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Padres Press Clips

Saturday, August 18, 2018

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Padres notes: Hosmer hits homer just beer enough SD Union Tribune Acee 2

Another short outing by Lucchesi, another Padres loss to D’backs SD Union Tribune Acee 4

Whatever happens with Padres rotation, Clayton Richard will keep SD Union Tribune Acee 7

pitching

Padres notes: Miguel Diaz returns; Wingenter throws; Pirela starts SD Union Tribune Acee 10

in left

Logan Allen wins second PCL start SD Union Tribune Sanders 12

Hosmer homers off fan’s beer; call stands MLB.com Cassavell 15

Lucchesi tagged early; Padres can’t recover MLB.com Woo 17

Lauer’s pending return could complicate rotation MLB.com Woo 19

Urias stays hot for El Paso MLB.com Rosenbaum 21

Goldschmidt homers, Diamondbacks beat Padres 9-4 AP AP 23

#PadresOnDeck: Luis Urias, Francisco Mejia Strike Again for FriarWire Center 25

Triple-A El Paso

Hosmer homers, but Padres fall 9-4 to Diamondbacks FOX Sports AP 29

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Padres notes: Hosmer hits homer just beer enough

Kevin Acee

Eric Hosmer thought maybe he got enough of it.

When he saw Diamondbacks left fielder Jon Jay go up at the wall and come down

with his hands raised as if to ask, ‘What the –?’ Hosmer knew.

Hosmer’s fifth-inning home run had to wait out a video review to make sure a fan had

not interfered with the ball in play.

It was close, as the fan’s plastic beer cup, while held seemingly behind the wall, did

contact Jay’s glove and could easily have been determined to have impeded his ability

to catch the ball.

The collision of glove and cup caused beer to splash down on Jay.

“It was definitely a sigh of relief,” said Hosmer, who made an exaggerated motion in

the dugout afterward feigning his heart beating out of his chest.

On the bench during the review Hosmer had joked with teammates, “I’m gonna go

George Brett on ‘em if they overturn it,” referring to the infamous incident in 1983

when Brett went ballistic after having a home run taken away when it was ruled there

was excessive pine tar on his bat.

Hosmer spent seven seasons with the Kansas City Royals, for whom Brett serves as

Royals vice President of Baseball Operations.

“We would ask him all the time,” Hosmer said Friday of he and teammates quizzing

the Hall of Famer about the famous game.

Hosmer’s homer was his second in five games – and the second in 27 games.

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Villa hit again

Christian Villanueva’s first career game at second base ended early after he was hit in

the left foot by a pitch in the seventh inning.

Villanueva, who fouled the ball off the same foot at least twice in the past two games,

has been hit by nine pitches times this season – three times as many as any

teammate.

“We think he’s OK,” manager Andy Green said of Villanueva, who was replaced at

second base by Cory Spangenberg at the start of the eighth inning.

To that point, it was a largely uneventful evening for Villanueva, save for a nice turn

to complete the middle portion of double play.

Before the game, Green was noncommittal about how often Villanueva would play at

second base now that Wil Myers has become the regular third baseman for the

foreseeable future.

“I’m not going to put a number on it now,” Green said. “But you’re going to start to

see guys versatility tested, because that’s going to give us the opportunity to see what

we have going into next year. Christian has worked very hard over there. He’s got

quick hands. Probably not the typical body type for a second baseman, but he has a

chance to play over there and play well.”

Extra bases

• Jose Pirela and Wil Myers drew nine-pitch walks to start the Padres’ half of the

first inning. Both walked again in the third – on five and six pitches,

respectively. At that point, the pair had seen exactly half of the 58 pitches

Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray had thrown.

• Robbie Erlin walked in his first career pinch-hit appearance.

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Another short outing by Lucchesi, another Padres loss to D'backs

Kevin Acee

Joey Lucchesi is still seeking that game where his heart and his arm are in sync and

his hand is healed and he does what he knows he can.

“I am waiting for that moment where I have everything working,” Lucchesi said

Friday night after an outing shortened by nothing more than the fact he lacked the

command he showed so consistently early in the season.

He was around for just four innings of a game that took almost four hours to

complete – the 3:46 duration accounting for the Padres’ longest nine-inning game

this season.

The Diamondbacks on Friday battered Lucchesi and also snuck a few balls through

holes as they totaled nine hits and scored five runs off him on their way to a 9-4

victory.

“I was leaving all my pitches over the plate,” Lucchesi said. “They took advantage of it.

I wasn’t sharp. I’ve got to be better than that.”

It will be nice when he is fully capable of doing so.

Clearly, there has been something amiss of late. And Lucchesi confirmed Friday he

has been pitching with an injury on his left hand suffered in batting practice last

month. It has gotten better, but it still affects his grip to an extent that his curve ball

feels like it is floating out of his hand.

“I’m just trying to grind through it,” Lucchesi said Friday night.

