El Paso Chihuahuas Sweep Tacoma Doubleheader Behind Canning, Strong Bullpen

Griffin Canning's changeup generated a 40% whiff rate in his Triple-A rehab outing Saturday, producing the kind of pitch-quality data the Padres will track closely as they manage his return to San Diego's rotation. Canning threw 51 pitches, 33 for strikes, across 2.1 innings, allowed one run on three hits, and struck out four batters in the opener as the El Paso Chihuahuas swept a Pacific Coast League doubleheader against the Tacoma Rainiers, winning 5-2 in eight innings before taking the nightcap 2-1.

Sung-Mun Song, also on a rehab assignment, backed Canning with a 2-for-4 line that included a double and two RBIs in Game 1. Justin Yeager earned the decision, and Alek Jacob closed out the frame with three strikeouts. Evan Fitterer contributed key bullpen length across both games, first helping preserve the extra-innings win before shifting into a starter's role in the nightcap.

Fitterer was at his sharpest in Game 2, working three innings and allowing just one hit, one walk, and zero runs while striking out four. The only scoring the Chihuahuas needed came off the bat of Marcos Castanon, whose two-run home run measured 334 feet and left his bat at 99.3 mph. That homer proved decisive; the bullpen completed the sweep without surrendering another run.

Rehabbing veterans Yuki Matsui and Jason Adam also logged innings across the twin bill, furthering the Padres' use of El Paso as both a developmental stage and an active pipeline back to the big-league roster. Castanon and Jase Bowen continued to provide offensive punch, giving El Paso a lineup that creates pressure even when the games are tight.

The sweep pushed the Chihuahuas to 5-3, with the pitching staff having yet to allow more than two runs in either contest of the day.