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Padres Press Clips Sunday, August 21, 2016

Article Source Author Page

Kivlehan homers in debut, but Padres fall short MLB.com Cassavell/Gilbert 2

Kivlehan announces presence with a bang MLB.com Collazo 5

Ross hopes to pitch for Padres this season MLB.com Cassavell 7

Padres option Buchter to Triple-A El Paso MLB.com Collazo 9

Perdomo gets the ball for Padres in finale MLB.com Collazo 11

Ray fans 13, yields 1 hit in 7 innings as D-backs top Padres Associated Press AP 12

Kivlehan's homer not quite enough in loss UT San Diego Sanders 14

Urias maturing beyond years in Cal League UT San Diego Sanders 17

Tyson Ross looks 'ready' in latest live BP UT San Diego Sanders 19

Pregame: Buchter optioned out for a 'break' UT San Diego Sanders 21

Q&A: Padres outfielder Alex Dickerson UT San Diego Sanders 23

Padres Throw Away a Win NBC San Diego Togerson 25

Diamondbacks-Padres preview STATS, LLC STATS, LLC 26

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Kivlehan homers in debut, but Padres fall

short By AJ Cassavell and Steve Gilbert / MLB.com | 1:28 AM ET

SAN DIEGO -- In the best start of his young career, Robbie Ray was nearly untouchable Saturday night,

leading the D-backs to a 2-1 victory over the Padres at Petco Park.

Ray set a career-high with 13 strikeouts over seven frames, while allowing just one hit -- a fifth-inning

home run by Padres debutant Patrick Kivlehan.

"I was working really well in the bullpen before the game and everything was really downhill and

working for me so I knew that today was going to be a pretty good day," Ray said. "It was just a matter of

executing."

If not for Kivlehan's fifth-inning blast, Ray could have potentially flirted with history. His stuff was

certainly good enough. Instead, Kivlehan became the fifth Padre in history to go deep in his first big

league game -- and the first since Tommy Medica did so in 2013.

"It's definitely something to remember," Kivlehan said. "You know, definitely a great start. Kind of wish

the ending would have been a little better, but all in all, a great night."

Padres left-hander Clayton Richard matched Ray's pitching prowess -- only to be let down by his

inability to field his position. Richard's two throwing errors allowed a pair of unearned runs to score.

Otherwise, he tossed six innings of two-hit ball without an earned run.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Double trouble: The D-backs had chances to tack on more runs against Richard, but double plays

hampered their efforts. Arizona grounded into four double plays in four straight innings from the fourth

through the seventh.

"You've got to give their pitcher [credit]," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Richard did a really good

job. Kept the ball down, he obviously had some nasty movement. Thank God we were able to get some

breaks with the errors. The guys were hustling and made the guy throw it away."

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Welcome to the show, kid: Kivlehan made certain his first big league hit wasn't a cheapie. The

464-moonshot ricocheted off the wall behind the second deck in left field, making it the second-

longest homer by a Padre during the Statcast™ era. Only Melvin Upton Jr.'s 465-foot dinger on

June 28 had a greater projected distance.

"That's a pretty sweet moment," Padres manager Andy Green said. "The guy's dreamed about

doing that his whole life. And his first, he hits [464] feet in the big leagues. That's really special

for him, and it's something he should never forget. I'm sure he won't."

Great escape: It looked as if the Arizona bullpen was on the verge of another collapse when the

Padres loaded the bases against Jake Barrett and Steve Hathaway with no outs in the eighth,

while clinging to a 2-1 lead. Daniel Hudson, though, came on and got Alexei Ramirez, Wil

Myers and Yangervis Solarte to pop out to strand the bases full.

"I was just trying to pick [the other relievers] up and pick Robbie up and try to limit the damage

as much as possible," Hudson said. "It's a situation you don't expect to get out of there without

giving up any, and luckily I was able to make some pitches and get some weak contact, which is

what I was going for."

Can't handle the comebacker: Richard's two blemishes came of his own volition. The left-hander

has struggled to field his position throughout his career, and that came back to bite him again

Saturday. Richard's 24 career errors pitcher are seventh among active pitchers -- and all six

hurlers above him have thrown at least twice as many innings.

"I was not athletic today, let myself stand up, get out of rhythm and my feet get out of line,"

Richard said. "So it's something to work on, and it's really just a frustrating thing that can't

happen. We'll correct it and move forward."

Added Green: "I know he's going to be fixated on those two throws, but I thought he had a great

outing."

WEEKS JR. INJURED

D-backs outfielder Rickie Weeks Jr. was forced to leave the game in the sixth inning after

twisting his right ankle while running the bases. The team said Weeks sustained a mild sprain

and would be evaluated Sunday.

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SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Kivlehan is the 10th player in franchise history to record a pair of hits in his debut. (He added a

single in the eighth inning.) Travis Jankowski, the man standing next to Kivlehan in center field,

was the last Friar to do so. But among the previous nine, none had homered, making Kivlehan

the first Padre in history to homer and record two hits in his first big league game.

