From the Farm, 6/22/14: Wisler Sharp at El Paso
By Bill Center
By Bill Center
Right-handed pitchers Matt Wisler and Matt Branham made news with strong performances in the Padres minor league system.
Wisler continued his run of strong performance Sunday, allowing one run on five hits and four walks with six strikeouts for Triple-A El Paso at Omaha.
Over his last six starts for El Paso, A, the 21-year-old Wisler, considered to be one of the top three prospects in the Padres system, has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 26 hits and 14 walks against 27 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings. He is 4–1 with a 2.73 earned run average over the six starts. His ERA with the Chihuahuas is down to 5.62.
Branham, 26, was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for June 16–22. In two long relief appearances for Double-A San Antonio last week, Branham worked nine shutout innings. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out 10 in nine innings. Opposing hitters batted .071 against Branham last week.
Branham is 5–2 for San Antonio this season with a 3.99 ERA in 18 games (four starts). He has 48 strikeouts against 15 walks in 56 1/3 innings. He also had a 6.75 ERA in three appearances (one start) with Triple-A El Paso. Branham was the Padres’ 27th-round pick in the 2010 draft,
ON THE MOVE: Right-handed pitcher Luis De La Cruz (3–5, 1.40 ERA) and second baseman Casey McElroy (.269, five homers and 24 RBIs in 46 games) San Antonio have been added to the South team for Tuesday’s 78th annual Texas League All-Star Game in North Little Rock, Ark. They will join Missions teammates catcher Austin Hedges, outfielder Rymer Liriano and right-handed pitchers James Needy and Adys Portillo and left-handed pitcher Frank Garces on the South team. Right-handed reliever Johnny Barbato was also named to the South team, but he is on the disabled list with elbow soreness.
Around the Farm:
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (35–43): OMAHA 7, Chihuahuas 6 (10 innings) — 2B Brooks Conrad (.275) was 3-for-5 with his 17th double, 16th home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. 3B Chris Nelson was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. 1B Jonathan Galvez was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. RHP Michael Nix (5.08 ERA) followed Wisler and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk with a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings. RHP Dennis O’Grady (0–3, 6.65) suffered the loss for the 35–43 Chihuahuas, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk in one-third of an inning in the bottom of the 10th.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (3–3, 39–37): Midland 2, MISSIONS 1 — Starter Needy (2.38 ERA) allowed one run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Portillo (0–3, 3.11) allowed a run on a hit and three walks with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning to suffer the loss. De La Cruz struck out all four hitters he faced. LF Rey Fuentes (.295) was 2-for-4 with a double. DH Cody Overbeck was 2-for-4.
SINGLE-A High LAKE ELSINORE (2–2, 42–32): STORM 11, Lancaster 2–3B Gabriel Quintana drove in three runs with his seventh homer and a sacrifice fly. CF Alberth Martinez (.272) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. C Dane Phillips (.245) was 2-for-5 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. DH Duanel Jones (.236) was 2-for-4. 2B Benji Gonzalez (.288) was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. RHP Coby Cowgill allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five innings. RHP Joe Church (0.00 ERA) allowed one hit with three strikeouts in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. RHP Tayron Guerrero (0.00) allowed a walk in two-thirds of a hitless innings. RHP Adam Cimber (2.61 ERA) allowed a hit in a scoreless innings.
SINGLE-A Low FORT WAYNE (2–2, 32–41): TinCaps 4, WEST MICHIGAN 2 — C Adolfo Reina (.263) hit a two-run homer. 1B Jake Bauers (.364) was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a walk and a sacrifice fly. LF Henry Charles (.239) was 2-for-4 with a double. Starting LHP Payton Baskette (3–3, 4.43 ERA) allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings. RHP Eric Yardley (3.33) pitched two perfect innings. RHP Nick Mutz (1.74 ERA) pitched a perfect inning for his eighth save.
SINGLE-A Short-Season EUGENE (4–5): TRI-CITY 6, Emeralds 4 — LF Jose Carlos Urena was 2-for-4 with a double. Starting RHP Tony Wieber (5.79 ERA) allowed two runs on four hits with five strikeouts in five innings. LHP Thomas Dorminy (1.80) allowed a hit with a strikeout in two scoreless innings. RHP Chris Huffman suffered the loss, allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.
ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (1–2): PADRES 8, White Sox 2 — LF Jordan Paroubeck, 19, the Padres second-round pick in the 2013 draft, was 3-for-5 with a RBI. SS Ruddy Giron (.462) was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Starting RHP Mayky Perez allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts over four innings. RHP T.J. Weir allowed a hit with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings to be credited for the win. RHP Jason Jester struck out the side around a hit in a scoreless inning.
DOMINICAN PADRES (5–14): The Dominican Republic Summer League doesn’t play on Sundays.
See the full score report from yesterday on the farm here.
