelken 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K; LHP Ryan Och IP, H, BB, 2 K; RHP Kevin Kopps 2 IP, H, 2 K

Prospect Watch: The Missions managed just two singles in a loss to the Soddies at home. … Enmanuel Pinales’ rollercoaster experience in Double-A continued Friday, as the 24-year-old was shelled by the Sod Poddles offense. He allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks in three innings and failed to notch a strikeout. Pinales gave up 20 earned runs in his first 18 Double-A innings. He righted things in June, pitching to a 1.76 ERA in four appearances. However, things have gone off the rails again in July. In three appearances this month, Pinales has a 10.13 ERA while allowing a staggering 25 hits in 13.1 innings. Overall, Pinales has a 7.33 ERA with the Missions this season. … After Pinales departed, the Missions’ bullpen pitched well. Former big leaguer J.B. Wendelken pitched a pair of solid innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two Sod Poodles. After allowing seven earned runs in his first four outings as a Mission, the 32-year-old has pitched back-to-back scoreless outings. The veteran has appeared in 144 big league games, most recently in 2022. He spent 2023 and 2024 pitching in Japan. … Kevin Kopps tossed a pair of scoreless outings, notching a pair of strikeouts in the process. The 28-year-old righty spent most of the season in El Paso where he pitched to mixed results. The former Golden Spikes Award winner has struggled with command throughout his time in the Padres’ system. He walked 23 batters in 35.2 innings with El Paso, and he’s walked a pair in 6.2 innings since joining the Missions. 

Lake County Captains 4, TinCaps 2

Key Statistics: 2B Brandon Butterworth 2-for-3, R, HR (10), BB, RBI; RF Braedon Karpathios 2-for-4, RBI; RHP Isaiah Lowe 3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), BB, K; RHP Misael Tamarez 1.1 IP, 2 K; LHP Fernando Sanchez 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K

Prospect Watch: Despite some early fireworks, the TinCaps offense never got going, and they lost on the road to the Captains in the Cleveland suburbs. … Second baseman Brandon Butterworth led off the game with his 10th home run of the year as part of a multi-hit night. Drafted out of NC State last year, Butterworth is on an absolute heater right now as he continues to tear apart Midwest League pitching. He is hitting .392/.426/.784 with 12 runs scored, five homers, and 10 RBI in July. Over the last 30 days, the 22-year-old infielder is tied for the league lead with six homers, tied for first with three triples, and is second with 30 hits and a .659 slugging percentage. Recently, Butterworth has begun to see action in the outfield to keep his bat in the lineup. … Braedon Karpathios had a pair of singles in the TinCaps’ loss as he continues to swing the bat well. In 12 games this month, the TinCaps outfielder is hitting .289/.360/.511 with a pair of homers. Over the last 30 days, the former Harford Community College standout is sixth in the Midwest League with six homers. … Isaiah Lowe started for Saturday and was a bit too hittable. The 21-year-old allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in 3.2 innings. He walked one and struck out one. Lowe has shown promise at times this season, but he’s struggled to put things together for more than a start or two. After allowing six runs on June 27, Lowe pitched 11.1 innings over his next two starts, allowing five runs overall. With Friday’s outing, Lowe’s July ERA rose to 4.80. 

Roster Moves: The Padres signed righty Misael Tamarez to a minor league contract and assigned him to Fort Wayne. The 25-year-old has been in the Astros’ organization since signing as an international free agent in 2015. As recently as 2023, he was ranked as the #15 prospect in the Houston organization, with a 93-95 mph fastball that can top out at 99 mph. He spent this season with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, where he pitched to a 9.00 ERA in 41 innings. … To create space on the roster, Ethan Long was sent to the ACL where the 24-year-old will work on a conversion to the mound. The right-hander has posted a .680 OPS since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He worked as a two-way player in his first two seasons at Arizona State.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5, Storm 1

Key Statistics: SS Cobb Hightower 2-for-4, RBI; RF Victor Figueroa 1-for-5, 2B; CF Kasen Wells 1-for-4, R, BB; RHP Maikel Miralles 5 IP, 5 H, 4 K; RHP Bernard Jose (L, 0-2) 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, 2 K; RHP Tanner Smith 1.1 IP, H, 2 BB

Prospect Watch: This one was scoreless until the sixth, when the Quakes plated three runs, taking a lead that was never threatened. … On the mound, righty Maikel Miralles is starting to put it all together. The 20-year-old righty tossed five innings for the second time this season. He scattered five hits and struck out four without issuing a walk. Miralles has tossed nine scoreless outings over his last two starts. He’s struck out 11 during that span without issuing a walk. … Shortstop Cobb Hightower had a pair of singles and drove in the lone Storm run in the loss. The 20-year-old shortstop struggled in June, but he’s shown improvement at the plate in July. The North Carolina native is hitting .244/.392/.366 with as many walks (10) as strikeouts this month. … Kasen Wells returned to the lineup and had a single and a walk while batting out of leadoff spot. The speedy outfielder missed nearly two months after fouling a ball off his foot. Before going down with an injury, the 21-year-old had a .388 on-base percentage with 23 stolen bases. He’s only been caught once all year. 

ACL Padres 7, ACL Royals 6

Key Statistics: 2B Luis De Leon 1-for-3, R, 2 BB, 2 SB (17, 18); LF Alex McCoy 1-for-4, RBI; DH Yimy Tovar, 1-for-4, 2 RBI; RHP Langston Burkett 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; RHP Roberto Burgos (W, 1-0) 2 IP, H, BB, 5 K; RHP Xavier Ruiz (S, 1) IP, BB, 2 K

Prospect Watch: The ACL Padres took advantage of eight walks to defeat the ACL Royals on the road. … Second baseman Luis De Leon reached base three times Friday. The switch-hitting infielder singled, drew two walks, and stole a pair of bases for good measure. In a dismal season for the ACL Padres, De Leon has been a rare bright spot. He’s produced a solid .764 OPS, and s swiped 18 bags. The 19-year-old could make an appearance in Lake Elsinore before the end of the season. … Alex McCoy continued his rehab in the desert with mixed results. He singled and struck out three times. The 23-year-old out of Hofstra possesses tantalizing power potential, but he will need to make more consistent contact in order to take advantage of it. He could be headed to Lake Elsinore next week. … Righty Langston Burkett tossed four innings, allowed three runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out two. The 20-year-old who signed with the Padres as an undrafted free agent out of high school in 2023 has a 9.14 ERA in nine games (five starts) this season. … Right-handed pitcher Roberto Burgos earned his first win of the season by virtue of tossing a pair of dominant innings. The 21-year-old allowed a hit and a walk, striking out five. Burgos signed with the Padres as a 20-year-old international free agent last season. In 13 games in the desert, he has a 5.12 ERA.