AFTER REVIEW

Jean Segura led off the sixth with a bouncer to third baseman Solarte, who threw wide to first

baseman Myers. The play was ruled an error, but after a challenge from Green, replay

confirmed that Myers was able to keep his foot on the bag and the call was overturned.

WHAT'S NEXT

D-backs: Braden Shipley will make the sixth start of his big league career Sunday afternoon in

the series finale against the Padres beginning at 1:40 p.m. MST. Shipley made his Major

League debut July 25 in Milwaukee. He struggled in his last start, allowing seven runs (six

earned) in five innings against the Mets.

Padres: Right-hander Luis Perdomo carries his league-leading 59 percent ground-ball rate into

Sunday's start against Arizona, with first pitch slated for 1:40 p.m. PT. After a very solid July,

Perdomo has hit a bit of a snag in August, and the Padres have lost all three of his starts.

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Kivlehan announces presence with a bang

Padres rookie receives 200 text messages after record-

setting debut

By Carlos Collazo / MLB.com | August 20th, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- Patrick Kivlehan seemed to be the only Padres batter who had a read on D-backs

starter Robbie Ray during Saturday night's 2-1 loss.

In his Major League debut, the 26-year-old rookie launched his way into the hit column -- and the San

Diego record books -- with a 464-foot home run in the fifth inning, the only hit Ray surrendered on the

evening.

"The first at-bat, I honestly don't even remember it. It went by so quick," Kivlehan said of his third-inning

strikeout. "I was a little jittery. Kind of just took a couple deep breaths."

The deep breaths must have made a difference, because when Kivlehan turned around on the 96-mph

fastball -- which left his bat at 110-mph -- he was responsible for the second-longest home run by a Padre

in the Statcast™ era.

"Regardless of the outcome of the game, that's a pretty sweet moment," said Padres manager Andy Green.

"The guy's dreamed about doing that his whole life, and his first, he hits [464] feet in the big leagues.

That's really special for him, and it's something he should never forget. I'm sure he won't."

The former Mariner is still getting a feel for the San Diego clubhouse, of course -- asking a

Padres PR rep if he was supposed to go to his locker when he noticed media waiting to talk to

him -- but he has had a handful of familiar faces to help him out.

"When I came here it was kind of a familiarity just knowing a couple guys like [Cory

Spangenberg] and [Travis] Jankowski," he said. "It was definitely a little comfort coming here,

and just knowing some guys and you can rely on them on how to work here...

"It's definitely something to remember, definitely a great start. Kind of wish the ending would

have been a little better, but all in all, a great night."

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It would be hard for Kivlehan to forget about this moment, even if he wanted to, with more than

200 text messages waiting for him in the clubhouse after the game.

"It was pretty surreal. I hit it and I didn't feel it so that means that's a good thing," Kivlehan said.

"I saw where it was going and I definitely knew I got it, and it's one of those feelings where you

don't really know what to think as you're running around the bases.

"You're kind of floating around second and third."

Kivlehan went on to record a second hit in the eighth inning, going 2-for-4 in his first game in the

bigs. He became the fifth San Diego player to homer in a Major League debut, joining Kevin

McReynolds (1983), Jason Bay (2003), Eddy Rodriguez (2012) and Tommy Medica(2013).

Kivlehan also became the 10th player in franchise history to record a pair of hits in his debut, but

the first of that group to homer as part of a two-hit debut game.

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Ross hopes to pitch for Padres this season

Right-hander looks sharp in two-inning batting practice

session

By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | @AJCassavell | August 20th, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- Saturday afternoon offered the Padres a sight for sore eyes.

Three hours before first pitch against Arizona, right-hander Tyson Ross threw a live batting practice

session against Padres hitters -- marking the first time he's taken the Petco Park mound since Opening

Day.

It's possible Ross could head out for a rehab assignment shortly, although the club may ask him to face

hitters once more before doing so. Either way, the Padres are hopeful Ross can return to make three or

four starts for the Padres before the end of the season.

"The goal is definitely to get back and pitch this year," Ross said. "That would help ease my mind going

into the offseason -- that I've taken care of this injury, and I'm ready to go."

Ross -- who has been nursing right shoulder inflammation along with a twisted left ankle -- threw two

innings against Padres hitters. Unlike his first live batting practice session Tuesday at Tropicana Field,

Ross ramped up his velocity, hitting 94 mph, and used his entire pitch arsenal.

Over his two frames, the Padres didn't charge Ross with a hit -- a subjective measure, given that no

defenders were present. Still, most of the contact was weak and on the ground, and infielder Adam

Rosales said: "That's probably the toughest pitcher I've faced all year -- I'm not kidding."

"Today was good," said Ross. "It was another great step in the right direction, and I'm looking forward to

getting in actual games."

Ross hasn't pitched in a game since he allowed seven earned runs to the Dodgers on Opening Day. Shortly

thereafter he was placed on the disabled list with shoulder trouble.

In July, Ross appeared to be ticketed for a rehab stint. But he twisted his ankle in his hotel room, which

set his recovery back by about a month.

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"It's about building towards next year for him," said Padres manager Andy Green. "It's about checking

that box and having every assurance in his head: 'Hey, I'm healthy. I'm ready to pitch next year and don't

have to worry about anything else.'"

