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Padres Press Clips Friday, April 28, 2017

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Jered Weaver allows three home runs as D-backs roll UT San Diego Lin 2

Carter Capps knocked around in PCL UT San Diego Sanders 4

Christian Bethancourt to continue pitching in Triple-A UT San Diego Lin 6

Padres to work out Luis Robert on Tuesday UT San Diego Lin 8

Talking with ... Padres first base coach Johnny Washington UT San Diego Sanders 9

Schimpf homers again, but Padres fall in finale MLB.com Gilbert/Bloom 11

Weaver struggles, allows 3 homers to D-backs MLB.com Bloom 13

Jankowski could be out for a month or longer MLB.com Bloom 15

Bethancourt decides to pitch in Triple-A MLB.com Bloom 17

Perdomo set to start opener in San Francisco MLB.com Haft/Bloom 18

Walker strikes out 11, Diamondbacks beat Padres 6-2 Associated Press AP 20

Christian Bethancourt tells Padres he'll try full-time pitching ESPN.com ESPN 23

Padres On Deck: Josh Naylor Second in Single-A Cal League Friar Wire Center 24

in HRs, RBIs

This Day in Padres History, 4/27 Friar Wire Center 26

Weaver Struggles Again in Loss to Arizona NBC 7 Rosehart 27

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Jered Weaver allows three home runs as D-backs roll Dennis Lin

Jered Weaver and the Padres had been able to stomach a spate of home runs. Most had come with no one on base. In each of Weaver’s last three starts, his team had stood a chance while he stood on the mound.

In Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Weaver surrendered a pair of solo shots to Chris Owings, who celebrated the first multi-homer career of his game. That was not the extent of the damage.

Yasmany Tomas also homered, with a runner on base. He later doubled, again with a runner on.

The D-backs plated five of their runs with Weaver on the mound. The right-hander was lifted with two outs in the sixth. He’d allowed six hits, including three home runs.

In 28 2/3 innings, Weaver has given up 10 homers, two more than any other major league pitcher. The most devastating kind of hit has been his Achilles heel; 14 of the 15 earned runs off him have scored on fence-clearing drives.

“It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out, that’s for sure,” Weaver said. “Obviously, long ball’s been killing me, and any time you fall behind with the stuff I’m throwing up there, you have to be perfect. I just wasn’t able to do that tonight.

“My location was terrible. It was just one of those days where I kind of battled against myself and it just didn’t work out.”

The Padres have lost all five games the veteran has started. On three occasions, he was not to blame, having limited the damage to two earned runs.

Thursday, the D-backs made loud contact on several swings. The Padres struggled to connect against Taijuan Walker, who tied a career high with 11 strikeouts.

“He lived at the very top of the zone,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “We didn’t have an answer for that. … There was plenty of times those (pitches) were probably takes and we were trying to put them in play, unsuccessfully.”

Meantime, Weaver’s struggles were reminiscent of much of his 2016 season. Last year, only James Shields yielded more home runs.

The Padres traded Shields in June. They signed Weaver in February. So far, the 34-year-old has not assuaged concerns about having to work with league-low velocity. While allowing 37 home runs in 2016, he never permitted more than nine in a month.

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“He has pitched well,” Green said. “Right now, in terms of walks and hits per inning pitched, he’s as low as anybody in the game. But the home runs just continue to get him, and as he continues to move forward, he’s going to continue to fight that.”

So far, too, Weaver has not been aided by much run support. In the top of the first, Yangervis Solarte singled to drive in Wil Myers, who had doubled. Walker proceeded to dominate until the seventh, when Ryan Schimpf, apparently emerging from an extended slump, homered for the second consecutive night.

Weaver’s frustration was compounded in the sixth when Solarte failed to stop a grounder from going into right field. Two batters later, Tomas doubled. For the first time this season, an earned run scored off Weaver on something other than a homer.

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Carter Capps knocked around in PCL Jeff Sanders

Carter Capps’ fifth rehab appearance with Triple-A El Paso was rather forgettable.

The 26-year-old right-hander recorded just two outs and allowed five runs on three hits and two walks in the Chihuahuas’ 13-5 loss to host Salt Lake on Thursday night.

Capps (13.50 ERA) struggled with his command, throwing just 13 of his 27 pitches for strikes. He has allowed all nine earned runs and seven hits in two disastrous rehab outings, while throwing no-hit frames in his other five rehab appearances.

Right-hander Christian Bethancourt allowed a hit while recording the final two outs of the game in his first pitching appearance since he was outrighted to El Paso.

Right-hander Zach Lee (9.00) started the game with four runs allowed on six hits and four walks in four innings.

Rafael Ortega (.313) hit his second homer and went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and his seventh steal. Carlos Asuaje (.217) tripled in two runs and Jose Pirela (.340) and Nick Buss (.391) each had two hits.

