1

Padres Press Clips

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Article Source Author Page

Homegrown rivals blazing a trail for Padres in NL West SD Union Tribune Sanders 2

Dodgers beat up on Clayton Richard, Padres SD Union Tribune Sanders 6

Wil Myers returns to Padres’ lineup SD Union Tribune Sanders 9

Talking with…Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe SD Union Tribune Sanders 11

Richard chased early in opener vs. LA MLB.com Padilla 14

Myers in lineup, but still dealing with headache MLB.com Padilla 16

30 potential callups to know – 1 for each team MLB.com Mayo/Callis/Rosenbaum 18

Two years later, Padres prospect Chris Paddack looks stronger as The Athletic Lin 23

he works his way back after Tommy John surgery

Hill sparkles for Dodgers in 11-1 rout of last-place Padres AP AP 26

#PadresOnDeck: Pitchers Lauer, Ramirez Lead Triple-A El Paso, FriarWire Center 28

Double-A San Antonio

This Day in Padres History, 8/25 FriarWire Center 33

Andy’s Address, 8/24 FriarWire Center 34

Dodgers homer 3 times in 11-1 win over Padres FOX Sports AP 36

2

Homegrown rivals blazing a trail for Padres in NL West Jeff Sanders

A mid-July trade reeled in this winter’s hottest commodity as a two-month rental.

Another swap two weeks later subbed in a second baseman with a 40-homer ceiling

for one who’d limped his way to two longballs in a half-season. A waiver claim earlier

this week kicked the tires on adding perhaps the biggest of baseball’s superstars to an

embarrassment of riches.

None of the Dodgers’ moves – not the trade for Manny Machado or Brian Dozier or

the interest in Bryce Harper – surprised Nolan Arenado.

It’s what they do.

Every year.

“I think with the Dodgers, you’re always expecting them to do something to make

themselves better,” the Rockies’ All-Star third baseman said this week in Denver.

“Because they can. That’s the team they have. They are a big market team. They have

those capabilities.”

Both the Rockies and Diamondbacks are proving just as capable, their homegrown

nucleuses keeping the hyperactive Dodgers’ $194 million payroll in their rearview

mirror in the NL West heading into the final weekend of August.

It’s a blueprint the Padres hope to mirror when their top-ranked farm system, if all

goes according to plan, opens a window to contend for a postseason berth, perhaps as

soon as 2020.

Some pieces (Eric Hosmer, Austin Hedges, Wil Myers and Joey Lucchesi) are already

in San Diego and many, many more (Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Urias, Chris Paddack

and MacKenzie Gore, among others) are en route.

3

Though the Padres’ front office has indicated it will be in position to supplement its

rosters the way Arizona and Colorado has in trying to punch a return ticket to the

postseason, the organization is banking on culture built from the ground up

sustaining success in the increasingly competitive NL West.

The experience of 2015 informs that belief.

A.J. Preller traded for Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Craig Kimbrel and Derek

Norris that year. He signed James Shields to a then-franchise-record deal. The Padres

were, nevertheless, on their way yet another losing season by July.

“On paper, we were probably one of the best lineups in all of baseball,” said

outfielder Travis Jankowski, who watched it unfold from Double-A San Antonio and

Triple-A El Paso and debuted later that summer. “It's just one of those things that it

just didn't click. It didn't come together in the clubhouse. Yeah there's something to

having good players on paper, but there's something about chemistry and the bond

you have with the guys.

“Sometimes the culture in the clubhouse is more important than anything else.”

Jankowski knows something about that.

Even he can admit that Stony Brook’s baseball program had no business advancing to

a Super Regional, let alone the 2012 College World Series.

At least not on paper.

The sum of the Seaworlves’ parts, however, had been molded since their freshman

year, not unlike the way Jankowski’s time on minor league buses with Hunter

Renfroe, Austin Hedges and Cory Spangenberg has forged bonds in San Diego.

“We made it all the way to the College World Series, a bunch of no-name guys,”

Jankowski said, “and we all had each other's back. No one panicked. We all just knew

someone was going to do something to win a game.

“The chemistry I see here is really similar.”

4

In that regard, Craig Stammen already sees things coming together. His perspective is

both as a veteran reliever dropped into a young clubhouse last year and someone who

lived through an organizational transformation early in his days with the Nationals.

“When we were in the big leagues in Washington, it was like, ‘Man, we all made it

together,’” Stammen said. “It was even cooler when we started winning. It was, ‘Hey,

we can do this.’ And I can see with these young guys, the inside jokes they have from

riding the bus together and the stories of screwing around in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

They’ve been through this grind together.

“When you work together, grind together, are best buddies with each other, that plays

well.”

It did in 2015 in Kansas City.

Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas were at the center of homegrown

nucleus that was surging toward a return to the World Series.

The Blue Jays, by all accounts, were the chief competition for the AL pennant and

the Royals just happened to be at Toronto’s Rogers Centre when David Price walked

into the dugout fresh off his trade from Detroit.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had arrived days earlier.

“We were in the fifth inning,” Hosmer recalled, “the place was sold out, they put him

on the jumbotron and the place went absolutely nuts. It was a message to us: ‘This is

real.’

“That team had really loaded up, but we weren't fazed by any of it.”

In Denver, Arenado described a similar reaction in the Rockies’ homegrown

clubhouse – Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon and D.J. LeMahieu are all products of

Colorado’s system – as Dodgers began applying band aids to their 2018 roster.

They were finally replacing the injured Corey Seager with free-agent-to-be Manny

Machado. They’d subbed in Brian Dozier for Logan Forsythe. They didn’t land Bryce

5

Harper, but the Rockies’ All-Star third baseman knows better than to believe they’re

done pouring resources into a run for a sixth straight division title.

Such is life in the NL West.

Arenado believes they are built to withstand it.

“We've got a culture,” Arenado said. “We're here to win. We're here to compete. When

teams on the outside do something it doesn't affect us because we're more than

capable of winning and playing just as good as any of those teams.”

6

Dodgers beat up on Clayton Richard, Padres

Jeff Sanders

The Padres have three starting pitchers on rehab assignments. There are a number

prospects they could begin to look at when rosters expand next week. For an

organization shifting its focus to the future, there are plenty of reasons to

suspect Clayton Richard could find himself in the bullpen before long.

Friday’s start may be as compelling as any.

The veteran left-hander served up two home runs among the nine hits he allowed,

didn’t make it out of the fourth inning and Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill cruised

through his six innings in an 11-1 romp at Dodger Stadium that sent the Padres to a

season-worst 31 games under .500.

“We're going to have to make some decisions in time,” Padres manager Andy Green

said after losing for the 10th time in 14 games against the defending NL West champs.

“I don't think that decision is today by any stretch, but in time we definitely have to

make some decisions on how this rotation will play out through the month of

September.”