When Ross came off the mound Saturday, he was greeted by about 20 teammates, who had been stationed

behind the batting cage watching him pitch.

"That was awesome," Ross said. "They've got a game to get ready for at 5:40, and they took the time out

of their day to come out here and support me.

"It's been a long year of rehab, and I've felt pretty disconnected from the team. It was pretty cool to see

the guys come out and support."

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Padres option Buchter to Triple-A El Paso

Club also sends Noonan down, recalls Kivlehan and

Hessler

By Carlos Collazo / MLB.com | August 20th, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres optioned left-handed reliever Ryan Buchter to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday

afternoon, amid a handful of roster moves that included optioning Nick Noonanback to El Paso, and

recalling infielder/outfielder Patrick Kivlehan and left-handed pitcherKeith Hessler.

The decision to send down Buchter comes after a week in which his spin rate was down, and a Friday

night outing in which Padres manager Andy Green noticed some fatigue from the 29-year-old.

"We've pushed him hard all season. He's got more appearances right now than he's had at any point in

time in his career," Green said. "He threw 25 innings in winter ball. It's been a long year for him.

"He's looked very good for a very long period of time and I think it's our job to look at a guy and say,

'You know what? He needs a break.'"

Buchter has averaged 92 miles per hour on his fastball this week, which is a slight tick below the 93-mph

average that he managed through Aug. 13. In addition, Green said that his spin rate was down in August,

which was another sign he could use a break.

During his time in El Paso, Buchter is going to rest for the most part, while doing a long-toss program. It's

possible that he could throw "an inning or two," and it's likely that he'll rejoin the team Sept. 1.

Through 54 innings this season, Buchter has posted a 3.00 ERA while striking out 68 batters and walking

27.

"He's healthy. He just needs a little reprieve," Green said. "I think smart organizations do that from time

to time. They look at a guy and recognize what he needs and get him back here and let him back into his

role that he's been dominant in for the better part of the season."

Kivlehan to make Major League debut

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San Diego claimed Kivlehan off of waivers from the Mariners on Aug. 4, and he has hit .341 (15-for-44)

in 12 games with El Paso, while getting time at third base, first base and in left field.

Kivlehan's background as a baseball player is unique in that he played just one season of baseball with

Rutgers, as a senior, and won the Big East Player of the Year award in 2012 despite not playing since

high school.

Green said Kivlehan will spell San Diego's outfielders from time to time and has the ability to play the

corner infield positions if needed.

"Honestly, at this point, it doesn't really matter where [I play]," Kivlehan said. "I've played pretty much

third, first, left, right, even a little bit of center the last couple years. It's to the point now where I can kind

of play anywhere."

His Major League debut came in left field Saturday, with Alex Dickerson getting the day off vs. a left-

handed starter.

Worth noting

• Noonan struggled at the plate in his seven-game stint with the Padres, hitting .167 (3-for-18) while

starting six games.

• Hessler has bounced between Triple-A and the Majors throughout this season, posting an 11.25 ERA in

eight innings with the Padres and D-backs, compared to a 3.21 ERA in 42 innings with both teams' Minor

League organizations.

• Jabari Blash (hand) took batting practice today and was available off the bench Saturday. Green is

hoping that he'll be back in the starting lineup for Sunday's finale.

"This is his window of opportunity," Green said. "He's aware of it, but you don't want to stick a guy out

there that is having trouble performing because of health reasons. So hopefully BP goes well today and

he's ready to go tomorrow."

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Perdomo gets the ball for Padres in finale By Carlos Collazo / MLB.com | August 20th, 2016

Arizona's top prospect, Braden Shipley, starts against the Padres for the first time in Sunday's finale, and

San Diego counters with Rule 5 pick Luis Perdomo.

Shipley has had three solid starts bookended by a pair of six-run outings this season, and the 24-year-old

is looking to bounce back from his last start vs. the Mets, in which he allowed a career-high 10 hits and

seven runs.

Shipley has been bitten by the long ball this season, with a 16.2 percent home run/fly ball ratio --

compared to the league average 12.9 percent.

Perdomo has posted a high HR/FB rate -- 18.9 percent -- as well, but has also posted the highest ground-

ball rate of Major League starters with at least 50 innings. His 61.8 percent mark tops that of Marcus

Stroman and Dallas Keuchel, but the 23-year-old has allowed 11 earned runs in his last three starts, for a

5.71 ERA.

Things to know about this game

• Arizona's active roster has had no issue with Perdomo this year, hitting a combined .324/.359/.486 in 29

plate appearances against him. Jake Lamb owns the best individual slash line vs. Perdomo, hitting

.500/.600/1.750 with a homer and a triple.

• Through 40 games at Petco Park over his career, Paul Goldschmidt has hit .248 (33-for-133) with six

home runs.

• Padres right fielder Jabari Blash is expected to be back in the San Diego lineup Sunday, after dealing

with a hand issue for the last few days. He has hit .196 in 15 games during his most recent Major League

stint, but has still managed to take walks (.327 OBP) and display some power as he tries to earn an

everyday role.

