Germán Márquez took another strong step toward a return to the Padres rotation.
The 31-year-old veteran spun four shutout innings in his second rehab start in Triple-A El Paso’s 11-5 win over Sugar Land on Sunday.
Márquez struck out two, walked one and allowed one hit while throwing 28 of his 47 pitches for strikes. He has 6⅓ shutout innings since beginning a rehab assignment on Tuesday.
Márquez landed on the 15-day injured list on May 3 with an inflamed nerve in his right forearm. The Padres can have him make rehab starts for 30 days before having to add him back to the roster.
Márquez was 3-2 with a 5.76 ERA through six starts (29⅔ IP) before landing on the injured list.
Left-hander Jackson Wolf (3-4, 6.47 ERA) allowed five runs in 3⅓ innings in relief to earn the win.
Right-hander Alek Jacob (4.74 ERA) earned his third save with three strikeouts over 1⅔ scoreless innings.
Right fielder Nick Solak (.957 OPS) drove in three runs on three hits, including his ninth homer.
Third baseman Clay Dungan (.757 OPS) went 2-for-3 with his sixth homer, two RBIs, a walk and two runs scored.
Designated hitter Will Wagner (.763 OPS) and left fielder Nick Schnell (.897 OPS) both had two hits, including a double.
Shortstop Mason McCoy (.810 OPS) went 1-for-5 with a triple and a run scored.
El Paso is 27-36.
Sunday’s scoreboard
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (25-32)
Missions 7, Wichita 4: 3B Luis Verdugo (.680 OPS) went 1-for-3 with his third homer, two RBIs, a walk and two runs scored. CF Kai Roberts (.578 OPS) went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. C Ethan Salas (.808 OPS) went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. LHP Omar Cruz (3-1, 4.26 ERA) earned the win with one run in two innings after RHP Ian Koenig (4.04 ERA) allowed three runs on four hits and five walks in four innings in the start.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (24-33)
Lake County 3, TinCaps 2: DH Jake Cunningham (1.011 OPS) went 1-for-2 with his 14th homer, tops in the Padres system. He walked twice and struck out once. LHP Jamie Hitt (1-2, 4.91 ERA) allowed three runs — one earned — on four hits and two walks in four innings in the loss. LHP Javier Chacon (5.27 ERA) struck out three over two scoreless innings.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (33-24)
Storm 7, Fresno 5 (11): CF Ryan Wideman (.895 OPS) went 1-for-3 with his fifth homer, his 37th steal and two runs. 2B Jose Verdugo (.754 OPS) and DH Luke Cantwell (.936 OPS) both had two hits and Verdugo, Cantwell, C Truitt Madonna (.714 OPS) and 3B Bradley Frye (.734 OPS) all had a double. 1B Kerrington Cross (1.036 OPS) went 1-for-4 with an RBI, two walks, a run scored and two steals.