One thing’s for certain: Eric Lauer will return to the rotation at some point, perhaps

as soon as next week after turning in 3 1/3 scoreless innings Friday night with Triple-

A El Paso, his second rehab start since landing on the disabled list with a forearm

strain.

Luis Perdomo (shoulder) was also set to start a rehab assignment with El Paso and

Bryan Mitchell is five starts into his rehab assignment with high Single-A Lake

Elsinore, though both could rejoin the team as bullpen options as easily as they could

find themselves starting games down the stretch.

The same goes for Richard for a variety of reasons.

7

He’s 34 years old. Outside the impression he leaves on a young staff, he’s not part of

the long-term plans in San Diego. Most of all, the coaching staff knows what Richard,

in the last year of his deal in 2019, will bring to the table next spring even if he’s

allowed a 7.83 ERA over this 10-start slump.

“Clayton's always been a guy that's given great effort,” Green said. “He's out there

giving great effort. He's just run into a team that when he steps on the mound against

them he's had a lot of trouble recently. It's been a while since he's had good outing

against them and he's been in a little bit of a struggle stretch for himself right now

too.”

The seven runs Richard allowed were tied for a season-high. Only six were earned

because Manny Machado scored from first when right fielder Franmil Reyes booted

the ball on Matt Kemp’s first-inning single, wasting Richard’s best look at a scoreless

frame.

Instead, Richard gave up one unearned run in the first, three run-scoring hits in the

second, Chris Taylor’s solo homer in the third and Justin Turner’s two-run shot in the

fourth.

“It's extremely disappointing to put your team in a hole like that,” Richard said. “I've

got no excuse. It stings to have an outing like that.”

Unfortunately, they’ve been more common than not in his career against the Dodgers,

who have a career .302/.371/.448 batting line in 27 starts against Richard.

In fact, Green said rival teams’ familiarity that has led the sinker-balling Richard to

explore pitching up in the zone, albeit without much success of late.

“I don't think he's consistently making his pitches,” Green said. “When I've seen him

successful, it's pounding the bottom of the zone and just beneath the zone with his

sinker. It's groundball after groundball after groundball. I think he's tried to explore a

lot of different quadrants of the zone and I don't think it's played particularly well as

time's progressed.

8

“To get him back to being really effective, to me it's just the bottom of the strike zone

with this sinker and trust that they're going to hit balls into the ground more than

they are going to hit balls in the air.”

Richard chalked up the exploration to the “cat-and-mouse” game between pitchers

and hitters.

“At first it was the walks,” Richard said. “I've cut those down recently. Now it's pitches

in the zone getting hit and getting hit hard. We'll work through it and make

adjustments to change that.”

Right-hander Miguel Diaz gave up two runs in the fifth inning before Phil Maton gave

up Max Muncy’s two-run homer in the seventh following a scoreless sixth.

By then Hill was well on his way to an easy win.

He retired the first 12 hitters he faced, didn’t give up a hit until Hunter Renfroe’s

fifth-inning double and struck out eight over six shutout innings. He allowed only two

hits and walked one batter.

Freddy Galvis tripled and doubled out of the leadoff spot, the latter plating a run in

the eighth to avoid a 10th shutout loss this year.

“It's a tough one, a tough one for everybody,” Green said. “It's tough to swallow when

you come into a place and want to play good baseball and win a series and it's a tough

foot to get off on.”

9

Wil Myers returns to Padres' lineup

Jeff Sanders

Wil Myers started at third base and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the two-hole

Friday night, his first start since taking a groundball off his nose during batting

practice Wednesday in Denver.

A day after walking as a pinch-hitter, Myers said his headaches aren’t as severe.

There’s still some swelling around his nose, which required a stitch, and he’s got a

minor black eye, but both he and the Padres deemed him ready to return to action.

A CT scan taken Wednesday came back negative.

“I felt good,” Myers said. “I had no problems with anything, I felt pretty good out

there.”

Said Padres manager Andy Green: “Without the concussion, he just has to get back in

the saddle. It doesn't do you a lot of good to sit around and think about getting hit in

the face. It's better to get back in the back in box and get playing again.”

Myers was preparing for his eighth career start at third base when a ball off the fungo

Wednesday afternoon bounced off the lip of the infield grass, over his backhand

attempt and into his face.

He walked and scored a run as a pinch-hitter Thursday afternoon.

Green said he did not have any hesitation using him at third base Friday in Los

Angeles.

“He seems completely fine,” Green said. “He was mocking himself earlier today.

That’s always a good sign.”

10

Myers previously missed 70 games to three trips to the disabled list: right arm nerve

irritation in early April, a strained oblique and lower back tightness later in April and

a bone bruise in his left foot earlier this month.

Myers is hitting .268/.326/.480 with nine homers and 30 RBIs in 52 games and is 6-

for-33 with six walks and 10 strikeouts in 10 games since returning from his latest DL

stint.

“I don't think he's had any kind of rhythm in the box since he's been back. I think he's

really grinded hard. Today withstanding, he's had some positive results just fighting

in the batters' box, but not being in a rhythm. He's taken some walks. He's put some

balls in play with two strikes. He's scratched and clawed to do some positive things.

“He just hasn't found his rhythm since he's been back. For us to really go we have to

get Wil back in rhythm.”

11

Talking with ... Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe

Jeff Sanders

Hunter Renfroe took a 97 mph fastball off his forearm on Sunday. He did not look

right Tuesday, got the day off Wednesday and returned to the Padres lineup

Thursday to hit his 15th homer of the year and seventh since Aug. 5, the most in

the National League over that span. The 26-year-old outfielder, in his estimation, is

in a better place than he’s ever been in his career. (Editor’s note: This conversation

took place before Thursday’s game)

Union-Tribune: First, how is the forearm?

Renfroe: It’s getting better day by day. It’s still a little weak and hindering a little bit

as far as hitting. It’s just a little sore. I can get through some soreness. It’s getting

better every day. It’ll be 100 percent pretty soon.

U-T: This is the second “Players’ Weekend.” Do you enjoy this event?

Renfroe: Absolutely. Any time you can wear some different stuff and show your

personality it’s always fun for the player and obviously for the fans to see everybody’s

nicknames and see the wild colors out there. It’s always fun to express yourself.

U-T: “Froe” is an obvious choice for your jersey. Did you have any other nicknames

growing up?

Renfroe: Not really. “Froe” was always my nickname, my dad’s nickname. I have

bad hair, too. If I let my hair grow out I’d have a fro. I’ve always been called ‘Froe.”

U-T: Will you promise us to grow your hair out for spring training next year?

Renfroe: (Laughs) No. I’ll never let it get that big. It’s just too hot. It’s been big

before but I’m never letting it get out of control.

12

U-T: The wife would say no to that anyway, right?

Renfroe: For sure she would.

U-T: “Players’ Weekend” is a new-school concept. Your bat flip in Milwaukee after

the go-ahead grand slam is something that would’ve been looked down upon by old-

school players not all that long ago. I think it’s clear where you come down in that

conversation. That’s just an emotional reaction for you, right?