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Ray fans 13, yields 1 hit in 7 innings as D-

backs top Padres Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- Robbie Ray had life on his fastball and feel for his slider in the bullpen before the game and figured he was in for a fun one.

"I knew it was going to be a good day," Ray said.

Ray struck out a career-high 13 and gave up just one hit in seven innings, pitching the Arizona

Diamondbacks past the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Saturday night.

"He was letting it fly with better location," Arizona manager Chip Hale said.

There were no hits in the game until the fifth. Arizona finished with four, and the Padres got three.

Ray (7-11) overpowered the Padres until the fifth, when Patrick Kivlehan, called up from Triple-A El Paso before the game, launched a 451-foot home run for his first major league hit.

"One pitch with two strikes he left over the plate," Hale said. "Other than that he was outstanding."

Arizona used four relievers to close it out. Daniel Hudson induced three infield popups to escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth and Enrique Burgosearned his first save of the season.

"I'm just getting more confident in my stuff," said Ray, who has allowed three runs (two earned) and 12 hits in his last three starts. "I'm just trying to get better every time out."

Ray threw 22 strikes in his first 26 pitches.

"It was all about fastball command," he said. "It was mostly fastballs I was throwing and it was just the movement on both sides of the plate."

As the game progressed, the Padres were set up to flail away at Ray's deceptive slider.

"That kept them off my fastball," he said.

The Diamondbacks scored two unearned runs, helped by a pair of throwing errors by pitcher Clayton Richard (0-3).

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Richard gave up two hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked three but was done in by the errant throws. He's had a history of trouble throwing to bases.

"Unfortunately not fielding my position cost us," Richard said. "That definitely stings because you play to win, and to have a couple fielding plays cost you the game, that's really tough."

The Padres got little help in trying to touch Ray.

It was 1-all in the sixth when Phil Gosselin singled and Paul Goldschmidtwalked. Rickie Weeks Jr. hit a grounder to Richard, who wheeled and threw the ball into center field, allowing a run to score. In the Arizona fifth, Welington Castillo singled and Mitch Haniger hit a comebacker that Richard also threw into center. Brandon Drury then grounded into a double play, with Castillo scoring for a 1-0 lead.

Kivlehan had two of the Padres' hits.

"Regardless of the outcome of the game, that's a pretty sweet moment," Green said of Kivlehan going deep. "Guy's dreamt about doing that his whole life and he hits one 450 in the big leagues. That's really special for him."

TRAINERS' ROOM

Diamondbacks: SS Nick Ahmed will undergo season-ending hip surgery next week. He should be fit for spring training. Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (shoulder) threw a simulated game. Ross, who hasn't pitched since opening day, could be sent out on a rehab assignment next week.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Braden Shipley (2-2, 4.85) is facing the Padres for the first time in his sixth career start. Shipley had a rocky outing his last time out on Tuesday, surrendering seven runs (six earned) over five innings to the New York Mets. Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (5-7, 6.68) tries to snap a three-game losing skid, although he pitched well against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Two of his wins have come against Arizona, including one in relief.

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Kivlehan's homer not quite enough in loss Rookie homers in MLB debut, but Ray strikes out 13 to quiet Padres

By Jeff Sanders | 8:32 p.m. Aug. 20, 2016 | Updated, 10:02 p.m.

Not exactly one for shortcuts, Patrick Kivlehan’s path to Saturday’s big league debut weaved

from Rutgers football’s practice fields to a spot on the baseball team as a walk-on to a five-year

minor league career that appeared to have stalled during a dizzying eight-month stretch in which

he was traded to and from the Rangers, waived by the Mariners, claimed by the Padres and

assigned to El Paso.

Got all that?

Good.

Because San Diego’s newest outfielder got every bit of his first career hit, a 464-foot homer that

ranks as the longest blast by a Padre in the StatCast era and the lone hiccup in an otherwise

dominant outing by Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray in front of 32,599 at Petco Park.

“We just had a hard time squaring (Ray) up, but Patrick Kivlehan squared him up,” Padres

manager Andy Green said after Ray struck out a career-high 13 batters over seven innings in a

2-1 win over the Padres. “Regardless of the outcome of the game, it’s a pretty sweet moment for

a guy who’s dreamt about doing that his whole life. The first one he hit goes 450 feet in the big

leagues.

“That’s fun. That’s really special for him.”

Especially considering the circumstances.

Ray had yet to allow a hit in the fifth inning when the 26-year-old outfielder stepped into the box

for his second at-bat.

Kivlehand struck out his first time up, fell behind 0-2 and then offered at a 96 mph fastball at the

knees.

The resulting drive exited his bat at 110 mph and nearly hit the back wall of the deck below the

videoboard in left, tying the game at 1-1.

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Only Melvin Upton’s 465-foot blast against the Orioles on June 28 traveled further, according to

StatCast tracking, and only four other Padres – Kevin McReynolds, Jason Bay, Eddy Rodriguez

and Tommy Medica – had ever homered their MLB debut.

“It was pretty surreal,” said Kivlehan, who collected two of the Padres’ three hits in his MLB

debut. “I hit it and I didn’t feel it so that’s a good thing. I definitely knew I got it. It’s one of those

things where you don’t know what to think running around the bases.