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That willingness and fortitude have been a large part of the story for the 24-year-old

who in April became the first pitcher from the 2016 draft class to make the majors

and is now 19 starts into his big-league career.

“I’m just trying to figure it out day by day,” Lucchesi said. “I know I’m a rookie, but

I’m not trying to make an excuse.”

Friday was the fifth time in the 10 starts since he returned from a five-week stay on

the disabled list due to a hip strain that Lucchesi failed to make it through at least five

innings.

After going 4 2/3 innings in his March 30 debut, Lucchesi lasted at least five innings

in his next eight starts leading up to the DL stint that essentially splits his season into

a tale a tale of two halves.

In his nine starts prior to the injury, he posted a 3.23 ERA over 47 1/3 innings. In the

10 since, he has a 4.37 ERA in 45 1/3 innings. His rate of walks and hits per innings

pitched has risen from 1.23 in the first nine to 1.39 since.

“I wouldn’t read too much into it,” manager Andy Green said. “He’s had some really

good outings since he’s been back. He’s had some battle outings.”

His past three have been of the latter variety, including his one prior to this when he

shut out the Phillies over six innings on Sunday.

That was achieved essentially all on determination. Despite throwing fastballs high

and low and having little idea where his breaking pitches were going, he allowed just

two hits that day.

On Friday, the National League West leaders saw his pitches much better – and hit

many more of them.

Lucchesi walked three and allowed nine hits, including Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run

homer in the first inning and a double and three singles that added up to two runs

before there was an out in the second. The Diamondbacks scored their fifth run on

two singles and a ground ball in the fourth inning.

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“The line looks way different than the last time,” Green said. “It was the same

command issues. This team made him pay. You can battle through occasionally. But

you’ve got to be able to locate your stuff to succeed in the long run.”

Friday was the third straight game the Padres trailed before they sent a batter to the

plate.

And after winning six of 10 games to start this month, Friday was their fifth straight

loss.

They have dropped 21 of their past 25 home games dating to June 19. Included in that

are five straight losses to the Diamondbacks since July 27.

An inning after Lucchesi (6-7) departed, the Padres got to within 5-3 on Eric

Hosmer’s home run in the fifth. But Steven Souza’s bases-loaded double off reliever

Miguel Diaz in the sixth inning cleared the bases.

Manuel Margot added a solo homer in the eighth, which only answered Eduardo

Ecobar’s home run in the top of that inning.

Jose Pirela scored the Padres first two runs after drawing walks. Hunter Renfroe’s

ground ball scored Pirela in the first, and Hosmer’s single drove in Pirela in the third.

Lucchesi said his hand injury, which he couldn’t specify and the Padres had not

previously divulged, is improving all the time. He will continue his work between

starts, he said, and find the command that helped him to a 1.66 ERA after four starts

and a 2.98 ERA through his first eight starts.

“I want to have a good ending to a first year,” he said.

“He’s having a nice rookie season,” Green said. “Are there things he can grow in?

Yeah. Will he do that? Yeah, he will. I think he’s doing a nice job this year.”

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Whatever happens with Padres rotation, Clayton Richard will keep pitching

Kevin Acee

Clayton Richard doesn’t fit the demographic of the Padres evolving starting rotation.

That doesn’t mean he won’t be there next season. In fact, there is a good chance he

will be, even if he doesn’t finish there this season.

The 34-year-old Richard, the oldest Padres starter by a little more than three years

when the season began and now the oldest by seven years, sees what is happening.

“But I can’t worry about that,” he said.

Easier said than done.

“Yes,” Richard acknowledged. “So I go about my work, try to focus on that, see what I

can help the team do.”

Scattering four hits and a couple runs over eight innings, as Richard did in his start

on Monday against the Angels, qualifies as that.

“If you keep on doing that consistently enough, you’re going to stay on the mound,”

Richard said. “That’s what I need to do. … That’s how it always is. Clearly, at some

points, you’re going to have a shorter leash than others. I’ve been around long enough

to know if you don’t perform, you don’t get all the time in the world.”

Especially when time is running short on a season in which the Padres are in full-on

hyperdrive discovery mode.

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The Padres believe their progress toward being a perennial contender is to commit to

youth and ride whatever potholes there are on a road paved by growth opportunities.

That means rookies could make most of the team’s starts in September of this season

and could make up three or four of the spots in a five-man rotation come next April.

But the Padres won’t punt 2019 right at the whistle. If Richard is generally throwing

six, seven, eight innings a start then the anticipation is he will be in the rotation.

However, all options are on the table for the rest of this season.

Richard will start Saturday against the Diamondbacks and could make the other half-

dozen or so remaining starts the schedule would allow. Or he could at some point

pitch out of the bullpen.

There simply aren’t many givens with this team right now, especially in the rotation.

“We’ll monitor performance and see how well guys pitch down the stretch of August,”

manager Andy Green said. “There are certain guys who are going to get opportunities

no matter how they perform. There are other guys whose opportunity is probably

dictated by their performance.”