The Chihuahuas fell to 9-12.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (9-11)

Frisco 4, Missions 3: RHP Kyle Lloyd (2-3, 5.40) struck out 11 in seven innings but allowed three runs on five hits and a walk. RHP Cesar Vargas (4.67) blew the save with a run allowed in two innings. 3B River Stevens (.152) went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI and 1B Fernando Perez (.247) went 2-for-4. SS Luis Urias extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in four at-bats, but also committed his fifth error.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (9-12)

Visalia 7, Storm 4: RHP Pedro Avila (0-2, 7.20) allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings to put the Storm in a hole. 1B Josh Naylor (.289) drove in two runs on his fourth homer, one more than he had in 33 games with the Storm in 2016. RF Edwin Moreno (.255) went 2-for-5 with his second homer and LF Taylor Kohlwey (.258) went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

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LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (7-14)

South Bend 5, TinCaps 1: LHP Jerry Keel (1-1, 1.93) was undone by two unearned runs over seven strong innings. He struck out five and scattered six hits and two walks in his longest start of the season. RHP Mark Zimmerman (4.66) allowed three unearned runs in two innings. SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (.222) went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and his sixth steal and C Marcus Greene Jr. (.306) went 2-for-3 with a walk. 3B Hudson Potts (.224) was hit by a pitch, walked and scored a run before he was lifted after in the fifth inning for precautionary reasons.

Transaction

RHP Michael Dimock was released to make room for RHP Kevin Quackenbush, who was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. The 27-year-old Dimock had allowed 11 runs on 16 hits and three walks in seven innings this year after posting a 5.05 ERA over 46 1/3 innings last year in the high minors. Dimock had been ticketed for a stint in the Arizona Fall League in 2015 when was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a drug of abuse.

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Christian Bethancourt to continue pitching in Triple-A Dennis Lin

In a phone call with General Manager A.J. Preller on Wednesday, Christian Bethancourt communicated a desire to keep going. The Padres’ attempt at making him into a reliever-catcher-outfielder hybrid had fizzled at the major league level. Now, he will continue his development on the mound with Triple-A El Paso.

Bethancourt was outrighted off the 40-man roster on Tuesday. He joined El Paso in Salt Lake City on Thursday. In between, he received time to ponder his career path.

“It’s his career,” Preller said by phone Thursday. “It was a conversation the last couple days, making sure he wants to continue on the pitching front and that it’s something he wants to do. Talking to him, he said, ‘I want to give it a go.’ I think he understands he can always go back to catching and he wants to see how it plays out on the pitching front if he has regular practice and outings.”

A full-time catcher until this year, Bethancourt made just four relief appearances, allowing nine runs, six earned, in 3 2/3 innings, before the Padres put him on waivers. After he cleared them, the organization sent him down, hoping he would accept an opportunity to hone his nascent skills.

Bethancourt reserved the right to return to catching, though the Padres have expressed their belief that he retains more upside on the mound. Had he chosen to go back behind the plate, he would have faced limited playing time, even in Triple-A, where Rocky Gale is El Paso’s top option.

“He looks at it and says he wants to get better at this,” Preller said of Bethancourt. “We’re going to be supportive of him in whatever he wants to do.”

Bethancourt will pinch-hit and take batting practice with El Paso, but for now, the vast majority of his attention will be on pitching. The hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League will present a challenge, though Preller believes the 25-year-old can handle it.

“We thought the opportunity to face an advanced level, rather than a lower level or more pitching-friendly environment (could work),” Preller said. “He’ll get a chance to face the next-best league to the big leagues. It’s going to be a test for him, but I’m confident as far as him going out and being able to perform.”

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Jankowski out indefinitely

The bone bruise in Travis Jankowski’s right foot is “extensive,” and the possibility exists that the outfielder also sustained a hairline fracture, though that wouldn’t alter the course of his rehab. Jankowski will wear a walking boot for another week to 10 days. He is expected to miss at least a month.

The left fielder fouled a ball off his foot on April 14 and continued playing, ineffectively, for several more days. When he did not experience physical improvement, the Padres ordered a series of tests. He landed on the disabled list at the beginning of this week.

“The way it was explained to me when I talked to (head team physician Catherine Robertson) on the phone … he has an extensive bone bruise,” manager Andy Green said. “And within that he could have a hairline fracture, but that doesn’t change anything. If there is a hairline fracture, if there’s not a hairline fracture, the bone bruise is extensive enough to warrant this path they’re on anyway.”

Another left fielder, Alex Dickerson, is progressing but won’t be able to return until, at the earliest, the end of May. Dickerson started the season on the disabled list with a disc protrusion in his lower back. He should resume baseball activities within the next week.

When outfielder Jabari Blash was called up from El Paso on April 7, the Padres opened a roster spot by transferring Dickerson to the 60-day disabled list. The stint is retroactive to March 30.