“You’re kind floating around second and third.”

A reserve safety-turned-Big East Player of the Year on the baseball field, Kivlehan found himself

in San Diego on Saturday after hitting .341/.356/.500 with one homer, four RBIs and 15

strikeouts in 12 games at Triple-A El Paso following his addition to the Padres’ 40-man roster

earlier this month.

The Padres are the third organization he’s called home since the Mariners traded him to the

Rangers in December as the player to be named later in the Leonys Martin swap.

“There were definitely a couple of bumps in the road,” said Kivlehan, a .282/.344/.470 hitter with

two 20-homer campaigns in five minor league seasons, “but everything happens for a reason.”

Kivlehan’s second hit to lead off the eighth nearly trigged a game-winning rally.

But after Adam Rosales’ ensuing double and Travis Jankowski’s walk loaded the bases, Daniel

Hudson retired Alexei Ramirez, Wil Myers and Yangervis Solarte in order to preserve a 2-1 lead.

In the ninth, right-hander Enrique Burgos left the tying run on first when he got the right-handed

Kivlehan to strike out to end the game with the left-handed Alex Dickerson ready to pinch-hit in

the on-deck circle.

With Rosales and Brett Wallace already expended and Jabari Blash (knuckle) not responding

well to on-fielding hitting before the game, Green would have had to call on pitcher Edwin

Jackson as a pinch-hitter had Dickerson reached base as a match-up play over Kivlehan.

The better play, Green thought, was allowing Kivlehan to swing away.

“Based on the way Patrick swung the bat tonight, I wasn’t going to take him out of the game,”

Green said. “I was going to give him a chance to write a story he’d remember for the rest of his

life.”

Like the Padres, the Diamondbacks waited until the fifth inning to collect their first hit, a leadoff

single from Welington Castillo.

Richard, however, was far more generous than Ray, gifting both of Arizona’s runs on throwing

errors.

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The first allowed Castillo to move to third in the fifth and ultimately score on Brandon Drury’s

would-be double play ball. The other plated a run in the sixth on a would-be double-play ball off

the bat of Rickie Weeks.

Richard ultimately fetched three of the four double plays turned by the Padres but exited after

six innings with two unearned runs on two hits and three walks.

He struck out five.

“Pitching felt great – unfortunately not fielding my position cost us,” Richard said. “It definitely

stings. You play to win and to have a couple fielding plays cost you the game, it’s really tough.”

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Urias maturing beyond years in Cal League Padres' 19-year-old prospect seven points behind league's leading hitter

By Jeff Sanders | 6:02 p.m. Aug. 20, 2016 | Updated, 1:09 a.m. | Aug. 21, 2016

At 18 years old on opening day, Luis Urias opened the season as the youngest player in the

California League. As of Friday, Urias – who turned 19 on June 3 – was hitting .321, seven

points off 25-year-old Kyle Petty’s league-leading pace.

“His understanding for what he’s doing in the box,” Lake Elsinore hitting coach Xavier Nady

said, “is off the charts for his age.”

What he’s doing is certainly moving Urias up the charts, too.

Signed out of Mexico in December 2013, Urias hit .310 in the Arizona Rookie League in 2014,

.290 at Fort Wayne last year as a 17-year-old and earned a promotion to the Cal League this

year alongside top shortstop prospect Javier Guerra.

The primary second baseman with the Storm, Urias hasn’t disappointed one bit.

While his six home runs this season are the first of his career, his plate discipline is what’s really

earning Urias rave reviews. In 420 at-bats, Urias has struck out 35 times and walked 38 in

displaying the kind of approach that could make for a quick climb up the system.

The Padres even already gave Urias a brief taste of Triple-A ball while Manuel Margot, Hunter

Renfroe and Carlos Asuaje were away from the All-Star Futures game and the 5-foot-9, 160-

pound infielder went 4-for-9 with a homer, three RBIs, five walks and a strikeout.

“He’s been amazing this year – his understanding of the strike zone and his bat path through the

zone and the ability to put the ball in play,” Nady said of Urias, who is ranked No. 11 in the

Padres system by MLB.com. “He hardly ever strikes out, hardly ever gives away at-bats. …

When things have not gone in the right direction, he’s made the adjustment in the box to turn it

around quickly. It’s been overall on the whole an impressive year.”

Shortstop shuffle

Speaking of Guerra, the 20-year-old Panama native landed on the Storm’s disabled list this

week with a minor, non-baseball related health issue, farm director Sam Geaney said. He was

hitting .202/.264/.325 with nine homers, 41 RBIs and 141 strikeouts in 105 games.

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Chris Baker, a 17th-round pick this year, has moved up to Fort Wayne after hitting .303 to start

his career at Tri-City, Ruddy Giron has moved from Fort Wayne to Lake Elsinore and infielders

Fernando Tatis and Hudson Potts have moved into Tri-City after successful stints in the Arizona

Rookie League.

Potts, one of the Padres’ first-rounders this year, was hitting .295 with a home and 21 RBIs in 43

games, while Tatis – the prospect received in the James Shields trade – was hitting was hitting

.273 with four homers and 20 RBIs.