A trio of pitchers – rookies Joey Lucchesi, Jacob Nix and Eric Lauer (once he returns

from a forearm strain, likely around the end of the month) – are expected to make

every scheduled start the rest of the season. The team is invested in seeing what those

three have over an extended period and giving them a running start toward next

season.

Then there is Robbie Erlin, who is probably in the rotation if he keeps pitching as he

has in his past three starts (16 innings, five earned runs, 1.19 WHIP).

Rookie Brett Kennedy needs to show improvement soon, having allowed 11 runs and

20 hits in a total of nine innings over his two starts.

The Padres are preparing for Bryan Mitchell to start when he comes off his rehab

assignment, though that experiment has a shelf life.

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Luis Perdomo, who might be close to beginning a rehab assignment, is likely headed

to the bullpen when activated in September.

“We have a lot of guys around that time we’re looking at as potential starters, so it’s

definitely possible,” Green said of Perdomo being a reliever for the first time since the

start of his rookie season in 2016.

That still leaves a potential group of six guys for five spots, not counting Richard and

not even allowing for the possibility the team will attempt to fit in Cal Quantrill

and/or Logan Allen.

The Padres almost certainly can’t go with a six-man rotation, as they have five off

days in the season’s final five weeks.

Richard can be believed about maintaining a singular focus as much as anyone who is

trying to deflect. His performance supports his assertions.

The left-hander has gone at least seven innings nine times in his 25 starts this season.

Just seven of the other 99 starts made by Padres pitchers have lasted seven innings or

more. (Tyson Ross and Jordan Lyles, both departed via waivers earlier this month,

had three apiece. Lauer had the other one.)

Richard sees no reason to not continue doing his thing.

“No matter what the decision makers are thinking, it’s not going to affect how I go

about my business,” he said. “If it does, I’m in trouble. I feel like I have set forth a

pretty good process of being prepared to compete every five days. I’m going to

continue to do that and make the adjustment I need to make as I go through. At the

end of it, I’ll be where I need to be.”

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Padres notes: Miguel Diaz returns; Wingenter throws; Pirela starts in left

Kevin Acee

Miguel Diaz’s first call-up this season yielded a sensation two innings and an

immediate option back to Double-A San Antonio.

That was the plan all along, as he was needed to temporarily replenish a depleted pen.

The 23-year-old right-hander was recalled again Friday for the same reason, as

five Padres relievers pitched 8 1/3 innings on Thursday. This time he might stay

longer.

“It’s entirely possible,” manager Andy Green. “We’ve been able to give him consistent

innings throughout the course of the year. He’s got good stuff. To see him in that

shorter burst out of the bullpen, he’s got an opportunity to be around here for a while.

There’s no date marked on his exit from this club.”

Throwing anywhere from two to five innings at a time, Diaz has a 2.35 ERA in 65

innings for San Antonio.

He struck out five batters in two scoreless innings on July 8 against the

Diamondbacks, including four strikeouts in the 11th inning when his third strikeout

victim reached on a wild pitch.

A Rule 5 pick in 2016, Diaz spent all of last season on the Padres roster. He had a 7.34

ERA in 41 2/3 innings. There was thought he would work into being a starter. He still

might, but he has been highly effective as a reliever. He never went more than four

innings in any of his 11 starts this season.

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To make room for Diaz, the Padres optioned Kazuhisa Makita to Triple-A El Paso for

the fourth time this season. Makita threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings on Thursday.

Extra bases

• Reliever Trey Wingenter, who was struck just above his right (throwing) elbow

by aline drive on Thursday, played catch before Friday’s game. According to

Green, Wingenter is “technically available” to pitch.

• Jose Pirela is starting in left field for the first time since June 25 and leading off

for the first time since June 16. The reasons are three-fold. The Diamondbacks

are starting left-hander Robbie Ray, and Travis Jankowski is hitting .204/.283

against lefties (versus .274/.352 against righties). Green is committed to

Manuel Margot batting eighth for now. And Franmil Reyes (hitless in his past

21 at-bats) got a day off.

• Luis Perdomo (shoulder strain) could begin a rehab assignment soon but likely

won’t return to the Padres until rosters expand in September.

• Eric Lauer (forearm strain) is likely to start a rehab game Saturday for Single-A

Lake Elsinore. He could be back in the rotation by the end of the month.

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Minors Logan Allen wins second PCL start Jeff Sanders

Logan Allen hasn’t skipped a beat in the Pacific Coast League.

The 21-year-old left-hander allowed only two solo homers Friday in Triple-A El Paso’s

8-2 win as Allen won for the second time in as many starts since his promotion from

the Texas League.

Allen (2-0, 1.64) has struck out 11, walked seven and scattered 10 hits in 11 innings.

He is ranked No. 8 in the Padres’ system by MLB.com and No. 87 among all

prospects.

His 136 strikeouts across both levels is tops in the Padres farm system. He was 10-6

with a 2.75 ERA in 121 innings to earn last week’s promotion.