Renfroe: I think it’s the same deal. The pitcher goes up there and strikes out the last

guy to end the game with the bases loaded, he’s going to pump his fist and scream.

He’ll do his thing. It’s the same with us. We’re going to share our emotions on a walk-

off grand slam or a game-winning hit. It’s human. It just happens. It’s nothing you

plan out. You don’t say you’re going to go up there, hit a home run and throw the bat

into the stands. You go up there thinking you’re going to do your best and you hit a

home run, it’s “Holy (expletive)!” It’s emotional. If you take the emotion out of

baseball it’s a boring game.

U-T: You’ve said before that the old-school player in you wouldn’t be surprised to get

hit by a pitch the next time you play Milwaukee.

Renfroe: If you’re going to get hit for doing something like that, that’s between you

and the pitcher. It is what it is. If he has beef with you for doing that then oh well.

He’ll hit you. He’ll move on with his life. I’ll move on with my life. I think it’s nothing

to have a grudge about. If the same situation happens again, I’m going to do the same

thing. It’s not like you’re going to learn your lesson from it. You’re just going to take

your licks and go to first base.

U-T: You’re sitting on 15 home runs. It would take a heck of a final five weeks to

match last year’s 26. This was still a better year for you than last year. Would you

agree with that?

Renfroe: For sure. It’s a little bit smaller sample size. I was hurt for a while and I

wasn’t getting the at-bats I had last year. But I feel way more comfortable this year. I

feel like I’ve improved in a lot of aspects of my game. I think I’ll keep moving forward,

keep grinding and keep growing as a player to get to the point I want to be.

13

U-T: Last year you were asked to do some of that growing in the minors. What is the

value of learning against the best competition in the majors?

Renfroe: There’s no equivalent to Major League Baseball. There’s none. You can’t go

to Japan or Korea or Triple-A and get what you get out of Major League Baseball.

There’s no other place like it. You’ll never find a place where literally every pitcher

throws almost 95 with a devastating slider or change-up or both. There’s nothing like

learning on the fly – getting out there and doing it against the best in the business

and succeeding. This is the only place you can do that. You can go to the minors and

work on it all you want, but when you get back here it’s a different ballgame.

U-T: Is your plate discipline improvement what is most encouraging this year?

Renfroe: For sure. I’m really pleased with my plate discipline as far as swinging at

strikes and taking balls. If the walks come, the walks come. But swing at strikes and

take balls. That’s it.

U-T: Do you feel like a different player will walk into spring training next year than

the Hunter Renfroe who arrived this year?

Renfroe: I think so. I think the player I’ve become at the end of this year is twice as

good as the player I was coming into this year. We’ll see if it translates into next year

after a long winter, but I’ll work on the same stuff I worked on this season in the

offseason. It will translate well.

14

Richard chased early in opener vs. LA

Left-hander tagged for seven runs (six earned) in 3 2/3 innings

By Doug Padilla | Special to MLB.com LOS ANGELES -- Known for inducing ground balls, there was far too much liftoff Friday as Padres starter Clayton Richard (Clay Clay) was roughed up in an 11-1 loss to the Dodgers.

Richard, who entered with a Major League-leading 59.7 percent ground-ball rate, gave up five extra-base hits to the Dodgers, including home runs from Chris Taylor (CT3) and Justin Turner (RedTurn2).

Now comes decision-making time for Padres management and the coaching staff, as Richard could be in jeopardy of losing his starting spot.

The left-hander gave up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over just 3 2/3 innings Friday and allowed two walks after not yielding a free pass in either of his last two starts. Richard last earned a victory on June 22 at San Francisco and has a 7.36 ERA in 11 starts (58 2/3 innings) since then.

Eric Lauer threw 61 pitches in a rehab start for Triple-A El Paso on Friday and will need a rotation spot with the Padres soon. Then there is the potential return of Luis Perdomo, who went on the disabled list on July 28 with a strained right shoulder and is about to start pitching on a rehab assignment.

"We have to make some decisions in time," manager Andy Green said. "I don't think that decision is today by any stretch, but in time we definitely have to make some decisions on how we want this rotation to play out through the month of September."

Since dominating the Dodgers in the second game of the 2017 season when he delivered eight shutout innings, Richard has struggled against the division rival. Over his last seven starts against the Dodgers, he has given up 37 runs in 36 innings.

"It's something I will look at a little more in depth [Saturday]," Richard said about his inability to stay down in the strike zone. "I would kind of understand if it was an action-on-the-pitch situation where they weren't good enough, or just not good enough pitches. That is something that will be evaluated."

It would have taken an exceptional outing to match Dodgers starter Rich Hill (D. Mountain), who retired the first 12 batters he faced. The Padres' first hit came when Hunter Renfroe (Froe) doubled to right field to lead off the fifth inning.

Freddy Galvis (Toco) had the Padres' only other hit off Hill, a triple with one out in the sixth inning. He was left stranded when Wil Myers (Wil) and Eric Hosmer (Papo) both grounded out. Myers, who did not start the past two games after getting hit in the face while taking ground balls in batting practice Wednesday, went 0-for-4.

15

"It felt good and there was no problems with anything," Myers said about his return to action. "I felt pretty good out there."

The Padres finally broke through in the eighth inning on an RBI double from Galvis off right-hander Yimi Garcia (Yimi), who just returned to the Dodgers' roster after missing 43 games with right forearm inflammation.

The Padres have now lost nine of their last 11 games.

SOUND SMART Galvis had his first multiple extra-base-hit game since Aug. 1, when he had two doubles against the Cubs. His last one prior to that was June 15, when he had a double and a home run against the Braves.

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS The two extra-base hits from Galvis not only gave him his 31st multi-hit game of the season, it continued a run of solid play in Los Angeles. Galvis now has a hit in nine consecutive games at Dodger Stadium, going all the way back to Aug. 9, 2016. In that stretch, he is batting .400 (12-for-30) with six runs, three doubles, a triple and three home runs, not to mention a 1.321 OPS.

HE SAID IT "Executing quality pitches. I wasn't terrible in doing that, but not good enough, and they took advantage of pitches out over the plate more often than not. It's extremely disappointing to put your team in the hole like that. There is really no excuse. It stinks. It stinks to have an outing like that." -- Richard, who struggled Friday and how has a .302 batting-average-against and a .371 on-base percentage when facing the Dodgers in his career

UP NEXT Right-hander Brett Kennedy (Kennedy) will pitch for the Padres in the middle game of the three-game series, still looking for his first Major League victory. The rookie has made three starts, showing improvement in his last when he gave up two runs over five innings Sunday against the D-backs. Clayton Kershaw (Kersh) will take the mound for the Dodgers. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. PT.

Doug Padilla is a contributor to MLB.com based in Los Angeles.

