The Tucson Padres offense was lead by corner infielders Anthony Rizzo and Jesus Guzman in week three. Starting pitcher Jon Leicester started two of the three Tucson victories as the Padres took the field seven straight days.

Monday, April 18, was the finale of a four-game home stand with the Salt Lake City Bees. The three and four hitters in the Padres line-up, 3B Guzman and 1B Rizzo combined for seven hits and three RBI in the game.

Starting pitcher Will Inman lasted five innings, giving up three runs while striking out four. Tucson lost the 12-inning thriller 7-5.

Tuesday the Padres played the first of four home games with the Fresno Grizzlies. Tucson started right-handed pitcher Leicester, who gave up one hit in four shut-out innings while striking out two.

2B Logan Forsythe hit his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot to right-center field in the first inning off of Grizzlies starter Matt Yourkin. Samuel Deduno was credited with his second win of the season in Tucson’s 6-1 victory.

6-foot-5, 23 year-old Simon Castro got his first win of the year in game two of the series with Fresno. Castro’s winning line was five innings pitched three earned runs, four base-on-balls and four strike outs.

1B Rizzo had three hits, including a home-run and two RBI. Evan Scribner pitched a scoreless ninth inning, earning his third save of the season in the Padre’s 6-4 win.

Game three of the series saw Tucson’s SP Jeremy Hefner face off with Fresno SP Andrew Kown. Both men pitched six innings and struck out four. Hefner got the loss giving up three ER and Kown earned the win giving up two ER.

1B Rizzo had a repeat performance of game two, going 3-for-4 with a HR, and two RBI. SS Everth Cabrera had two hits and scored a run in the 4-5 loss.

Wade LeBlanc was called up to the San Diego Padres this week, which left an opening in the pitching rotation on Friday.

Left handed pitcher Rob Musgrave was brought up from double-A San Antonio to start the final game of the home stand. Musgrave lasted five innings, giving up five runs with one strike out.

LF Luis Durango went 2-for-5 with two RBI. 1B Rizzo hit his third home run in as many games in Tucson’s 9-8 loss.

The Tucson Padres split the series with the San Francisco Giants triple-A affiliate, winning two of the four games. 1B Rizzo went 8-for12 (.667 AVG) with three HR, seven RBI and seven runs scored in the series.

Saturday Tucson hit the road to begin a four game road-series with the Oakland Athletics’ triple-A affiliate, Sacramento River Cats.

Tucson lost game one 2-4, but celebrated Sunday with a 7-5 win. SP Leicester won his second consecutive start without giving up a run. Leicester went five innings with four strike outs.

C Eddie Rodriguez had two hits and one HR in the game. 3B Guzman had two hits and three RBI in the victory and is now batting .319 with 14 RBI this year.

Tucson will play two more games with the Sacramento then head home and play four games with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

In roster moves, SP Wade LeBlanc was called up to the San Diego Padres for a spot start.  He threw eight innings; giving up three runs in the San Diego Padres 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.  He was optioned back to Tucson Monday and Tucson Padres closer Evan Scribner was recalled by the majoy league club.

Ultimately SP Musgrave will return to double-A San Antonio, as right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek was be optioned to triple-A Tucson.

Neshek, formerly in the Minnesota Twins organization, was claimed off of waivers by the Padres on March 20, he will join the Tucson Padres in Sacramento on Monday.

The Tucson Padres have a 7-11 record and are currently three games back in the Pacific Coast League South Conference standings.

1B Rizzo’s big week has him leading two triple-crown categories. He is leading the league in RBI with 24, tied for first in home runs with six and his .420 AVG is fifth best in the PCL.

Next game is Monday, April 25, at Sacramento at 7:05 p.m.

Next home game is Thursday, April 28, vs. Colorado Springs at 7:00 p.m.