Second baseman Carlos Asuaje (.331) hit his second homer and first since his

demotion from San Diego and drove in three runs on two hits, shortstop Javy

Guerra (.224) doubled, hit his 11th homer and drove in two runs and third

baseman Luis Urias (.285) went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Left-handers Kyle McGrath (3.11) and Travis Radke (0.00) and right-hander T.J.

Weir (4.38) combined for four shutout innings.

El Paso is 71-52 and in first place in its division.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (25-27, 67-55)

• Tulsa 9, Missions 0 (7): RHP Michel Baez (0-2, 10.80) allowed eight runs –

four earned – on five hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three,

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gave up three homers and threw 50 of his 86 pitches for strikes. LF Josh

Naylor (.306) singled for the Missions’ only hit.

• Tulsa 6, Missions 3 (7): RHP Chris Huffman (0-1, 4.70) allowed three runs

on four hits and three walks in three innings in the start. RF Nick

Schulz (.174) and pinch-hitter Taylor Kohlwey (.294) both hit their sixth

homer.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (25-29, 59-65)

• Rancho Cucamonga 8, Storm 6: RHP Bryan Mitchell (4.11) walked three and

allowed six runs – two earned – on two hits, including two homers, in 3 2/3

innings in his fourth rehab start. 2B Eguy Rosario (.239) went 4-for-4 with a

run scored and 1B Luis Torrens (.286) and DH Jorge Ona (.243) both drove

in two runs on two hits.

LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (26-26, 58-63)

• TinCaps 6, South Bend 5: LHP Tom Cosgrove (4.25) struck out 11 and

allowed a run on three hits and three walks in five innings in the start.

RHP Dylan Coleman (1.23) struck out three and saved his second game after

allowing a run in two innings. 2B Kelvin Melean (.275) drove in two runs on

his fourth homer. RF Jack Suwinski (.232) drove in three runs on two hits

and 3B Owen Miller (.361) went 2-for-4 with a run.

SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (9-13, 27-33)

• Dust Devils 6, Everett 4: RHP Angel Acevedo (3.08) allowed four runs in six

innings in the start and RHP Jonathan Guzman (2-1, 3.42) struck out two in

two perfect innings. DH Michael Curry (.230) went 3-for-4 with a run scored

and C Blake Hunt (.227) went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

SS Xavier Edwards (.241) went 2-for-3 with a double and a run.

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ROOKIE AZL PADRES 1 (13-7, 23-24)

• Padres 3, Royals 2: LHP Alexuan Vega (10.95) struck out three over two

scoreless, hitless innings in the start. RHP Tom Colletti (0.68) struck out three

in a scoreless ninth to save his fourth game. DH Nick Gatewood (.284) drove

in two runs on a single and RF Tyler Benson (.175) went 1-for-3 with an RBI,

two walks, a steal and a run scored.

ROOKIE AZL PADRES 2 (8-10, 23-23)

• Dodgers 5, Padres 3: LHP Noel Vela (1-4, 4.55) allowed five runs – one earned

– on seven hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings in the start. C Jonny

Homza (.236) hit his second homer and LF Mason House (.284) hit his

third.

ROOKIE DSL PADRES (33-32)

• Padres 2, Orioles 0: LHP Manuel Partida (2.31) struck out three and allowed

only three hits over four shutout innings in the start.

Transactions

• RHP Miguel Diaz was recalled to San Diego as RHP Kazuhisa Makita was

optioned to El Paso.

• C Juan Fernandez (right wrist) was placed on Fort Wayne’s disabled list.

C Chandler Seagle was transferred from Tri-City to Fort Wayne.

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Hosmer homers off fan's beer; call stands

By AJ Cassavell

SAN DIEGO -- Never before has a fan spilling his beer been greeted so kindly at Petco Park.

Eric Hosmer hit his 12th home run in the fifth inning of the Padres' 9-4 loss to the D-backs on Friday night. It was an opposite-field blast, perhaps aided by a fan in a Padres jersey -- and his beer.

Hosmer smashed a 2-0 fastball from D-backs starter Robbie Ray deep to left. Arizona outfielder Jon Jay retreated to the wall, where he reached and attempted to make a catch. That's when he made contact with the fan's full cup, sending most of the beverage splattering onto the warning track.

"I felt I got it good enough to possibly leave," said Hosmer. "I just kept seeing him go back. Once Jon jumped and landed and waved his arms up, I realized he didn't catch it. From that point, it was just a waiting game."

The ball landed in the front row, and Jay contested that he'd been interfered with. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo asked for a review.

"I thought I had a bead on it, and I thought he moved my hand when it was right there to make the catch," Jay said. "It's out of my control. But the good thing is we won the game."

Jay might very well have made the catch, if not for the fan. But Rule 6.01(e) states:

"No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectator's interference."

Ultimately, the replay crew couldn't determine decisively that the fan had reached into the field of play. The call stood. Hosmer reacted with a shimmy from the dugout bench.