16

Myers in lineup, but still dealing with headache

Lauer makes rehab start for Triple-A El Paso

By Doug Padilla | Special to MLB.com LOS ANGELES -- With a bruise under his right eye and blood still dried around the one stitch inside the tip of his right nostril, Wil Myers (Wil) was more than ready to return to the Padres' starting lineup.

Myers was batting second and playing third base Friday night at Dodger Stadium, two days after he took a bad hop off his face during batting practice at Colorado.

The former Rookie of the Year did not start the past two games, although he did pinch hit Thursday, earning a seventh-inning walk. "Yeah, it feels good to get back out there," Myers said Friday. "I'm glad that I didn't have to miss any [significant] time. I kind of dodged a bullet with what could have been there. But I feel good right now. I want to get right back in there and get right back at third and just act like nothing happened."

Myers admits, though, that he can tell that something did happen. It is not so much that he's sore from where the ball rebounded off the edge of the infield dirt and grass at Coors Field and connected with his nose and right cheek bone. He is still experiencing a dull headache, but the discomfort is not bad enough to keep him out of action.

"I have a little bit of a headache, kind of constantly, just in two spots," Myers said. "But other than that, I'm fine."

Myers did go through concussion protocol, but was never worried about anything that serious.

"No, because as soon as it happened, I was very conscious when I was on the ground," he said. "I knew what was going on. There was never, like, a foggy moment that I had, so I felt pretty conscious the whole time."

For Myers, it has been an odd year for injuries, and although this latest one might be the strangest of all, it did not cost him a disabled list trip like the others. He had an irritated nerve in his arm that came from swinging the bat, he strained an oblique during an at-bat and then fouled a ball off his foot earlier this month. All three of those injuries earned a DL visit. He also was dealing with a back injury early in the year.

"He's had a rough year from a physical perspective after being healthy the last couple of years," manager Andy Green said. "He's definitely had some unique things happen and in this case, this is something that kept him out for one day, so he's going to be fine."

17

Nearing a return Left-hander Eric Lauer pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A El Paso on Friday as he closes in on a return from a left forearm strain. Lauer went on the disabled list July 31. He threw 61 pitches in the outing after throwing 45 pitches in a three-inning outing for Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore last Saturday.

18

30 potential callups to know -- 1 for each team

By Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum

Whether your team is competing for a postseason spot or looking ahead to the future, September 1 is a date that has to be circled on the calendar.

Starting on the first day of the month, all 30 teams can expand their rosters at the big league level, adding as many players from their 40-man roster as they wish. For teams out of the race, it can be a great opportunity to give someone an extended audition and first taste of the big leagues. For teams hoping to play into October, roster expansion can provide an extra boost for that playoff push.

The MLB Pipeline staff has weighed all of the variables that come into play with these roster decisions -- Is the player already on the 40-man roster? Is there an opportunity for him to play or fill a role with the Major League club? Is his Minor League team in a playoff race? Is a pitcher nearing an innings limit? -- in choosing one player per organization to get excited about potentially seeing come September.

These players are by no means guaranteed to be called up, but we should see many of them during the final month of the season.

American League East

Blue Jays Anthony Alford, OF, Blue Jays' No. 5/No. 91 overall Nothing would make baseball fans happier than a September promotion for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Unfortunately, all signs point to a likely 2019 arrival for the 19-year-old phenom. The Blue Jays still have plenty of interesting prospects deserving of a callup, including outfielder Anthony Alford, who has struggled this season in Triple-A but also possesses all-around tools that are among the best in Toronto's system.

Orioles DJ Stewart, OF, O's No. 23 After breaking out with a 21-homer, 20-steal campaign last year in Double-A, Stewart's production has backed up in 2018 with his move up to Triple-A. He does enough things well to profile as a bench outfielder in the Majors and could get a look in September as the club weighs whether or not to add Stewart to its 40-man roster this offseason.

Rays Colin Poche, LHP, Rays' No. 24 Poche has been perhaps the most dominant reliever in the Minors this year, averaging more than 15.0 strikeouts-per-nine across the Double-A and Triple-A while also proving capable of working multiple innings. Both qualities make the 24-year-old left-hander a logical September callup for Tampa Bay, which continues to employ a unique strategy with their big league staff.

19

Red Sox Michael Chavis, 3B/1B, Red Sox's No. 1/No. 99 overall Chavis finished third in the Minors in extra-base hits (68) and fifth in homers (31) a year ago, and he has regained his power stroke after serving an 80-game suspension to begin 2018. He could provide righty power off the bench and complement lefty hitters Rafael Devers and Mitch Moreland.

Yankees Justus Sheffield, LHP, Yankees' No. 1/No. 27 overall Sheffield can show three plus pitches at times and has had little difficulty dealing with Triple-A hitters at age 21. Behind Luis Severino, he's New York's best hope for a difference-making starter in the playoffs.

AL Central

Indians Eric Haase, C, Indians' No. 24 A member of Cleveland's 40-man roster, 25-year-old Haase seems poised for his first big league promotion after a full season in Triple-A in which he continued to hit for power while throwing out attempted basestealers at nearly a 50-percent clip.

Royals Nicky Lopez, SS/2B, Royals' No. 7 Lopez has been the Royals' most consistent Minor League performer since they drafted him in the fifth round two years ago. He's not as flashy a defender as free-agent-to-be Alcides Escobar or as tooled up as Adalberto Mondesi, but he's a more reliable hitter than either and steady at either middle-infield spot.

Tigers Christin Stewart, OF, Tigers' No. 6 Stewart's 21 home runs leads the organization, which should surprise no one since the outfielder did the same thing in both 2016 and '17. But he's done it while also upping his walk rate and cutting his strikeout rate. It's time to see how the power plays in Detroit.

Twins Nick Gordon, SS/2B, Twins' No. 3/No. 73 overall After starting off well upon reaching Triple-A, Tom's son (and Dee's brother) has struggled in the International League. Still, he's ready for an opportunity and should get a shot to play in 2019, so why not give him a shot at short or second now?

White Sox Eloy Jimenez, OF, White Sox No. 1/No. 3 overall When Jimenez hasn't been dealing with some minor injuries, he has destroyed upper-level pitching as a 21-year-old. The only reason not to call up him up would be to keep them from accruing service time.

AL West

20

Angels Matt Thaiss, 1B, Angels' No. 5 While it would be exciting to see someone like ultra-toolsy Jo Adell in the big leagues, he's likely a year away. Thaiss has career highs in home runs, total bases and slugging right now, and though his walk rate has taken a hit, his left-handed bat could help the Angels right now.

Astros Josh James, RHP, Astros' No. 6 While Forrest Whitley, the game's best pitching prospect, would make more headlines with a callup, James might be a more realistic option. He'll have to be added to the 40-man roster in the offseason (Whitley won't), as he's battling Kopech for the Minor League strikeout lead and his fastball/slider combination could make him a useful October bullpen piece.

