Padres take Arizona League title

Pablo Menchaca tossed 5 1/3 strong innings and Felix Carrasco singled in two runs Thursday night as the Padres held off the Angels, 5-2, to win the Arizona League championship.

Menchaca (1-0) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven. The 18-year-old right-hander from Mexico was 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA in 13 regular-season appearances, including seven starts.

Matt Handley nailed down the save with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, working around one hit and fanning three.

Carrasco's base hit to right field in the opening inning scored Luis Durango and Cedric Hunter. Brian Hernandez went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the fourth for the Padres, who won the first-half title with an 18-10 record.

In the sixth, Angels outfielder Clayton Fuller walked, took third on a double by Wilfredo Ortiz and scored on a wild pitch. Ortiz came home on a groundout by Norberto Ortiz to trim the deficit to 3-2.

The Padres answered in the bottom the inning, regaining a three-run lead on a throwing error and a wild pitch by reliever Dustin Miller.

Angels starter Esmerlin Jimenez (0-1) surrendered three runs on seven hits and two walks while fanning five in 4 1/3 innings.

The Angels won the second-half title with a 19-8 mark.