"I was messing around, telling the boys I was going to go George Brett on him, if they overturned it," Hosmer said.

Three innings later, Manuel Margot also hit a deep drive to left field, and the same rule came into play. Jay leapt at the wall and had another chance for a spectacular catch. But yet another fan -- this one without a beer -- made his presence felt.

In the second instance, it was a bit more obvious that the spectator did not reach over into the field of play. (He made an impressive barehanded grab, in fact.) But Jay was adamant that he would've caught the ball.

"As an outfielder, you want to rob home runs," Jay said. "That's something you dream of as a kid and all that and when those opportunities come, you want to try and capitalize on them. At

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least they weren't the deciding factors in the game and we were able to come up with the big hits."

It was nearly déjà vu for Hosmer, who is 11-for-31 (.355) with a pair of homers on the Padres' homestand. He had a potential game-winning blast robbed on Monday night by Angels left fielder Justin Upton. From the home dugout, Hosmer watched the replay and wasn't certain of the result until the umpire's signal.

"It was definitely a sigh of relief," Hosmer said. "I've felt a little better the last couple days. Hopefully, it can start translating to driving in some more runs and helping this team win."

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Lucchesi tagged early; Padres can't recover

Rookie surrenders five earned runs in four innings pitched

By Katie Woo SAN DIEGO -- The Padres, in theory, have a good problem. They have eight potential starters -- four rookies -- competing for five rotation spots, and that number is expected to increase come September when rosters expand.

What's not good is that lately, none of those rookies have seized their opportunity.

Joey Lucchesi had a chance to further distance himself from the pack on Friday, but that opportunity -- much like his control -- slipped away in the Padres' 9-4 loss to the D-backs. He wasn't able to follow up his scoreless, six-inning gem against the Phillies Sunday -- a start in which he didn't have his best movement, but was still able to maneuver through a first-place lineup.

Lucchesi lasted just four innings and was tagged for five earned runs and nine hits. The D-backs brought the pop early, capitalizing on a challenge fastball left down the middle of the plate to cleanup hitter Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt sent it 396 feet for a two-run homer in the first inning. The Padres never recovered.

Lucchesi has put up respectable numbers -- he's 6-7 with a 3.79 ERA and his ERA ranks second-lowest in the Padres rotation. But he's yet to have his "defining game," a start where everything comes together and he's able to pitch will full conviction and potential.

"I'm waiting for that moment where I have everything clicking," Lucchesi said. "Baseball's tough. I'm trying to figure it out day by day. I know I'm a rookie, but I'm not trying to make an excuse."

It's undoubtedly frustrating for Lucchesi, who stressed on the final day before the All-Star break he was going to "kill himself working" in the second half. But he's learning instead to take each day as its own, knowing that he can't press his own performance.

"I used to be bad at that, not flushing it, just thinking about it, but I'm getting better," he said. "I just try to go in with a positive mindset and tell myself I prepared really well for this game and go from there. I go one pitch at a time. ... Usually, it goes out well, but tonight wasn't the night."

Lucchesi hasn't shown much durability all season, although that isn't the worst-case scenario, considering how good the Padres' bullpen has been, and how much the organization has stressed the desire to not overwork its young pitchers. But since a hip strain landed him on the disabled list in late May, Lucchesi has only pitched past the fifth innings five times in his last 10 starts -- a stark contrast to the eight out of nine starts he recorded before the injury.

His command has gotten away from him in his last two starts -- though he managed it much better in his first attempt -- and his inability to effectively locate his fastball has led to much higher pitch counts. He was knocked out of Friday's game after 90 pitches.

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"If he can find a way to get some early, weak contact, that's going to play really well for him to get some quick at-bats where things move a little bit faster," manager Andy Green said. "That's a big step for him, if he finds a pitch to do that, because his tends for a swing-and-miss pitch, and if his fastball isn't driven to the spots it needs to be, it tends to elongate at-bats."

"I think the biggest mistake I had was leaving all my pitches over the plate and they took advantage of it," Lucchesi added. "I wasn't as sharp and I have to better than that."

SUPER UTILITY Christian Villanueva made his first career start at second base on Friday night, and he wasn't tested much. He turned a double play in the third and made a nice stop on a forceout in the fourth. If Villanueva can prove his worth at second (and potentially short), he'd seriously increase his value to the Padres.

But the most eventful part of Villanueva's night came in the seventh. He was plunked by a Jake Diekman curveball in the left foot -- the same foot he appeared to injure on a foul ball on Thursday. After a brief delay, Villanueva remained in the game, but he'd be removed in a double switch half an inning later.

HE SAID IT "I don't know what the ERA is at right now -- it was three-something today, I don't think it's far off that if it's much at all. If you're going to walk through your rookie year and be in that category, you're having a really nice rookie season. Are there things he can grow in? Sure. Will he do that? Yeah, he will." -- Green, on the team's confidence in Lucchesi

MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY Eric Hosmer and Manuel Margot both homered for the Padres, who dropped their fourth straight game. Both also got a little assistance from their fans.