Athletics Jorge Mateo, SS/OF, A's No. 7 Mateo and his 80-grade speed could be a major weapon off the A's bench as the club battles for a spot in the postseason. The 23-year-old shortstop led the Minors with 82 steals in 2015 and tied for third with 72 a year ago.

Mariners Matthew Festa, RHP, Mariners' No. 8 Festa made his big league debut on July 14 with a scoreless relief appearance against the Rockies. He's otherwise spent the season in the Texas League, posting strong numbers as Double-A Arkansas' closer. The 25-year-old right-hander doesn't miss a ton of bats, but he has good feel for a deep arsenal along with a strong track record against same-sided hitters.

Rangers Willie Calhoun, OF, Rangers' No. 2/No. 48 overall Calhoun combines power and patience better than most prospects and hit .275/.325/.391 in a four-week stint with the Rangers while filling in for an injured Nomar Mazara. Sent down last week, he's a lock to rejoin Texas in September.

NL East

Braves Kyle Wright, RHP, Braves' No. 2/No. 24 overall There are so many prospects to choose from here, but Wright, the Braves' top pick from the 2017 Draft, is already in Triple-A, knocking on the proverbial door. The right-hander is in the top 10 in the organization in ERA and strikeouts and showed in the Futures Game he's not afraid of coming in out of the bullpen in a tight spot if necessary.

Marlins Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins' No. 2 The hard-throwing right-hander earned the win in his Marlins debut (also his first big league start) on June 29, but subsequently landed on the disabled with a right axillary infection. Now healthy and pitching well at Triple-A New Orleans, Alcantara should receive an extended look in Miami's rotation next month as the organization looks towards 2019.

21

Mets Peter Alonso, 1B, Mets' No. 2/No. 64 overall Not only does Alonso lead the Minors in homers (32) and RBIs (109), he's also driven in as many runs as any professional hitter at any level. He's one of just five Minor Leaguers to reach the 30-homer plateau, doing it while getting on base at a .394 clip.

Nationals Victor Robles, OF, Nats' No. 1/No. 5 overall The enormous success of 19-year-old Juan Soto has made Robles a bit of an afterthought in the Nationals' outfield, but there's no denying that the 20-year-old Robles is still very much a special talent in his own right. Triple-A Syracuse won't make the International League playoffs, so expect Robles to see time at all three spots in Washington's outfield down the stretch.

Phillies Ranger Suarez, LHP, Phillies' No. 8 The Phillies have relied on young players so much in their surprising season, so it might be unfair to ask more of their farm system. But Suarez, a starter long-term who did pick up a big league start earlier this year, could certainly help out in the bullpen down the stretch. Lefties in Triple-A have just a .167 batting average against him.

NL Central

Brewers Zack Brown, RHP, Brewers' No. 9 After spending a month on the shelf with an ankle sprain, the 23-year-old is a potential bullpen option for the Brewers in September, though they'd first have to add the 2016 fifth-round pick to their 40-man roster. Brown was 9-0 with a Southern League-best 2.34 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 111 2/3 innings with Biloxi prior to his injury and returned with a strong outing Monday. Perhaps more important, he had limited right-handed hitters to a paltry .188 clip.

Cardinals Andrew Knizner, C, Cardinals' No. 6 Carson Kelly might still be viewed as the catcher of the future, but Knizner has shown he can handle upper-level pitching, both as a hitter and receiver. He's hit .315 and posted a .373 OBP in Double- and Triple-A this season, par for the course for this career .310 hitter.

Cubs Duane Underwood, RHP, Cubs' No. 9 Underwood impressed the Cubs in a June spot start and with his improved consistency, focus and health all season. He has the stuff and flexibility to help Chicago in a variety of roles.

Pirates Mitch Keller, RHP, Pirates' No. 1/No. 12 overall The overall Triple-A numbers (5.31 ERA in eight starts) don't look great, but Keller's still missing a lot of bats (10.0 K/9), and over his past three starts spanning 17 innings, he's allowed just three runs on 11 hits, walking five while striking out 15. That's a 1.59 ERA and 0.94 WHIP for those scoring at home.

22

Reds Jimmy Herget, RHP, Reds' No. 13 The Reds' top prospects are either farther away or hurt (Nick Senzel, for example), but Herget deserves a chance to show what he can do in the big leagues after striking out nearly 10 Triple-A hitters per nine innings in 2018, right in line with his 10.7 K/9 career mark.

NL West

Diamondbacks Taylor Widener, RHP, D-backs' No. 3 The D-backs got Widener from the Yankees in February's Brandon Drury deal, and he's gone out and led the organization in strikeouts while standing second in ERA. He was a reliever in college, so having him help out the bullpen short-term could be a fit.

Dodgers Alex Verdugo, OF, Dodgers' No. 1/No. 28 overall Verdugo would be starting for most clubs but hasn't been able to find a role on a talented Dodgers club. One of the best pure hitters in the Minors, he has batted .280/.345/.440 in two brief stints with Los Angeles earlier this year and definitely will be back in September.

Giants Chris Shaw, OF, Giants' No. 5 Shaw has led all players in the Giants' organization -- in the Majors or Minors -- in home runs in each of the past two seasons. He could be in the running for a starting job in 2019, so a callup would make a lot of sense.

Padres Francisco Mejia, C/OF, Padres' No. 3/No. 21 overall Acquired from Cleveland for Brad Hand and Adam Cimber on July 19, Mejia has resumed catching full time since joining the Padres' system and continues to swing a hot bat for playoff-bound Triple-A El Paso. While it's still unclear how the 22-year-old backstop fits in long-term with regards to the defensively gifted Austin Hedges, the time has come to see what Mejia has to offer as a big league catcher.

Rockies Brendan Rodgers, INF, Rockies' No. 1/No. 6 overall Currently sidelined with a hamstring injury that isn't considered serious. Rodgers is capable of playing second base, shortstop or third base. Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story have been the Rockies' two best hitters, but D.J. LeMahieu has slumped this year and Rodgers could provide more offense.

23

Two years later, Padres prospect Chris

Paddack looks stronger as he works his

way back after Tommy John surgery

By Dennis Lin

SAN ANTONIO — Rain washed out Double-A San Antonio’s game on Aug.

16, 731 days after orthopedic surgeon Keith Meister reconstructed the right

elbow of a Padres pitching prospect. So, Chris Paddack waited five more days

to make another start, and to mark another milestone.

“They say it takes two years to know if you’re fully back and if you’re going to

come back stronger,” Paddack said Thursday as he sat inside the home dugout

at Wolff Stadium.

The test was administered the previous night, 90 miles from Paddack’s high

school stomping grounds. With father Jim and older brother Michael sitting

behind home plate, Paddack yielded three runs over five innings. He suffered

from some poor luck, including a number of soft hits. He expressed

bewilderment when he was called for a balk.