“I knew it was going to take close to 60 days anyway,” said Dickerson, who has been doing cardio and light lifting. “It was probably a good move. That way, I can take it slow and make sure I do it right.

“I’ve been feeling good. Not in any pain anymore. Back’s feeling really good.”

Another ‘pen

Right-hander Jarred Cosart (right hamstring strain) is scheduled for another bullpen session this weekend in San Francisco. The Padres will decide afterward whether he is ready to be activated.

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Padres to work out Luis Robert on Tuesday Dennis Lin

The Padres are scheduled to host Cuban outfield prospect Luis Robert for a private workout Tuesday in the Dominican Republic, sources told the Union-Tribune. The workout originally was set for Friday, but was moved for scheduling reasons.

Robert, 19, is the most coveted player on the international market, and the Padres are far from alone in their interest. According to Baseball America, the Astros, Athletics and Reds already have held private workouts, with the White Sox and Cardinals also expected to join the circuit.

Major League Baseball last week declared Robert a free agent, eligible to sign on May 20. With the exception of the White Sox, all of the above teams have exceeded their bonus-pool allotments for the 2016-17 signing period, which ends June 15, and will not be able to sign any international amateur for more than $300,000 over the next two periods.

Since last July 2, the rebuilding Padres have been easily the biggest spender on overseas talent, committing about $80 million, including overage taxes, to dozens of prospects. The haul includes six Cuban signees: left-hander Adrian Morejon (franchise-record $11 million signing bonus), outfielder Jorge Ona ($7 million), right-hander Michel Baez ($3 million), lefty Osvaldo Hernandez ($2.5 million), righty Ronald Bolanos ($2.25 million) and lefty Ramon Perez ($400,000).

Ona, Baez and Bolanos played with Robert on Cuba’s 18-and-under national team in 2014. That familiarity could benefit the Padres if they decide to make a serious bid for Robert.

“We have seen him multiple times and will continue to scout him aggressively until he signs,” Padres international scouting director Chris Kemp told the Union-Tribune recently.

Robert held an open showcase in the Dominican in late March. Another is expected before he becomes eligible to sign.

By adding a player of Robert’s talent, the White Sox would join the other clubs in facing spending restrictions over the next two signing periods, but Chicago’s Southside team has been rumored to be the most aggressive suitor.

Before leaving Cuba, Robert recorded an impressive batting line of .401/.526/.687 last season in the island’s top professional league. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound center fielder is a five-tool talent, though not considered on par with White Sox infield prospect Yoan Moncada, who received a $31.5 million signing bonus from Boston in 2015.

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Talking with ... Padres first base coach Johnny Washington Jeff Sanders

The Texas Rangers drafted Johnny Washington out of Mt. San Jacinto College in the 27th round in 2003. Six years later, the Dodgers – his second organization – assigned him to rookie-level Ogden … as a hitting coach. Today, the 32-year-old Washington is the Padres’ first base coach and the youngest on Andy Green’s staff. He sat down recently with the Union-Tribune to retrace his steps to the majors.

Union-Tribune: You were 25 years old when you starting coaching. Was that something that had crossed your mind much as a player?

Washington: When I got to the end of my playing career I wasn’t much of a player. A couple of coaches had mentioned previously, “Hey, have you ever thought about coaching?” I put no thought into. In 2009, I went to spring training with the Dodgers and they asked if I’d be a player/coach when I got to spring training. I wasn’t a big advocate for that role. I didn’t think the timing was right. Once I got released I realized I was at the end of the road of my playing career and I wanted to see what was next. The coaching part I enjoyed. I got a chance to throw some BP in 2009 when I was in high-A at Inland Empire with the Dodgers and did some fungos and started to feel out if coaching would be something I wanted to do. And I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every bit of it.

U-T: Does it raise a red flag if you’re a player and they’re asking if you’d like to coach?

Washington: It’s not a red flag. At some point, your time on the field as a player comes to an end for everybody. Mine came sooner than most and I’m still thankful for the opportunities I had to play. I’m thankful for the opportunity to coach as well.

U-T: Why weren’t you interested in being a player/coach?

Washington: At the time I still wanted to play. I still had that fire to get up in the morning, put on some spikes and get dirty and be around the guys. As time grew, three or four months later, things changed for me. I found a love to want to help others and give back.

U-T: How often have you come across former teammates as a coach?

Washington: Most of them have been on the opposition. Like Scott Van Slyke and Kenley Jansen – they were on the same team that I was on in 2009 when I got a chance to help those guys as I was becoming a player/coach. A lot of the young Dodgers players that have come up through the system or have been traded I got a chance to coach them. Playing with guys, there

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are a few guys that I played with in A-ball. Justin Hatcher, our bullpen catcher, I was on the same A-ball team with him with the Rangers. If they are around my age, I’ve seen them at some point.

U-T: Does that become awkward at any point?