AROUND THE FARM

El Paso (AAA): The Chihuahuas (66-60) entered Saturday with a 4-13 record in August but still

owned a 6 ½-game lead on Albuquerque (59-66) in the PCL’s Pacific Division with 17 games left

to the season.

San Antonio (AA): RHP Seth Simmons, 28, hasn’t allowed a run in his last 19 innings. He is 2-

3 with a 1.97 ERA, 72 strikeouts and 22 walks in 77 2/3 innings since he was signed following a

release from Arizona’s system.

Lake Elsinore (A+): The Storm are 30-25 in the second half, but 5 ½ games off Lancaster’s

pace in the South Division and nine games out of the wild-card race.

Fort Wayne (A): The TinCaps are 20-34 in the second half and in last place in the Midwest

League’s Eastern Division. They finished the first half at 36-34 and 4 ½ games shy of a wild-

card spot.

Tri-City (SS): The Dust Devils finished the first half 19-19 but Spokane won a tiebreaker to win

the Northwest League North Division’s first-half title. They are 8-14 in the second game and

eight games off Everett’s pace in the second half.

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Tyson Ross looks 'ready' in latest live BP Padres right-hander expected to return to big league rotation in September

By Jeff Sanders | 5:23 p.m. Aug. 20, 2016

Adam Rosales counts a home run off Madison Bumgarner among the career-high eight that he

has blasted this season. None of the opposing pitchers have been as perplexing as the one he

faced Saturday afternoon in an empty Petco Park save for the gaggle of Padres huddled behind

the plate.

The occasion: Tyson Ross’ second live batting practice since an opening day start gave way to

a season-long stint on the disabled list.

The verdict?

“His slider looked really good – really sharp and late,” Rosales said. “His toughest pitch was the

sinker away. It was starting off the plate and sinking back over. It seemed like he was locating

and controlling it perfectly.

“He looked ready to me. That’s probably the toughest pitcher I’ve faced all year.”

Indeed, Ross threw all of his pitches – around 40 – while pitching two simulated innings against

a lineup of Rosales, Brett Wallace and Jabari Blash. The 29-year-old right-hander sat 93 to 94

mph, didn’t give up a “hit” – the virtual shift was on for Wallace’s iffy chopper toward right field,

Andy Green joked – and came out of the outing with a clean bill of health.

“It was good to get the juices flowing today,” said Ross, who is rehabbing both shoulder

inflammation and an ankle sprain. “I felt good today.”

Although Ross will convene with Green and pitching coach Darren Balsley to determine the next

step in his comeback, the hope is to have Ross throwing throwing in big league games in

September, when expanded rosters will make it easier to piggy-back Ross' shortened starts.

Whether he throws another live batting practice session before beginning a minor league rehab

assignment as soon as next week will be based on Ross' comfort level.

That, too, was trending in the right direction after focusing on his fastball in his first session

earlier this week in Tampa Bay.

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“I was just a little more comfortable with my delivery,” Ross said. “It had been six months since

the last time I was actually facing hitters and throwing sliders. I was a little rusty in Tampa. I felt

a little more comfortable today and definitely cut a few loose.”

Cutting a few more loose in big league games next month will give Ross peace of mind heading

into the offseason.

“It's about checking that box and having every assurance that ‘I'm healthy, I'm ready to pitch

next year, I don't have to worry about anything else,’” Green said. “I think if you don't get back

on the mound, you have that in the back of your head: ‘Hey, am I ready to go?’”

Added Ross: “I'm just trying to get back out there to know that the rehab worked and push it for

a start, be able recover for four days and get back out there on the fifth and do the same thing.

It's not just trying to get out there and throw live BP.

“The goal is to get out there and pitch.”

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Pregame: Buchter optioned out for a 'break' Early notes, tidbits and a look at today's pitching matchup and starting lineups

By Jeff Sanders | 4:34 p.m. Aug. 20, 2016

As dependable as any of the Padres relievers this year, Ryan Buchter walked two batters,

surrendered a hit and was lifted with one out in the eighth inning Friday night. The misstep,

Andy Green said Saturday, had nothing to do with the decision to option the 29-year-old left-

hander to Triple-A El Paso.

It’s just time to give Buchter a breather.

“We’ve pushed him hard all season,” Green said of Buchter, whose 58 appearances are a

career-high. “He’s got more appearances now than he’s had at any point in time in his career.

He threw 25 innings in winter ball. It’s been a long year for him. He’s looked very good for a very

long period of time and it’s our job to look at a guy and say he needs a break.”

The two runs charged to Buchter on Friday lifted his ERA to 3.00, nearly double the 1.60 mark

he held on June 25 in his first full season in the majors.

Opponents are hitting just .189 over his last 22 appearances, but he’s fashioned a 5.31 ERA

largely because he’s walked 12 batters over his last 20 1/3 innings. His fastball has also slipped

from sitting in 94 mph in his outings in June and July to just over 92 mph in Friday’s outing.

Green also noted that Buchter’s spin rate has declined a tad this month.