And yet, a quick glance over his left shoulder showed how far he has come. At

one point, frustrated with how the game was unfolding, he reached back for a

little extra. The pitch-speed box on the right-field wall flashed a 98. When

Paddack later received confirmation of the radar gun reading, he fired off a text

to minor-league physical therapist Tanner Fields. The two spent more than a

year together at the Padres’ complex in Peoria, Ariz.

“I was like, ‘Man, I guess you can officially say all the hard work has paid off

and that I’ve come back stronger,’” said Paddack, whose fastball sat between

94 and 97 mph for most of the start. “Rehab was one of the hardest things I’ve

ever had to go through in my career, mentally and physically. So being able to

have a successful year so far — and last night was the hardest I’ve ever thrown

in my life — it’s something that I cherish and something that I’m proud about.”

Paddack’s forceful return from Tommy John surgery long ago became a topic

of discussion. He made the first of 10 starts with High-A Lake Elsinore in late

April, logged a 2.24 ERA, struck out 83 batters and walked only four. That

24

earned the Texas native a promotion to San Antonio, where he continues to

show an aversion to nibbling.

Through seven Double-A starts, Paddack has recorded a 1.91 ERA, 37

strikeouts and four walks, each an affront to his personal credo. As San

Antonio manager Phillip Wellman remembers it, Paddack once traveled up the

dugout tunnel during a game and screamed at himself for giving up a one-out

walk in a scoreless inning.

“He doesn’t like to get beat, he doesn’t like to give up hits, he doesn’t like to

walk people, which he doesn’t do very much,” Wellman said. “…When he

does, you can just seem him bow his neck and the next guy has no chance. …

That’s just the kind of competitor he is.”

One wonders what the 22-year-old could accomplish in 2019, even further

along after surgery. Paddack has operated this season with a pitch count of 85;

as a result, he has yet to go beyond six innings in any start. He likely will start

two more games for a San Antonio team with fading playoff hopes. While he is

expected to be in big-league camp next spring, a September call-up would

qualify as a surprise.

Paddack intends to make the most of what remains of his season. He has

walked eight batters in 90 innings, and he would like to keep the former

number from budging. His strikeout rate has dipped in Double-A, he said,

because hitters at this level exhibit significantly better plate discipline.

The continued development of a third pitch would help. Paddack’s fastball

command has remained unassailable, his changeup devastating, but his

curveball is inconsistent. Still, he says, it has shown measurable progress since

before his elbow failed him.

“It was 70 miles an hour, very loopy. I wouldn’t even call it a third pitch,” he

said. “Now this year, getting swing-and-misses, getting ground balls, even guys

to take it for a strike, getting them off balance, for me that’s a huge confidence

booster. I consider it a third pitch now, and it’s every bit from 74 to 77 miles an

hour. Being able to have a third pitch, I’m going to need that at the higher

levels just because hitters are going to get better and better.”

“His delivery’s really good. It shouldn’t keep him from having a good

curveball,” San Antonio pitching coach Jimmy Jones said. “Right now it’s a

25

work in progress, but when he throws it right it’s really good. … I don’t know

if it will ever be great. It might be.”

In the offseason, Paddack said, he plans to expand his wardrobe. Since his

promotion, he has maintained his routine of wearing a suit on days he starts;

big-leaguers dress more formally when they travel, so he figures he should

prepare. For now, he is rotating between two outfits. An upcoming visit to

Men’s Wearhouse is in order.

Of course, by wearing full suits, boots and cowboy hats, Paddack has

established a unique style. Unlike the few walks he issues, this is intentional.

“I don’t want to be good. I want to be great,” he said. “I want to be Chris

Paddack. I don’t want to be a Clayton Kershaw. I want to be my own name out

there in baseball.”

26

Hill sparkles for Dodgers in 11-1 rout of last-place Padres Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- In the early going, Rich Hill was perfect. Only he didn't feel that way. He didn't like the way the ball was coming out of his hand, even though he wasn't letting anyone on base.

"Around the third inning, the feel started coming around," Hill said. "The big thing was getting ahead and throwing strikes."

Hill allowed two hits over six shutout innings, Chris Taylor, Justin Turner and Max Muncy homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the San Diego Padres 11-1 on Friday night to snap a three-game skid. Hill (6-4) retired his first 12 batters, seven of them on strikeouts, before Hunter Renfroe doubled leading off the fifth. "There were a few pitches I left out there," Hill said. "Everything needs to be tightened up as we move to September."

Hill added another strikeout and had one walk on 90 pitches in his first win since Aug. 7 at Oakland. The only other hit the veteran left-hander gave up was a triple to Freddy Galvis in the sixth. "It's discouraging when you go into a game with a game plan and we swing at fast balls up and out of the zone," Padres manager Andy Green said. "You're just not going to get Rich Hill that way. It's going to take discipline."

The last-place Padres proved the antidote that the slumping Dodgers needed after scoring just six runs while getting swept in three games by St. Louis. Los Angeles had lost nine of its last 12 and 10 of 14, but the victory brought them back to .500 at home (33-33).

"Just kind of getting that monkey off our back was big for us and hopefully we can settle down and relax," Turner said. "Offense is contagious. When it goes good early, it goes really good. When there's opportunities lost early in the game it builds up anxiety."

The Dodgers pounded out 13 hits and scored in each of the first five innings.

Taylor homered on his first pitch from Clayton Richard (7-11) in the third. Turner added a two-run shot on Richard's first pitch to him in the fourth, extending the lead to 7-0. Richard gave up seven runs -- six earned -- and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two.

27

"It's extremely disappointing to put your team in the hole like that. I have no excuse," Richard said. "It stinks to have an outing like that."

Pinch-hitter Muncy slugged his team-high 29th homer, a two-run shot that made it 11-0, in the seventh. The Dodgers have an NL West-leading 179 homers this season.

The Dodgers scored four runs in the second on Cody Bellinger's RBI single, Brian Dozier's RBI double down the third-base line and Turner's RBI single. Bellinger's RBI double and Hill's RBI single extended the lead to 9-0 in the fifth.

The Dodgers' bullpen completed the four-hitter. Yimi Garcia gave up two hits and allowed the Padres' lone run on Galvis' RBI double in the eighth. The Padres have lost nine of 11 and fell to 4-10 against their NL West rivals this season.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: 3B Wil Myers returned to the lineup, going 0 for 4. He had just one at-bat in the last two games after he was hit in the face by a groundball in batting practice Wednesday. "I felt good," he said. "No problems with anything." Dodgers: RHP Daniel Hudson (right forearm tightness) went on the disabled list. ... RHP Ross Stripling had his scheduled throwing session pushed back to Saturday, when he will face hitters for one or two innings. ... RHP Garcia was reinstated from the DL after missing 43 games with right forearm inflammation. AT HOME ON THE ROAD

Galvis has hit safely in his last nine games at Dodger Stadium dating to Aug. 9, 2016. He's batted .400 with six runs, three doubles, a triple, three homers and 10 RBI.