Washington: In the beginning it’s awkward because I went from the same locker room to a different locker room. But there was always a mutual respect of just how I went about my day, how I went about my work. The respect was always there regardless of my position. It was fun. Some guys helped me grow more than others, especially the older guys I had a chance to be around. I think the biggest growth was being in Triple-A in 2015 and having guys around that had been in the big leagues.

U-T: How did you end up on this staff?

Washington: I think over time doing things right on a baseball field from a minor league standpoint and doing work and people recognizing that you’re always doing work and helping guys get better. In many cases, the players around the game talk for you. I’ve seen Andy Green in the past when he was managing in the minor leagues. I had some good, good battles with him when he was in the lower levels with the Diamondbacks. I was with the Texas Rangers as a player when A.J. Preller was there working his way up to the front office. Over time, it’s a lot of resiliency and work and doing things the right way.

U-T: You’re in the show. You didn’t get here as a player, but you still grinded to get here. Do you think it’s as satisfying?

Washington: No doubt. No doubt. My passion hasn’t changed. It’s the same feeling that I would assume a player gets when he gets his first call-up to the big leagues. It was an unbelievable feeling being from LA and getting my first big league game in LA. I couldn’t ask for a better entrance. I don’t think it’s different. The big leagues is the big leagues regardless of title or position. You just enjoy being around the game.

U-T: You’re a product of Major League Baseball’s RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program. What’s important about that program?

Washington: I’m from Compton. I still do some things with the Urban Youth Academy in Compton. You’re still around the dirt. You’re still around the grass. No matter where it is – in the inner cities or here in San Diego – it’s the same opportunity. You get a chance to put a uniform on and play the game of baseball and teach the game of baseball. … I think any baseball program for the youth is crucial. In the inner city, it’s an opportunity for kids to get off the streets and learn the game, understand what the game is about and have opportunities that they maybe wouldn’t have if the program wasn’t there. There’s also an educational component of just growing young men and young women. That’s what the program is more for – grow the youth and teach them life skills that they wouldn’t get on a baseball field.

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Schimpf homers again, but Padres fall in

finale By Steve Gilbert and Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 1:25 AM ET

PHOENIX -- Taijuan Walker matched his career high with 11 strikeouts, as the right-hander led the D-

backs to a 6-2 win over the Padres on Thursday night at Chase Field.

Walker's outing was backed by a pair home runs from Chris Owings and another fromYasmany Tomas,

as the D-backs took three of four from the Padres and have now won all four home series this season.

"A little guy, but he's got some serious pop," Walker said of Owings. "Our offense is really good, and

every night we're going to go out there and score five or six runs, so my job is to try and go out there and

go as deep as possible."

Walker scattered four hits while becoming just the second D-backs pitcher this year to go eight innings.

Meanwhile, Padres starter Jered Weaver allowed five runs on six hits -- three of which were homers --

over 5 2/3 innings. He's given up 10 homers over five starts.

"It was one of those days I thought it was a little tight on the corners from an umpire's perspective, and

that forced [Weaver] into the zone," Padres manager Andy Green said. "They have a lot of guys who can

do some damage. Once again, the majority of the damage was done on the home run. That's the way the

year's gone for him, and it bit him again tonight."

Ryan Schimpf homered for the second consecutive night for the Padres.

Combined with the Rockies' loss to the Nationals, the D-backs' win gave them sole possession of first

place in the National League West heading into the three-game series against Colorado at Chase Field this

weekend.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Ready for blastoff: The D-backs hit a pair of homers in the fourth inning with Tomas hitting a two-run

homer and, one out later, Owings hitting his second of the game. The homers gave the D-backs some

breathing room by pushing their lead to 4-1.

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"Not trying to do anything different up there," Owings said. "Just got some pitches up in the zone and put

some barrel on it, basically."

Goldy's heads-up play: With a runner on first and one out in the fifth, Weaver popped up a sacrifice bunt

attempt toward first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt saw the runner at first, Allen Cordoba,

heading back to the bag, while Weaver was not running hard out of the box. So, Goldschmidt let the ball

drop and managed to turn it into an inning-ending double play.

"I was thinking about it before, just if he popped it up to me," Goldschmidt said. "It was probably a little

harder than what I was thinking in my head. But I knew we had a shot to potentially turn two there. That

was pretty cool. I don't think I've ever done that before, so it was fun to be a part of that."

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

In the four games against the Padres, the D-backs' pitchers set a club record for most strikeouts in a series

with 51, which eclipsed the previous high of 44. Arizona also recorded four straight games with 11 or

more strikeouts for the first time in franchise history.

WHAT'S NEXT

Padres: The Padres make their first trip to San Francisco this season to play the Giants this weekend at

AT&T Park, with the opener of the three-game set for Friday at 7:15 p.m. PT. Luis Perdomo is slated to

make his third start of the season, his second after a stint on the 10-day disabled list for inflammation in

his right shoulder.

