First baseman Anthony Rizzo continued to crush Pacific Coast League pitching, and starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc received the only two Tucson Padres wins in week seven.

Monday was game three of a home-stand with the Albuquerque Isotopes. Orlando Hudson started at second base for the T-Pads and Rafael Furcal started at shortstop for the Isotopes. Both men were on rehab assignments and are currently in the big leagues with the Padres and Dodgers.

SP LeBlanc threw very well on Monday, striking out eight and allowing 3 runs over seven innings of work. 1B Rizzo provided all the offense LeBlanc needed, driving in five T-Pads on two homeruns. Left fielder Matt Clark insured the victory with three runs batted in and a homerun. Right fielder Aaron Cunningham had a pair of RBI on his two hits. SP LeBlanc got the win in the T-Pads 10-4 victory.

The final game of Tucson’s home-stand and series with the Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A affiliate was Tuesday night. SP Jeremy Hefner took the mound for the T-Pads and SP John Ely started for the Isotopes. SP Hefner threw well giving up three runs in five innings. Two of those runs came on a Furcal two-run homerun.

After SP Hefner left the game, the Isotopes beat up the T-Pads bullpen. Six T-Pad relievers were used and they combined to give up eight runs in seven innings as this game lasted 12 innings.

Third baseman Jesus Guzman and LF Clark both had two hits and three RBI on the night, one of LF Clark’s hits was his fifth homerun of the home-stand. The T-Pads offense was not the problem on this night, out hitting the Isotopes 17 to 14. The hits just didn’t add up as the T-pads lost a tough one 9-11 giving them a split of the four-game series with the Isotopes.

After a day off Wednesday the T-Pads traveled to Iowa to play the triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. SP Will Inman struck out 10 I-Cubs in five innings which is a season high for any T-Pads pitcher. SP Inman is currently first in the PCL with 54 strikeouts this season.

No T-Pads hitter had more than one hit in this game and 3B Guzman had the only two RBI of the night for Tucson. The I-Cubs scored six runs in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference as the T-Pads lost 2-8.

Friday’s game was a slugfest that saw SP Jon Leicester face off against veteran SP Ramon Ortiz. Neither pitcher faired well, SP Leicester was the better of the two, allowing six earned runs in just under six innings of work.

Lead-off hitter SS Logan Forsythe had three runs, three hits and three RBI on Friday. One of his hits was his fifth homerun of the season.1B Rizzo went deep again, driving in four runs on three hits. RF Cunningham chipped in with two hits and two RBI, but all the offense was for not as the T-Pads would lose another one-run ballgame 10-11.

SP Matt Buschmann started game three of the series for the T-Pads. SP Buschmann went four innings allowing three runs while striking out two. With Rizzo getting a day off, 1B Guzman proved whoever plays 1B for the T-Pads will hit for power, going two-for-three with a two-run homerun on Saturday. Once again the T-Pads were on the losing end of a one-run game, as the game was called early due to rain. The game lasted five and one half innings as the T-Pads lost 3-4.

The final game of the week and the series with the Iowa Cubs saw both clubs best starting pitchers. SP LeBlanc faced off against SP Randy Wells. SP Well lasted four innings and gave up six runs. SP LeBlanc out-pitched Wells lasting six innings while striking out four and allowing five runs.

The bullpen and the offense were the story for the T-Pads on Sunday. Three relievers combined for three innings and two runs allowed, highlighted by RP Evan Scribner striking out two in the non-save situated ninth inning. RP Scribner is back with the T-Pads after throwing for the San Diego Padres for a couple of weeks.

1B Rizzo finished his outstanding week with a two-run homerun. Catcher Luis Martinez had two hits and three RBI. Lead off man CF Cedric Hunter had three hits, five RBI and was a homerun away from the cycle on Sunday. The offensive outburst earned SP LeBlanc his fourth win of the season with a final score of 16-7 and salvaging one of four games with the I-Cubs.

The Tucson Padres lost two more one-run games this week, with one that was shortened by rain. This gave them a 2-4 record for the week which moves their overall record to 19-25.

In roster transactions:  

• +2B Forsythe was optioned to the Tucson Padres after playing with the San Diego Padres due to 2B O. Hudson’s injury.
• +2B Andy Parrino was activated from the DL and will rotate in the infield.
• +3B Jarrett Hoffpauir has been assigned to the Tucson Padres.
• +RP Colt Hynes was transferred to the T-Pads from the San Antonio Missions.
• +RP Evan Scribner was optioned to the T-Pads from the San Diego Padres.

Rizzo watch: The San Diego Padres named 1B Anthony Rizzo as the organizations offensive player of the month, Rizzo hit .400 and had 30 RBI in April.

After Rizzo’s great week he is fourth in the PCL with a .377 AVG. He is tied for first in homeruns with 14, and he has 13 more RBI than any player in the PCL with 56.

Next game: May 23, at Omaha

Next home game: May 27, vs Salt Lake City