BIRTHDAY BOY

Dodgers center fielder Enrique Hernandez celebrated his 27th birthday by going 1 for 4 with two runs, a walk and two strikeouts. UP NEXT

RHP Brett Kennedy (0-2, 8.36 ERA) makes his fourth career start for San Diego and his second against a divisional foe. LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-5, 2.40) makes his 34th career start against the Padres. He is 18-6 with a 1.89 ERA against them, while holding opposing batters to a .186 average while averaging 9.52 strikeouts per nine innings.

28

#PadresOnDeck: Pitchers Lauer,

Ramirez Lead Triple-A El Paso,

Double-A San Antonio By Bill Center

Behind pitchers Eric Lauer and Emmanuel Ramirez, Triple-A El Paso and Double-A San Antonio inched closer to playoff berths Friday night.

On a rehab assignment from the Padres, Lauer, who has an overall 2.53 earned run average with El Paso, allowed two hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 3 1/3 scoreless innings as the Chihuahuas scored a 3–1 at Tacoma — reducing their magic number to one for a fourth straight Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern Division title.

El Paso extended their franchise-record winning streak to 10 straight games. They are 23–2 over their last 25 games and 43–15 over the last 58.

Ramirez (2–1, 1.59 ERA) allowed four hits and a walk with six strikeouts in six scoreless innings in San Antonio’s 1–0 win over Frisco as the Missions maintained their 2 ½-game lead for a Texas League playoff berth.

Top performances by Padres’ Top-30 prospects Friday:

— Right-handed starter Luis Patiño, 18, the Padres’ №12 prospect according to the MLB Pipeline, allowed one run on three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over six innings to lower his ERA to 2.16 for Fort Wayne.

29

— Shortstop Gabriel Arias, 18, the Padres’ №20 prospect, continued his late-season surge with Fort Wayne, going 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI to raise his batting average to .238.

— Center fielder Edward Olivares, 22, the Padres’ №28 prospect, was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and a run scored to raise his batting average to .268 for Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore.

There were two roster changes with El Paso Friday. Right-handed starting pitcher Luis Perdomo was assigned to the Chihuahuas on a rehab assignment and will start Saturday night. Catcher Luis Roman was promoted from the Arizona Rookie League to El Paso.

Around the Farm:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (77–52): Chihuahuas 3, TACOMA 1 — DH Raffy Lopez(.285) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. LF Shane Peterson (.281) was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. 1B Brett Nicholas (.298) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. C Francisco Mejía (.315) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. SS Javy Guerra(.234) was 1-for-4 with a run scored. 2B Luis Urías (.296) was 1-for-3 with a walk. RHP Rowan Wick (2.18) issued a walk in two-thirds of a hitless, scoreless inning. RHP Colten Brewer (3–4, 3.72 ERA) allowed two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Colin Rea (5.66) allowed a run on two hits and two walks with a strikeout in two innings. RHP Carter Capps (1.50) pitched a perfect ninth for his first save.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (27–31, 69–59): MISSIONS 1, Frisco 0 — RHPs Trevor Megill (4.50 ERA) and Elliot Ashbeck (4.50) followed Ramirez with each working a perfect inning. RHP Andres Munoz (1.06) issued a walk with a strikeout in an otherwise perfect inning to earn his seventh save. 2B Peter Van Gansen (.268) was 2-for-3 with a double and scored the game’s lone run. 1B Kyle Overstreet (.268) was 3-for-3. RF Michael Gettys (.237) was 1-for-2 with the game’s only RBI and a hit-by-pitch. SS Matthew

30

Batten (.260) was 1-for-3 with a stolen base. 3B Hudson Potts (.146) was 1-for-3.

ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (28–32, 62–68): LANCASTER 9, Storm 8 — RF Nate Easley (.276) was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored behind Olivares. C A.J. Kennedy (.167) was 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. DH Luis Torrens (.286) was 2-for-5 with a run scored. SS Chris Baker (.264) was 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, a run scored and a RBI. 1B Brad Zunica (.250) was 1-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored. 3B Luis Guzman (.077) had a triple in three at-bats with a walk and a run scored. LF Rod Boykin (.196) was 1-for-4. Starting LHP Aaron Leasher (3.12 ERA) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. RHP Hansel Rodriguez (6.35) allowed a run on three hits and no hits with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. LHP Travis Radke (2.70) allowed a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in two scoreless innings. RHP Dauris Valdez (4.59) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk without retiring a hitter. RHP Caleb Boushley (0–1, 4.76) allowed a home run to the only hitter he faced to take the loss.

SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (27–32, 59–69): SOUTH BEND 3, TinCaps 2 — LHP Daniel Sexton (0–1, 1.08) followed Patiño and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings to take the loss. 3B Jalen Washington (.241) backed Arias with a homer in three at-bats. SS Owen Miller (.364) was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (13–15, 31–35): Dust Devils 5, EUGENE 4 — C Blake Hunt (.240) was 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. DH Tyler Benson (.222) was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and three RBIs. 3B Kelvin Alarcon (.171) was 1-for-5 with two RBIs. LF Michael Curry (.243) was 1-for-5 with two runs scored. RF Luis Asuncion (.230) was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Starting LHP Ramon Perez (.283) allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings. RHP Spencer Kulman (2.95) allowed three hits with three strikeouts in three scoreless innings. RHP Nick Kuzia (1–2, 4.35) allowed two runs on

31

three hits with three strikeouts in two innings and was credited with the win. RHP Joe Galindo (1.71) struck out one in a perfect ninth to earn his first save.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (36–35): PADRES 7, White Sox 0 — Starting RHP Sergio Carrizoza (4–2, 1.85 ERA) allowed three hits and a walk with five strikeouts over five scoreless innings to get the win. RHP Eudi Asencio (4.50) allowed a hit with four strikeouts in three scoreless innings. 1B Emmanuel Guerra (.219) was 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs scored. 2B Luis Paez (.254) was 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored. C Brandon Valenzuela (.251) was 1-for-3 with a triple, a sacrifice fly, two RBIs and a run scored. SS Bryan Torres (.228) was 1-for-3 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored.

ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES:

PADRES-1 (14–11, 24–29): RF Agustin Ruiz (.275) was 2-for-4 with a triple and a RBI. 3B Luis Almanzar (.205) was 1-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored. C Gilberto Vizcarra (.140) had a double in three at-bats with a run scored. SS Reinaldo Ilarraza (.237) was 1-for-4 with a run scored. CF Jawuan Harris (.212) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. DH Nick Gatewood (.286) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. RHP Alexuan Vega (10.80 ERA) allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Edwuin Bencomo (3–3, 4.04) allowed a run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss. RHP Martin Carrasco (7.59) allows four runs on seven hits with a strikeout in an inning.