D-backs: The D-backs open a three-game series with the Rockies at Chase Field on Friday night at 6:40

p.m. MST, as Robbie Ray will get the ball for the D-backs. The left-hander is 2-1 with a 5.30 ERA in

seven career starts against the Rockies.

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Weaver struggles, allows 3 homers to D-

backs

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 2:16 AM ET

PHOENIX -- It's the job of the manager to pump up the player, even when that player is in the waning

days of a great career. It's the job of the player to tell it like it is. And on Thursday night, veteran Padres

right-hander Jered Weaver told it like it is.

Asked how he felt after giving up five runs in a 6-2 loss to the D-backs at Chase Field, Weaver was

pretty succinct.

"Not very good," Weaver said. "I was falling behind, location was terrible. It was just one of those days

when I battled against myself, and it didn't work out."

Actually, it could be one of those seasons. Weaver, 34, anchored the Angels' starting rotation for 11 years,

winning 20 games in 2012 and 18 in 2014. He has a 150-95 career record, a .615 winning percentage.

Weaver's velocity has consistently diminished, and that may be the biggest reason he remained on the

free-agent market until the pitching-challenged Padres signed him for $3 million on Feb. 19.

Weaver has made five starts without a win, all San Diego losses. Coming into this outing, Statcast™ told

the tale of Weaver's diminishing returns. Of 183 Major League pitchers who had thrown at least 100

combined four-seamers, two-seamers and sinkers, Weaver's average velocity of 84.1 miles per hour was

last on the list.

That continued Thursday as the Padres lost for the 11th time in their last 15 games. Here's what Weaver

threw for the three homers he allowed: a 78-mph slider and a 75.6 mph changeup on a pair to Chris

Owings, and an 84.3-mph fastball to Yasmany Tomas.

Weaver has already given up 10 homers over 28 2/3 innings, and he said knows he can't even live on the

edge like that.

"It doesn't take a genius to figure this out, that's for sure," Weaver said. "Obviously, the long ball has been

killing me. When you fall behind with the stuff I'm throwing, you have to be perfect."

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And he's not. Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito discovered they couldn't excel without a fastball in the 90s.

Greg Maddux said that he knew his career was over in his final months for the Dodgers when he threw as

hard as he could, looked up at the Dodger Stadium scoreboard and saw the pitch register at 87 mph.

"I knew it was over, right then and there," Maddux said.

The hitters tell a pitcher when it's over, former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman once said, and they are

speaking awfully loud right now to Weaver, who has allowed 15 earned runs.

This is where the second-year manager stepped in to support his pitcher. Asked how long Weaver could

survive with this type of velo, Andy Green was more than up to the task.

"His outs are all on those pitches, too," Green said. "You look up at him, last outing a quality start, outing

before that a quality start, outing before that right on the verge of a quality start. Today, three pitches got

him, but he has pitched well. He has one of the lowest WHIPs in the game."

Weaver's WHIP is 1.08. He throws strikes, no question, but at his velo, that may be the problem.

"It doesn't matter what's going on, what I once did," Weaver said. "It's what I can do now. I still have to

execute pitches. I'm still here pitching in the big leagues, and I've got to figure out ways to get outs."

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Jankowski could be out for a month or

longer

Padres outfielder may have hairline fracture in injured

right foot

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | April 27th, 2017

PHOENIX -- The injury to Padres outfielder Travis Jankowski's right foot that put him on the 10-day

disabled list Monday may be more serious than a deep bone bruise.

Manager Andy Green indicated Thursday before the team's series finale against the D-backs that there is a

possibility Jankowski also has a hairline fracture of the tarsal navicular bone in that foot.

"I was told by the doctor there was a serious bone bruise, and the possibility of a hairline fracture. They

weren't sure," Green said. "But that doesn't change our approach to how we're handling it."

The Padres are exercising caution, and Jankowski could be out for a month or longer. The outfielder has

been with the team this week, but will remain behind at the club's Spring Training facility in nearby

Peoria, Ariz., to continue his treatment, while the Padres travel to San Francisco for a three-game series

against the Giants starting on Friday night.

"They told me I'd be in the boot for another week to 10 days," Jankowski said. "We'll see how it feels

after that, and if we can get anything moving."

When the injury is healed, Jankowski will undergo rehab to rebuild the muscles in the right leg that had

atrophied, and then get back into playing shape.

"Yeah, that's going to stink," Jankowski said.

Asked if he was frustrated by the setback coming so early in the season, Jankowski added: "I was

frustrated to start, but being frustrated now isn't going to make it heal any faster. I've been talking to Andy

a lot just to see how my game can get better, just from the studying aspect of it."

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The 25-year-old Jankowski fouled a ball off his foot on April 14, and had been hobbling until he was

placed on the disabled list. The left-handed hitter was batting .180 (8-for-50).

