Renfroe passes runner, loses homer

When Hunter Renfroe finally caught some luck this week, it turned out to be bad.

The Padres' No. 6 prospect broke out of a slump with a three-hit game Sunday, but he also had a home run reduced to a single in short-season Eugene's 6-1 victory at Tri-City.

With teammate Anthony Torres on first base in the fourth inning, Renfroe took Dust Devils starter Konner Wade deep over the left-field fence. He hit the ball hard but along a low trajectory. Due to confusion on the basepaths, the 2013 first-round pick was called out between first and second and credited with an RBI single.

"When I hit the ball, I thought it was a no-doubter, but when [Torres] saw the trajectory, he started sprinting back to first base," Renfroe said. "I was just trying to get a double out of it and I was running hard and I had too much speed built up.

"Suddenly, I thought, 'Holy [cow], where's Torres?' I saw that I'd gone by him and I said, 'Hurry up, get in front of me real fast,' but it was too late. It kind of [stinks], but it happened."

It was the first time Renfroe had seen a similar play, let alone been involved in one.

"I don't think so," he said. "I'm not sure, but I don't think so."

Still, the 21-year-old right-fielder wasn't particularly bothered by the homer that wasn't. He also singled in the first and sixth to break out of an 0-for-16 funk and scored a run.

"It's irritating, yeah, but I hit the ball hard all night," the Mississippi State product said. "I've swung the bat well all week, I just didn't have anything falling for me. But I did my job. I was hitting the ball hard and the team won. You can't ask for anything better than that."

Nor does Renfroe consider himself unlucky, especially as he prepares for the Northwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday in Everett, Wash.

"Any kind of All-Star Game, anytime you get recognized for something like that, it's great," he said. "I'm beyond blessed to not only be a part of the Padres organization and the Eugene Emeralds, but to be going to the Northwest League All-Star Game."

Emeralds starter Coby Cowgill (1-0), who began the season in the Rangers organization, struck out eight and allowed an unearned run on three hits over five innings to get the win.