PADRES-2 (9–15, 24–28): CF Angel Solarte (.228) was 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored. 1B Jason Pineda (.215) was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. C Alison Quintero (.286) was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. 2B Sean Guilke (.217) hit a two-run homer in five at-bats. 3B Jonny Homza (.229) was 0-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored. RF Yordi Francisco (.254) was 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a RBI. DH Elvis Sabala (.254) was 0-for-2 with two walks, a

32

stolen base and two runs scored. SS Jordy Barley (.199) was 1-for-5 with a RBI. Starting LHP Noel Vela (4.19 ERA) allowed five unearned runs on three hits and four walks with a strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Felix Minjarez (1.61) allowed two hits with five strikeouts in 3 1/3 scoreless innings. RHP Dominic Taccolini (6.59) allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. LHP Trent Shelton (4–2, 2.61 ERA) allowed four hits with a strikeout in 1 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win.

33

This Day in Padres History, 8/25 By Bill Center

Aug. 25, 1971 — Right-hander Clay Kirby allows six hits and no walks with nine strikeouts in a complete-game shutout as the Padres score a 7–0 win in Philadelphia.

Aug. 25, 1979 — The Pirates defeat the Padres 4–3 in 19 innings at San Diego Stadium. It is the fifth-longest game in Padres history by innings and the third-longest by time (six hours, 12 minutes). The Padres set two franchise records in the game, drawing 14 walks and six intentional walks.

Aug. 25, 1991 — Center fielder Darrin Jackson opens the game with a homer and later hits a grand slam for five RBIs as the Padres defeat the Cubs 12–9 at Wrigley Field.

Aug. 25, 1992 — Catcher Benito Santiago drives in three runs with a pair of homers as the Padres defeat the Cubs 7–4 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Aug. 25, 1998 — Third baseman Ken Caminiti homers twice in the Padres 5–3 win at Philadelphia.

Aug. 25, 2012 — Shortstop Everth Cabrera’s franchise-record of 20 straight steals without being caught ends in a 9–3 Padres win at Arizona.

Aug. 25, 2013 — Catcher Nick Hundley hits a walk-off single in the 15th to give the Padres a 3–2 win over the Cubs at Petco Park. The game was scoreless for 12 innings with each team scoring twice in the 13th.

34

Andy’s Address, 8/24

Andy Addresses playing contenders, Myers,

Richard vs. Dodgers

By Bill Center

The Padres Friday night started their third straight series against a playoff contender Friday night at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

“Our schedule is littered with playoff opponents the rest of the way, so it’s going to be a great test going into the off-season to see where our guys are at,” said Padres manager Andy Green during his pre-game media session.

“I loved the series in Colorado, although I know we walked away losing two out of three with one in a heart-breaking fashion. I thought the young bullpen arms pitched in a road environment that was hostile and threw the ball incredibly well. That was good to see. I thought Joey Lucchesi took a step forward.”

Green discussed the return of third baseman Wil Myers, who took a bad-hop off his face during batting practice Wednesday night.

“Myers is going to be fine,” said Green. “It’s good to get him back out there and get him in the flow as quickly as possible. It’s an unfortunate thing. He had a lot of ground balls over the past few years playing first base. This was just one of those that took a nasty hop at the wrong time. He had a great at-bat pinch-hitting Thursday to put us in position to win a game.”

“I have no concerns for Wil. He seems completely fine. He was mocking himself earlier today, that’s always a good sign that you are in a good

35

spot. He’s got a little bit of a black eye there. He’s going to feel it. But he’s going to be fine. We want to get him out there and playing again.”

“He’s had a rough year from the physical perspective after being healthy for a couple of years prior to this. He’s definitely had some unique things happen and in this case it kept him out for one day, so he’s going to be fine.”

Clayton Richard wasn’t fine Friday night as he faced the Dodgers.

“The Dodgers have had some success against Clayton,” said Green. “They’ve seen him a lot. For him it’s going to be execution. He’s going to have to get his pitches to his spots and he’s going to have to attack. Sometimes, because these guys have had success against him, he’s nibbled a little bit and gotten behind in the count. The Dodgers don’t chase out of the zone very frequently. You have to beat them in the strike zone with movement and in some of those outings, he’s let himself pitch behind in the count and they’ve taken advantage of him because of that.”

36

Dodgers homer 3 times in 11-1 win over Padres

AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rich Hill allowed two hits over six innings, Chris Taylor, Justin Turner and Max Muncy homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgersrouted the San Diego Padres 11-1 on Friday night to snap a three-game skid.

Hill (6-4) retired his first 12 batters, seven of them on strikeouts, before Hunter Renfroe doubled leading off the fifth.

Hill added another strikeout and had one walk on 90 pitches in his first win since Aug. 7 at Oakland. The only other hit the veteran left-hander gave up was a triple to Freddy Galvis in the sixth.

The last-place Padres proved the antidote that the slumping Dodgers needed after scoring just six runs while getting swept in three games by St. Louis. Los Angeles had lost nine of its last 12 and 10 of 14, but the victory brought them back to .500 at home (33-33).

The Dodgers pounded out 13 hits and scored in each of the first five innings.

Taylor homered on his first pitch from Clayton Richard (7-11) in the third. Turner added a two-run shot on Richard’s first pitch to him in the fourth, extending the lead to 7-0.

Richard gave up seven runs — six earned — and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two.

Pinch-hitter Muncy slugged his team-high 29th homer, a two-run shot that made it 11-0, in the seventh. The Dodgers have an NL West-leading 179 homers this season.

The Dodgers scored four runs in the second on Cody Bellinger‘s RBI single, Brian Dozier’s RBI double down the third-base line and Turner’s RBI single.

Bellinger’s RBI double and Hill’s RBI single extended the lead to 9-0 in the fifth.

The Dodgers’ bullpen completed the four-hitter. Yimi Garcia gave up two hits and allowed the Padres’ lone run on Galvis’ RBI double in the eighth.

The Padres have lost nine of 11 and fell to 4-10 against their NL West rival this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

37

Padres: 3B Wil Myers returned to the lineup, going 0 for 4. He had just one at-bat in the last two games after he was hit in the face by a groundball in batting practice Wednesday.

Dodgers: RHP Daniel Hudson (right forearm tightness) went on the disabled list. … RHP Ross Stripling had his scheduled throwing session pushed back to Saturday, when he will face hitters for one or two innings. … RHP Garcia was reinstated from the DL after missing 43 games with right forearm inflammation.

UP NEXT

RHP Brett Kennedy (0-2, 8.36 ERA) makes his fourth career start for San Diego and his second against a divisional foe. LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-5, 2.40) makes his 34th career start against the Padres. He is 18-6 with a 1.89 ERA against them, while holding opposing batters to a .186 average while averaging 9.52 strikeouts per nine innings.