"You could see if you were watching closely that it was playing on one foot for the last five to seven

games," Green said. "That was partially on me for running him out there."

Jankowski said he wasn't exactly forthcoming about the injury and tried to play through it.

"I mean, I told them what was going on," Jankowski said. "But when they'd ask me, I'd just say, 'I'm

feeling good. It's bothering me a little bit, but I'll be able to play in the game.' And it just didn't get better,

and that's when we had it evaluated."

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Bethancourt decides to pitch in Triple-A

Padres see right-hander's future on mound, not at catcher

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | April 27th, 2017

PHOENIX -- Pitcher/catcher Christian Bethancourt has told the Padres he's willing to go to the Minor

Leagues and continue his development as a pitcher. He reported to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, as the

Padres concluded a four-game series against the D-backs at Chase Field.

Padres manager Andy Green said he and the club's baseball operations executives were pleased by

Bethancourt's decision. Bethancourt was outrighted to El Paso on Tuesday and given a few days to decide

whether he wanted to pitch or catch.

Bethancourt was told by general manager A.J. Preller, who handled those discussions with Bethancourt,

that the organization viewed his future on the mound, not behind the plate.

"He said that he would pitch, and we're happy with that decision on his part," Green said. "We're glad that

he feels the same way we feel about it. A.J. had taken that off my plate. That was more like an

organizational decision. It's something we've invested the last couple of months in, and that's the way we

see him in the future."

This spring, the Padres experimented using Bethancourt at both positions. He was batting .143 (1-for-7) in

eight games in the regular season. On the mound, he made four appearances, amassing a 14.73 ERA by

allowing nine runs (six earned) on six hits, with eight walks and two strikeouts, over 3 2/3 innings.

The 25-year-old right-hander caught 114 games from 2014-16 for the Braves and Padres. In his career,

Bethancourt has batted .222 with eight homers and 46 RBIs.

Green said the Padres couldn't give Bethancourt the innings he needed in the Majors to develop control

and placement of pitches. He will get that opportunity in El Paso.

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Perdomo set to start opener in San

Francisco

By Chris Haft and Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | April 27th, 2017

The Giants have San Diego to thank for their bullpen's statistical disparity in home-road performance. It's

a pattern that San Francisco hopes it can break when the club entertains the Padres in a three-game series

starting Friday night at AT&T Park.

Entering Thursday, Giants relievers owned a 0.94 ERA (three earned runs, 28 2/3 innings) in 10 games at

AT&T Park, compared with a 5.57 mark on the road. While losing two of three games at San Diego from

April 7-9, Giants relievers allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings for a 6.35 ERA, consistent with the overall

totals.

The Padres reactivated Luis Perdomo from the disabled list on Sunday when he made his second start of

the season, facing the Marlins. He's slated to face Giants right-hander Jeff Samardzija. Perdomo suffered

inflammation in his right shoulder on April 7 in the Padres' home opener against the Giants, when he

allowed five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"We'd like to see him get back to the point where he has heavy sink on the ball," Padres manager Andy

Green said. "His slider has looked pretty good this year in just a couple of outings. In both outings, he's

had five really good innings, and the sixth has been really tough for him. I know he can pitch past the

sixth, but we're well aware of the problems he's been having."

Three things to know about this game

• San Diego's Hunter Renfroe and Wil Myers entered Thursday having combined to draw just four walks

this season (two apiece), and it's clear they're not coming up to the plate looking for a free pass. Neither of

the Padres' young sluggers gets cheated with a bat in his hands, as both their swing rates ranked in the top

10 among qualified hitters (min. 300 pitches seen) coming into Thursday. Renfroe (53.4 percent) ranked

eighth and Myers (53.2) was ninth.

• Samardzija has done some of his best work against the Padres, compiling a 7-2 record with a 3.19 ERA

against them.

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• San Diego is 173-231 (a .428 winning percentage) all-time in San Francisco between AT&T Park and

Candlestick Park.

20

Walker strikes out 11, Diamondbacks beat

Padres 6-2 Associated Press

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered through a heartbreaking loss the night before and learned earlier in the day that they may have lost one of their starting pitchers for the season. A letdown would have been easy. In fact, their manager was a little concerned it might happen.

Instead, the Diamondbacks were loose, wrapping up another home series win behind Taijuan

Walker's dominant performance and an early string of home runs. Walker matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in eight effective innings, Chris Owings hit a pair of solo homers and the Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 Thursday night.

"I would lie to you if I told I wasn't concerned because some of the news we got today just seemed to pile up," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "But this group depends on one another and that's what we did here."

The Diamondbacks blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning to lose 8-5 to the Padres on Wednesday night. Before Thursday's game, they found out right-hander Shelby Miller may be done for the season with a partially torn elbow ligament. Rather than pout, they jumped on Jered Weaver (0-2) with three homers and kept hitting. Yasmany Tomas had a two-run homer and lined a run-scoring double to help Arizona match its best ever home start at 11-3.

