Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Center fielder Abraham Almonte was 3-for-5 with his 18th double, a steal and two RBIs Tuesday night as Triple-A El Paso earned a 6-3 win at Sacramento to climb back to .500 at 48-48.
Shortstop Mike McCoy (.227) was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
Left-handed starter Jason Lane picked up his eighth win (8-6), allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk in six innings to lower his earned run average to 5.