Padres minors: Marcos Castañon stays hot with El Paso, Kruz Schoolcraft debuts

Marcos Castañon is making hay in his first taste of the Pacific Coast League.

The 26-year-old infielder hit his second homer and doubled in Triple-A El Paso’s 6-5 loss at Salt Lake, continuing a fast start to a long-awaited promotion to the Padres’ top minor league level.

A 12th-round pick in 2021, Castañon hit 23 homers in the California League in 2022 but had stalled during three stints in the Texas League before this this week’s promotion to the Chihuahuas.

Castañon is 5-for-13 with three extra-base hits and five RBIs through four games. He had 12 homers and a .758 OPS to start the year at Double-A San Antonio.

Catcher Luis Campusano (1.045 OPS), right fielder Tim Locastro (.806 OPS), first baseman Nate Mondou (.819 OPS) and designated hitter Rodolfo Duran (.843 OPS) also had two hits each.

Left-hander Omar Cruz (4.98 ERA) allowed four runs — three earned — in four innings in relief.

El Paso is 72-64.

Saturday’s scoreboard

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (62-68)

Corpus Christi 4, Missions 0: RHP Miguel Mendez (0-3, 7.65 ERA) allowed three runs in four innings in the loss. LHP Fernando Sanchez (3.38 ERA) struck out six over 2⅓ innings, allowing one run in relief. A double from RF Moises Gomez (.667 OPS) was one of three Missions hits.

HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (56-74)

W. Michigan 6, TinCaps 1: LHP Luis Gutierrez (2-3, 3.74 ERA) struck out seven and allowed four runs in five innings in the loss. RF Jack Costello (.640 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. DH Sean Barnett (.597 OPS) went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (56-75)

Inland Empire 10, Storm 5: LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, this year’s first-rounder, made his professional debut, striking out four while allowed two runs in 1⅔ innings. Schoolcraft allowed just one hit but walked three. DH Ty Harvey (.518 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. C Truitt Madonna (.559 OPS) went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. LF Alex McCoy (.907 OPS) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. CF Ryan Wideman (.601 OPS) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.