Walker (3-1) was sharp after a shaky first inning, allowing two runs and four hits. Picked to be mediocre heading into the season, the Diamondbacks now lead the NL West after opening a season with four straight home series wins for the third time.

"We know we can hit and pitch well," Walker said. "We rebounded from last night by scoring six runs and that just shows how much confidence we have in each other."

The Padres salvaged a win in the four-game series by scoring five runs in the ninth inning against Fernando Rodney on Wednesday night. They put up little fight against Walker, managing four hits to lose for the fifth time in six games.

Ryan Schmipf had a solo home run for the Padres after hitting the go-ahead three-run homer the night before.

"Walker was good today," Padres manager Andy Green said. "He lives at the very top of the zone and we didn't have an answer for that."

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Walker had a bit of a rough first inning, allowing a run on Yangervis Solarte's single. The right-hander had the Padres off-balance the rest of the night, retiring 12 of 13 batters -- one was hit by a pitch -- before Schmipf's homer in the seventh.

"He gave us just what we needed," Lovullo said.

Weaver had pitched well since losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first start of the season, yet had three straight no-decisions entering Thursday's start despite allowing two earned runs in each.

One problem: Giving up home runs.

Weaver entered Thursday's game allowing 2.74 homers per nine innings, most in the NL.

The hot-hitting Diamondbacks added to that ratio.

Owing hit the first in the third inning. The right-handed Tomas hit his shot to right field in the fourth and Owings hit another homer later in the inning.

Tomas added a run-scoring double off Weaver in the sixth inning to put Arizona up 5-1.

Weaver allowed five runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out," Weaver said. "Obviously, the long ball has been killing me."

HEADY GOLDY

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt made a heady play to start an inning-ending double play in the fifth. With Allen Cordoba on first, Weaver squared around for sacrifice bunt and sent the ball in the air toward Goldschmidt. Instead of catching the ball, he let it drop and ran over to tag first. Cordoba had to hold up to see if the ball was going to be caught and ended up getting tagged out in a rundown.

"It surprised me when he dropped it and it was a double play," Walker said. "It was a big moment in the game

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Miller has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, though may not opt to have Tommy John surgery. He is considering rehabilitating his elbow, possibly with stem cell injections.

UP NEXT

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Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in three career appearances at AT&T Park heading into Friday's start at the San Francisco Giants. Diamondbacks: LHP Robbie Ray is 2-1 with a 5.30 ERA and 39 strikeouts in seven career starts against Colorado heading into Friday's game against the Rockies.

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Christian Bethancourt tells Padres he'll try

full-time pitching ESPN.com news services

Veteran Padres catcher Christian Bethancourt, sent down to Triple-A after a failed stint in a hybrid role, has agreed to work on developing as a pitcher in the minor leagues, according to MLB.com. The Padres' front office was encouraged by Bethancourt's decision, the MLB.com report said, after he was demoted to the El Paso Chihuahuas and given a few days to decide whether he wanted to pitch or catch.

"He said that he would pitch, and we're happy with that decision on his part," Padres manager Andy Green said, according to MLB.com. "We're glad that he feels the same way we feel about it.

"A.J. had taken that off my plate," Green said about GM A.J. Preller. "That was more like an organizational decision. It's something we've invested the last couple of months in, and that's the way we see him in the future."

Bethancourt is a natural catcher, but the Padres have used him as a pitcher the past two seasons. He hit .143 in eight games and appeared in four as a pitcher, going 0-0 with a 14.73 ERA in 3 2/3 innings.

Bethancourt is a career .222 hitter in parts of five big league seasons and has appeared in six games as a pitcher.

24

Padres On Deck: Josh Naylor Second in Single-A Cal League

in HRs, RBIs

LHP Jerry Keel lowers ERA to 1.93 in Single-A Midwest League

By Bill Center

First baseman Josh Naylor hit a two-run homer for Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore Thursday night and left-handed starter Jerry Keel didn’t allow an earned run over seven innings for Single-A Fort Wayne.

Naylor, 19, the Padres’ 15th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline was 2-for-4 to raise his batting average to .289. He now has four home runs and 19 RBIs on the season to rank second in both categories in the California League.

Keel, 23, allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts but suffered the loss as south Bend scored five unearned runs to defeat Fort Wayne at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne. Keel is now 1–1 on the season with a 1.93 earned run average.

Right-hander Mark Zimmerman (4.66 ERA) allowed three unearned runs on a hit and a walk with five strikeouts in two innings for the TinCaps, who fell to 7–14.

Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (.222) was 2-for-4 for Fort Wayne with a double and his sixth stolen base. Designated hitter Eguy Rosario (.219) had an RBI double in four at-bats. Third baseman Hudson Potts (.224) came out of the game after being hit by a pitch in his second plate appearance.