“He’s not hurt,” Green said. “He just needs a reprieve.”

In El Paso, Buchter will long-toss upon arriving, get in an inning or two of work to stay fresh and

likely return to the Padres when rosters expand in 10 days.

Notable

The Padres also optioned SS Nick Noonan to El Paso and recalled LHP Keith Hessler and

OF Patrick Kivlehan. Kivlehan was even inserted into the starting lineup in left field after hitting

.341/.356/.500 with one homer, four RBIs and 15 strikeouts in 12 games since the Padres

claimed him on waivers from the Mariners. A fourth-round pick of the Mariners in 2012 out of

Rutgers, the 26-year-old Kivlehan was actually traded to Texas in the offseason, then

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designated for assignment and moved back to the Mariners before he was designated for

assignment again. The Rutgers football-player-turned-baseball-walk-on is a career

.282/.344/.470 hitter in the minors. He is expected to cover all three outfield positions while with

the Padres

OF Jabari Blash (knuckle) hit on the field before Saturday’s game and even took hacks in RHP

Tyson Ross’ live batting practice (more on that later today). He is available off the bench today

and should return to the starting lineup soon. “We’re committed to giving Alex (Dickerson),

Jabari and Travis (Jankowski) a run in the outfield to see what they can do with that

opportunity,” Green said.

Noonan was 3-for-18 during his first stint with the Padres. SS Alexei Ramirez and INF Adam

Rosales will continue to work in at shortstop, the recently-acquired Luis Sardinas will get an

audition before the season ends.

ON DECK | D-backs (50-72) at Padres (52-70)

Game 3: 5:40 p.m. Saturday

Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (6-11, 4.47 ERA)

The 24-year-old Ray struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings but allowed five runs on nine hits and two

walks earlier this year in a start against the Padres. He has allowed one earned run over his last

12 innings.

Padres LHP Clayton Richard (0-2, 5.75 ERA)

Richard allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in five innings in his first start for the

Padres. He owns a career 3.01 ERA at Petco Park, his home for five seasons before returning

this month.

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Q&A: Padres outfielder Alex Dickerson Playing in font of the hometown crowd is suiting Poway High grad just fine

By Jeff Sanders | 10 a.m. Aug. 21, 2016

Before landing the starting gig in left field in San Diego, Alex Dickerson came of age on a

baseball diamond while starring at Poway High School. As the Padres’ 26-year-old outfielder

points out, playing daily in front of the hometown crowd can make for some interesting

encounters each day at Petco Park.

Q: You’re pretty much the starter in left field in your hometown. What’s that experience been

like?

A: People have been pretty good about not overloading me, but I’ve consistently had at least a

few people come up to me each day. Kind of one of the crazier things playing for the hometown

was I catch a ball in left field and I go to throw it into the stands in the first row and it happens to

go to one of my former teammates. I was like, “Oh, man, that’s Austin (Steussy).” I kind of just

said what’s up and ran in. Things like that have been cool. Every time I go in after a game I’ll

look at the Snapchats of people and there’s a lot of random people from high school going to the

game, watching me and taking Snapchats of me and stuff. There’s always someone coming into

the dugout and saying hi. Sometimes it’s inconvenient right before the game, but there’s always

someone I know yelling my name.

Q: Can that be distracting at times?

A: There’s definitely a little bit of that. You have to separate it. There’s a lot of people I want to

say hi to or I want to see after the game but realistically my baseball schedule doesn’t change. It

takes a lot out of me. Most of the time I have to go straight home and go to sleep. … It’s tough

to leave the stadium, go meet up with someone and then drive back to Poway and go to sleep. I

don’t think people understand just how long we’re here – we’re here from noon to midnight

almost every day. It’s difficult. There’s times I wish I could say hi more to people because I

remember everybody. So there’s a little bit of distraction on that end, but at the same time that’s

still support. You have to look at the positive side. There’s people that really want me to do well.

It’s just hard to give them what they deserve as far as being able to hang out, but this is a job.

The offseason is one thing. Right now, when you’re in the spotlight it is tough to get back to

people.

Q: Starting for the team you grew up rooting for – has that sunk in yet?

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A: It’s been surreal. It feels the same as playing in the minors – you come to the ballpark, expect

to play and the nerves are gone. I’m just trying to compete and give what I got in a baseball

game. A lot of the mythical, big-league thought, the excitement around it – a lot of that has

gotten a little numb to me. I feel like this is a place that I can compete at if I keep focusing and

not trying to make it bigger than it has to be. That was my issue the first couple of weeks. It was

such an overwhelming experience. You’re in your hometown playing for the hometown team

and you have so many nerves going on that it you could feel your heartbeat and you’re sweating

and you’re not even doing anything.

Q: What did your first career homer and then your extensive success this year in the Pacific

Coast League do for you confidence this time around?

A: I felt like I was done with the level at the time. You never know what’s going to happen here.

This game doesn’t give you anything. You have to earn every bit of your keep here but I was

way more confident as far as this was what I had worked for all along. The process doesn’t

change much. I’m here and I’m not tanking. I’m doing Ok, but there’s always something to be

building on.

