Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Three local products had big nights Tuesday as Padres affiliates went 3-0.
None of the three, however, topped the performance center fielder Abraham Almonte had with Triple-A El Paso. Almonte, 25, was 3-for-6 with his third homer of the season and four RBIs to raise his average to .298. Almonte is 5-for-11 over the past two games, with two homers and seven RBIs.
Poway High graduate Alex Dickerson and James Needy from Santana High also played major roles in the Chihuahuas' 13-5 win over Sacramento at El Paso.