FriarNotes: Padres tie franchise record with 18 wins in April; Andujar, Castellanos hit first Padres homers

By Bill Center

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Nick Castellanos at Petco Park

Although they lost the month’s final game and series to the Chicago Cubs, the Padres had 18 wins in April to tie the franchise record for the most wins in the month, which was set by the 1998 team that eventually won the National League pennant.

Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos also hit their first home runs as Padres Wednesday.

PADRES HISTORY:

April 30, 2023 — The Padres defeat San Francisco 6–4 to complete a two-game sweep of the Giants in the first, regular-season Major League Baseball series to be played in Mexico City.

PADRES ON DECK:

C Lamar King Jr. (.227), the Padres’ №15 prospect, was 2-for-5 with a run Wednesday for High Single-A Fort Wayne. LF Alex McCoy (.333), the №20 prospect, was 2-for-4 with a double, a hit-by-pitch, 2 steals and 3 runs. RHP Tucker Musgrove (8.31), the №10 prospect, issued a walk with a strikeout in a hitless, scoreless inning.

CF Jase Bowen (.286), the Padres’ №24 prospect, was 2-for-4 with a sacrifice fly and a run for Triple-A El Paso. Rehabbing LHP Yuki Matsui (5.06) gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning.

RF Tirso Ornelas (.215), the Padres’ №25 prospect, hit a solo home run in 4 at-bats for Double-A San Antonio. DH Romeo Sanabria (.185), the №28 prospect, was 1-for-3 with a RBI and a walk.

CF Ryan Wideman (.304), the Padres’ №8 prospect, was 2-for-5 for Single-A Lake Elsinore.

MINOR LEAGUES:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (14–15) — Chihuahuas 7, ALBUQUERQUE 6: LF Samad Taylor (.337) had a triple and 2 home runs in 5 at-bats for 4 RBIs. 3B Sung-Mun Song (.291) was 2-for-5 with a double, a RBI and 2 runs. DH Jose Miranda (.288) was 3-for-3 with RBI and a walk. Starting LHP JP Sears (7.00) gave up 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. RHP Alek Jacob (2.19) issued a walk with 3 Ks in a hitless, scoreless IP to earn his second save.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (5–18) — TULSA 4, Missions 3: Starting RHP Victor Lizarraga (10.91) gave up 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in 5 innings. LHP Harry Gustin (2.13) issued a walk with a K in 1 2/3 hitless, scoreless IPs. 3B Carson Tucker (.333) had 2 doubles in 4 at-bats. CF Kai Murphy (.267) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. 1B Leandro Cedeno (.333) hit a solo home run in 4 at-bats.

HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (8–15) — TinCaps 7, SOUTH BEND 4: RF Jake Cunningham (.333) was 2-for-4 with a home run, a sacrifice fly, 5 RBIs, a stolen base and 2 runs. 2B Rosman Verdugo (.232) was 2-for-3 with 2 walks, a steal and a run. 1B Jack Costello (.218) was 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and 3 stolen bases. Starting RHP Isaiah Lowe (7.16) gave up 4 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks with 2 strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.

SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (13–10) — Storm 4, ONTARIO 3: C Victor Duarte (.302) was 2-for-4 with a 2-run home run and 2 runs. 2B Justin DeCriscio (.319) had 2 doubles in 4 at-bats with a run. 1B Luke Cantwell (.256) was 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run. RHP Vicarte Domingo (0.00) gave up a hit and a walk with a strikeout in 2 scoreless innings to earn his second save.