Meanwhile, right-hander Kyle Lloyd struck out 11 hitters for Double-A San Antonio in seven innings to move into second in the Texas League with 27 strikeouts.

There was one move in the Padres system Thursday. Triple-A El Paso released right-handed pitcher Thomas Dorminy while activating right-handed pitcher Kevin Quackenbush, who was optioned by the Padres.

Right-handed pitcher Christian Bethancourt made his debut with the Chihuahuas Thursday night and allowed a hit in two-thirds of a scoreless inning. But right-hander Carter Capps (20.25) had another rough outing on his rehab assignment, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks with a strikeout in one-third of an inning.

Around the farm:

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TRIPLE-A EL PASO (9–12) — SALT LAKE 13, Chihuahuas 5: RF Rafael Ortega (.313) was 2-for-3 with a homer, two walks, a stolen base and two runs scored. LF Nick Buss (.391) had two doubles in four at-bats. DH Jose Pirela (.340) was 2-for-5 with a steal and two runs scored. 2B Carlos Asuaje (.217) had a two-run triple in five at-bats. RHP Zach Lee made his first start for El Paso and allowed four runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts in four innings. RHP Bryan Rodriguez (1–2, 4.66 ERA) allowed three runs on four hits and two walks with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. RHP Andre Rienzo (3.60) allowed an unearned run on two hits with a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (9–11) — Frisco 4, MISSIONS 3: Starting RHP Kyle Lloyd (2–3, 5.40 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts in seven innings. RHP Cesar Vargas (4.67) allowed a run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings and suffered a blown save. 3B River Stevens (.152) was 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and a RBI. 1B Fernando Perez (.247) was 2-for-4. SS Luis Urías (.347) was 1-for-4 with a run scored. RF Franmil Reyes (.288) had a double in three at-bats with a walk, a RBI and two runs scored.

ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (9–12) — VISALIA 7, Storm 4: LF Edwin Moreno (.255) was 2-for-5 with a homer. LF Taylor Kohlwey (.258) was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. Starting RHP Pedro Avila (0–2, 7.20 ERA) allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. RHP Tyler Barnette (5.84) allowed a run on two hits in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Trevor Frank (5.68) allowed a run on three hits with five strikeouts in two innings. RHP Gerardo Reyes (0.79) allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout in two scoreless innings.

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This Day in Padres History, 4/27

11-game winning streak, Dravecky caps record month

By Bill Center

April 27, 1969 — Third baseman Ed Spiezio caps a four-hit game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 13th to give the Padres a 10–9, 13-inning victory over Cincinnati at San Diego Stadium. It is the first, walk-off win in franchise history.

April 27, 1982 — The Padres defeat the New York Mets 8–5 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. It is the Padres’ 11th straight win, which is a franchise record at the time and still tied for the second-longest winning streak in Padres’ history.

April 27, 1986 — Left-handed starter Dave Dravecky holds the Giants to two earned runs (four total) on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings as the Padres win 6–4 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. It is Dravecky’s last start in April. He finishes the month with a 0.75 earned run average for five starts, still the lowest ERA by any Padres starter for a full month while making at least three starts. Tony Gwynn goes 3-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs.

April 27, 1995 — The Padres get 21 hits in a 13–1 victory over Houston at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Bip Roberts has four hits and Eddie Williams three. Gwynn homers as one of five Padres with two hits.

April 27, 2004 — Right-handed pitchers Ismael Valdez and Trevor Hoffman combine on a four-hit shutout as the Padres score a 3–0 win over Montreal at Petco Park.

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Weaver Struggles Again in Loss to Arizona Diamondbacks tag veteran pitcher for 3 more homers

By Ben Rosehart

Jered Weaver’s tendency to give up home runs is not going away.

After allowing three more round-trippers in a 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks Thursday night,

Weaver’s ERA rose to 4.71.

What’s more disturbing is that Weaver has already allowed ten homers in his first five starts

as a Padre.

To put that in perspective, the veteran righty has only struck out 14 batters this year.

Chris Owings certainly likes playing against the Friars. The D’backs second baseman crushed

a pair of homers off of Weaver to bring his season total to four.

Three have come against San Diego this week alone.

Meanwhile, Taijuan Walker fooled the Padres lineup and improved to 3-1 after striking out 11

batters in eight solid innings.

Padres infielder Ryan Schimpf managed to go yard for the second straight day when he

bashed a solo shot in the 7th inning but it was too little too late.

Yangervis Solarte collected another RBI in the first inning when he singled home Wil Myers.

Solarte leads the Padres with 16 RBI, while Myers still owns the best batting average at a .316

clip.

After dropping three of four contests in the desert, San Diego starts a three-game series up in

San Francisco with a Friday date against the Giants.

Luis Perdomo is expected to take the mound while the Giants are scheduled to pitch Jeff

Samardzija who is off to an 0-4 start with a 7.40 ERA.