Hosmer knocked D-backs starter Robbie Ray out of the game in the fifth inning after connecting on a 2-0 pitch that just barely got over the left-field fence for a solo shot. Jon Jay probably had a shot of robbing Hosmer, but a fan in a Padres jersey made contact with Jay's glove with a full cup of beer. Upon an umpire review, crew chiefs were unable to definitively determine if the fan had made contact over the field of play, and the call of a home run was upheld. More >>

Jay was foiled yet again in the eighth inning when Margot lifted a solo homer of his own. Margot lifted Matt Andriese's offering which hung long enough for Jay to time his leap, but a fan clad in a Padres t-shirt caught the ball instead. Jay held his arms up in obvious frustration, but there would be no review.

UP NEXT Clayton Richard takes the hill Saturday on the heels of one of his best performances of the season. Richard hurled eight innings of two-run ball vs. the Angels -- needing just 86 pitches -- but was lifted in the ninth for a pinch-hitter. He's 10-6 in 19 starts vs. the D-backs in his career, but is 0-1 in two starts against them this season. He'll face off against Zack Godley, who picked up the win vs. the Padres last month after stumping San Diego's offense for one run and four hits over six innings. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. PT.

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Lauer's pending return could complicate rotation

Rookie left-hander set to start rehab assignment Saturday; Makita sent down, Diaz called up

By Katie Woo SAN DIEGO -- The Padres have done a fair share of experiments in their rotation as of late, and they'll need to get even craftier as one of their rookie lefties prepares to come off the disabled list.

Eric Lauer will begin his rehab assignment in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, where he'll throw at least one start. He's expected to join the team before September, but because of the many off-days the team has that month, space in the trial-filled rotation is limited.

"We'll be monitoring performances and seeing how well guys pitch through the stretch of August," manager Andy Green said. "There's certain guys that are going to get opportunity no matter how they perform because we're committed to those guys. There's other guys where that opportunity depends on performance and how well they throw the baseball."

Lauer will join a rotation surrounded by question marks for the 2019 season, as all five spots are up for the taking. Clayton Richard -- the lone veteran in the current rotation -- is signed through 2019. He leads the team in innings pitched (150) and offers both experience and insight as a longtime Major Leaguer, but that might not make up for his 7-10 record and 4.98 ERA. Joey Lucchesi (6-6, 3.45 ERA) has put in a solid campaign in his rookie season despite missing nearly two months with a hip strain, but other rookies Brett Kennedy and Jacob Nix have made their Major League debuts this month and the team plans to continue taking looks at them as well.

Robbie Erlin has notched three consecutive solid starts, after being used for much of the season in long relief, and Green noted after his last start that he likes what he sees.

"He's doing what he needs to put himself in a rotation going forward," Green said.

The team also has Bryan Mitchell and Luis Perdomo on the disabled list. Although there is no exact timetable for either's return, Green indicated last month that Mitchell could get a chance to start again. He said Friday that for space reasons, Perdomo could be in the bullpen when activated.

"Where he is right now, I wouldn't see him back until Sept. 1," Green said. "We're going to be getting a lot of guys around that time that we're looking at to be starters for us, so it's definitely possible."

Lauer, who landed on the disabled list last month with forearm tightness, isn't worried about the logjam in the rotation. He's just excited to be able to compete again, saying he didn't want to go

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on the DL -- although the Padres stressed they were going to rest the young southpaw at some point in the second half.

"Nobody wants to go on the DL," Lauer said. "I thought I could've kept pitching through it, but they said, 'We're going to be a little more cautious.' I think the rest has helped me, and I think it'll help me finish strong.

"I'm just excited to get back into competition. I'm really just going to use it as a jumping-off point to get back in the rotation. I'm not looking for anything specific or setting any goals. I'm just looking to get through with no pain, no nothing, which, I'm not expecting any pain. I haven't had pain for a week and a half."

Makita optioned, Diaz recalled The Padres optioned reliever Kazuhisa Makita to Triple-A El Paso before Friday's game and recalled right-hander Miguel Diaz. Makita threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

"Tough to lose Maki after he threw the ball really well for us yesterday," Green said. "It's just what happens sometimes, you need to refresh your bullpen."

Diaz has appeared in just one game for the Padres this season, but left a memorable impression, striking out five batters in two scoreless innings.

Trey OK, cleared to pitch Trey Wingenter had to be removed from Thursday's game after being struck by a comebacker on his pitching arm, but has been cleared to pitch and will be available for Friday's game.

"In an ideal world we don't have to use him, but I'll check in with him before the game and see where his head's at," Green said.

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Urias stays hot for El Paso

By Mike Rosenbaum Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Friday.

Pitching at his second level this season, Wyatt Marks is already producing similar results.

Marks, the A's No. 26 prospect, allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out 10 over six-plus innings a no-decision as Class A Advanced Stockton fell to Visalia, 3-2.