Q: You’d had a number of injuries derail opportunities since the Padres traded for you. Was

there a bit of “What now?” going on when you banged up your hip during the warning track

collision?

A: No, those things are going to pop up during the year. I’ve been healthy to this point, but

you’re going to have bumps and bruises especially in August. If you’re 100 percent healthy,

you’re the luckiest person on earth. So that was a minor setback. I was playing a little banged

up for a few days. I’m not 100 percent, but nobody is at this point. You have to be able to play

through that stuff. That’s one of the things I respected the most about Matt Kemp. He was out

there every day no matter how banged up he was. At times you could see it in him, but he knew

if he was out there he could make a difference. He could put balls in play, he could make

something happen, he could drive in runs. That’s something I took from both Kemp and (Melvin)

Upton.

Q: They’ve, of course, both been traded away. Has that left a leadership void in the clubhouse?

A: We still have great leaders – it’s new faces for the most part. Jon jay has been great all year.

Even through the injury, he’s almost been even more vocal. He knows we need a little bit of a

voice, but we’ve still got guys who’ve been around. We’ve got Edwin Jackson. Everybody here

is just trying to work hard. From my experience, that very little in big leagues – but that stuff will

show itself. When you try to point to guys and say you’ve got to be this, sometimes it doesn’t

work. If everyone is working toward the right goal, that will settle itself.

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Padres Throw Away a Win Rookie has big night but errors doom Friars at home

By Derek Togerson

With the success guys like Ryan Schimpf and Travis Jankowski have had this year we've kind

of grown accustomed to seeing Padres rookies play well. On Saturday night at Petco Park the

Padres lost to the Diamondbacks 2-1 but another youngster added his name to the list of

rookies who announced their presence with authority.

Patrick Kivlehan made his big league debut and in his second career MLB at-bat he went big

fly. Like, really big fly. Kivlehan ripped a Robbie Ray offering in to the left field seats for a

451-foot home run, his first Major League hit. Kivlehan, who just joined the Padres

organization after the Mariners put him on waivers a couple of weeks ago, had two of his new

team’s three hits.

His blast was the only run the Padres scored but at least it was earned. Both runs the

Diamondbacks got came courtesy of errors by starting pitcher Clayton Richard.

Arizona put runners on base in the 5th and 6th innings and both times Richard got a

comebacker that should have been a double play ball. But both times the Richard threw the

ball wide of 2nd base and in to centerfield. Both miscues led to Arizona runs.

The Diamondbacks had a 2-1 lead in the 8th inning but it looked like the lead was going to

evaporate. Kivlehan singled, Adam Rosales doubled and Travis Jankowski walked to load the

bases with nobody out. Then the Padres went around the horn in a bad way. Alexei Ramirez

popped out to third, Wil Myers lined out to second and Yangervis Solarte fouled out to first to

end the threat.

The Padres can still win the 4-game series on Sunday. Luis Perdomo takes the mound against

Braden Shipley.

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Diamondbacks-Padres preview SAN DIEGO -- The worst of the National League West is tying a bow on their four-game

series.

Stats LLCAug 21, 2016 at 2:16a ET

SAN DIEGO -- The worst of the National League West is tying a bow on their four-game series.

The Arizona Diamondbacks (51-72) face San Diego (52-71) on Sunday with the Padres trying to snap a four-series losing streak.

The Padres, who are headed to their sixth straight losing season, took the first two games before the Diamondbacks rallied behind Robbie Ray's gem to win Saturday night.

San Diego will be looking to get more hits than errors Sunday, something they didn't do on Saturday. The Padres had four errors and three hits.

Arizona right-hander Braden Shipley gets the nod and the Diamondbacks are hoping he doesn't repeat his last performance. Shipley, who is making his first career start against the Padres, was rocked for seven runs (six earned) over five innings in losing to the New York Mets on Tuesday.

It was stumble for Shipley, who has been pretty solid since his debut. And he was cruising along through the first four innings when trouble arrived in the fifth. Manager Chip Hale stayed with his youngster and he didn't record an out in the sixth.

"We don't want them to take their lumps to the point where we're out of a game," Hale said. "I wish I could've gotten him out of there a little quicker."

Before the Diamondbacks get out of town, they'll face righty Luis Perdomo. An afterthought at the beginning of the season, Perdomo has become the senior member of the rotation after James Shields, Drew Pomeranz and Andrew Cashner were traded. With opening day starter Tyson Ross limited to one start, Perdomo has been thrust into a more prominent role.

Perdomo, who has hit an uneven patch, is making his 14th career start and second against Arizona. He was tagged with his third straight loss in his last outing Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Although he didn't pitch that bad, He was charged with three runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. His trouble came in the early innings when he was trying to be too fine. He tip-toed out of a first-inning bases loaded jam by allowing one run.

"Trying to be too perfect," Perdomo said through a translator. "That was the biggest issue that I had."

Two of Perdomo's wins have come against the Diamondbacks, including one in relief. He prevailed in a start on July 4, when pitching six innings of three-run ball.

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It's the first game for the Diamondbacks in which they officially know shortstop Nick Ahmen is out. He'll undergo season-ending hip surgery next week.