Making his third start for the Ports since his promotion on Aug. 2, Marks struck out three of the first four batters before Pavin Smith (D-backs No. 4) tagged him for one-out double in the second inning. He rebounded to retire nine straight batters, and wrapped up his outing by striking out five of the final eight he faced. Marks threw 90 pitches in the outing, 60 for strikes.

A four-pitch walk to leadoff the seventh inning spelled the end of Marks' night, and he was ultimately charged with an earned run after Stockton reliever Trey Cochran-Gillserved up a game-tying, two-run homer to the first batter he faced.

Marks owns a 2.12 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 19 innings and has completed at least six innings twice in three starts with the Ports.

The 23-year-old right-hander was promoted to Stockton after posting a 3.23 ERA with a .227 opponents' average and a Midwest League-leading 138 strikeouts in 117 innings with Class A Beloit.

Other top prospect performances from Friday's action:

• No. 10 overall prospect Royce Lewis (Twins' No. 1) hit a solo home run in the eighth inning that proved the difference in Class A Advanced Fort Myers' 3-2 win over Clearwater. He reached base three times out of the leadoff spot, going 2-for-3 with a walk to go along with his 14th home run of the season. The 19-year-old shortstop continues to have a remarkable first full season, hitting .316/.380/.498 with 46 extra-base hits, 74 RBIs, 82 runs scored and 28 steals.

• No. 22 overall prospect Luis Urias (Padres' No. 4) recorded his fourth straight multihit game for Triple-A El Paso with a 3-for-5 performance that included a double. The 21-year-old second baseman -- who started at the hot corner on Friday -- is hitting .647 (11-for-17) with five extra-base hits in that span, during which he's improved his season average from .270 to .285.

• No. 37 overall prospect Keibert Ruiz (Dodgers' No. 2) homered for the third time in as many games and finished 2-for-3 in Double-A Tulsa's win over San Antonio in Game 1 of a doubleheader. The multihit performance was Ruiz's fifth during his six-game hitting streak, a stretch during which the 20-year-old switch-hitter has improved his average from .237 to .259. The homer, a solo shot with two outs in the first, was Ruiz's 12th of the year.

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Right-hander Dustin May (Dodgers' No. 4, No. 80 overall) pitched well in his third Double-A start, allowing just one hit over 4 2/3 scoreless frames. He issued two walks and struck out six before departing after 86 pitches (58 strikes). The 20-year-old sports a 3.39 ERA with 107 strikeouts and 22 walks in 114 innings (20 starts) this season across two levels.

• No. 58 overall prospect Matt Manning (Tigers' No. 3) racked up eight strikeouts over five innings in another strong outing for Class A Advanced Lakeland. Throwing 60 of his 94 pitches for strikes, Manning allowed one run on three hits and generated another six outs on the ground. In eight starts since his promotion to the Florida State League, the 20-year-old right-hander has compiled a 2.78 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings. Overall, Manning has fanned 131 batters in 101 innings across two levels.

• No. 78 overall prospect Monte Harrison (Marlins' No. 1) hit a solo home run and a double as he recorded his fourth multihit performance in five games for Double-A Jacksonville. The 23-year-old outfielder is approaching his second straight 20-20 campaign, as he's now up to 18 home runs and 24 steals on the season after totaling 21 and 27, respectively, in 2017. He's also enjoying his best month of the season, sporting a .263/.311/.561 line and five home runs through 13 games in August.

• Dodgers No. 24 prospect Cristian Santana continued his recent power surge by connecting on his fourth home run in six games for Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga. The home run was Santana's lone hit in the contest but it extended his hitting streak to 11 games -- a stretch during which he's lifted his batting average from .242 to .260. The 21-year-old corner infielder leads the California League in both home runs (23) and RBIs (100).

• Mets No. 6 prospect David Peterson allowed two hits over five innings as he recorded his second straight scoreless start for Class A Advanced St. Lucie. The 2017 first-round pick issued three walks but also struck out five and induced seven ground-ball outs. After some initial struggles following a midseason promotion to the Florida State League, Peterson has rebounded to post a 1.06 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings over his last three starts.

• Orioles No. 4 prospect Austin Hays fell a triple short of the cycle but still collected a season-high four hits to help lead Double-A Bowie past Erie, 6-4. The 23-year-old outfielder hit pair of doubles as well as his eighth home run to finish 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. He's hit .364 with two homers, four doubles and 11 RBIs in eight games since returning from the disabled list.

• Pirates No. 23 prospect Mason Martin homered and finished with a career-high five RBIs as Rookie-level Bristol outslugged Burlington, 14-9. Martin's homer, a three-run shot in the third inning, was his 13th of the year, and he also tallied a double as well as a pair of run-scoring singles in the 4-for-6 performance.

• Red Sox No. 7 prospect Darwinzon Hernandez fired six innings of one-hit ball as Class A Advanced Salem blanked Down East, 5-0. He issued a pair of walks and struck out nine. The 21-year-old left-hander has been a force since the calendar flipped to July, going 6-0 in his last eight starts, with a 1.29 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 42 innings. During that stretch, Hernandez has lowered his ERA from 5.19 to 3.56.

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Goldschmidt homers, Diamondbacks beat Padres 9-4

Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- The Arizona Diamondbacks are making themselves right at home at Petco Park. Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run, Steven Souza Jr. drove in three and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 9-4 on Friday night. Goldschmidt drove the first pitch he saw from left-hander Joey Lucchesi out to left-center field for his 28th of the season. That got Arizona going en route to its sixth straight win over San Diego at Petco Park. "I thought it was a really good job by our guys to attack the starting pitcher," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "Goldie with the big two-run homerun got us that lead, and we kept adding on."

Souza doubled into the right-center gap with the bases loaded to bring home three runs in the sixth and extend the lead to 8-3.

Robbie Ray started for Arizona and walked his first two batters. While Ray held San Diego to two hits, both by Eric Hosmer, he allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings. Ray walked five and struck out three. "It was all self-inflicted," Ray said. "I walked too many guys and they ended up scoring. In crucial situations like that, I'm trying to get a call. It's tough. They got two hits tonight, but it was on me."

Hosmer homered in the fifth on a ball that just cleared the left field fence beyond Jon Jay's glove. Arizona challenged the call as it appeared a fan interfered with Jay while spilling a beer, but the call was upheld after replay review. "I thought I had a beat on it, and I thought he moved my hand when I was right there," Jay said. "I got a little beer on my side -- I didn't get any in my mouth."

Manuel Margot hit a ball to nearly the same spot in the eighth and Jay made another leaping attempt, but a fan caught the ball above Jay's glove for a solo homer that cut the lead to 9-4. Eduardo Escobar added a solo home run in the eighth against Jose Castillo. "You look at command, their guy walked five guys, our guy walked three guys," Padres manager Andy Green said. "Their guy skated by with no more command today and got off the hook. We took our walks early. They made us pay."

Lucchesi (6-7) allowed five runs and nine hits over four innings. He struck out six and walked three.

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"I think the biggest mistake I had was leaving all my pitches over the plate, and they took advantage of it," Lucchesi said. "I wasn't as sharp. I've got to do better than that."

San Diego, which has the worst record in the National League at 48-77, has dropped five straight.

YOU'RE OUTTA HERE

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed was ejected in the third by home plate umpire James Hoye after striking out looking. Daniel Descalsco replaced Ahmed in the lineup. It was Ahmed's second career ejection. TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: LHP Eric Lauer made a rehab start at Class A Lake Elsinore on Friday night. Lauer has been sidelined since July 31 with a left forearm strain. UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley (13-6, 4.20) takes the mound in the third game of the series. Godley is 4-0 in his last eight starts. Padres: LHP Clayton Richard gets the call and looks to continue a stretch of pitching five innings or more in his last four starts.

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#PadresOnDeck: Luis Urías,

Francisco Mejía Strike Again for

Triple-A El Paso By Bill Center

For the third straight night, top Padres prospects Luis Urías and Francisco Mejía led Triple-A El Paso to a victory Thursday night.

Catcher Mejía, the Padres’ №3-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, raising his batting average to .338 since joining the Chihuahuas.

Second baseman Urías, the Padres’ №4 prospect, was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, raising his batting average to .281.

Over the past four games, Urías is 10-for-15, three doubles, a triple, three RBIs and five runs scored. Mejía is 9-for-18 with three doubles, a home run, four RBIs and four runs scored.

But they are far from the only productive players in the Padres system, including El Paso.

Right-handed starter Walker Lockett allowed one run on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts in seven innings for the Chihuahuas since the Padres returned him to El Paso. He is 5–9 with a 4.70 earned run average for the Chihuahuas.

Other key performances:

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— Left fielder Nate Easley was 3-for-4 with a double for Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore Thursday. Over the past two days, Easley went 7-for-9 with two doubles, a home run, a walk two RBIs and a run scored to raise his batting average to .279.

— Second baseman Esteury Ruiz, 19, the Padres’ №17 prospect was 1-for-2 with his 12th homer, his 41st stolen base, two walks and two runs scored Thursday. He is hitting .253.

— Left-handed starter Osvaldo Hernandez, 21, allowed one run on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings for Fort Wayne, where he is 11–4 on the season with a Midwest League-leading 1.81 ERA. Just today, he was named the Midwest League Left-Handed Pitcher of the Year.

— Left-handed starter Omar Cruz, 19, allowed a hit with four walks and five strikeouts for short-Season Single-A Tri-City. Over his last six starts, the Cuban has allowed one run on 18 hits and 13 walks with 36 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings — a 0.36 ERA that has lowered his season ERA to 0.42.

— Second baseman Tucupita Marcano was 3-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base and three runs scored for Tri-City and is hitting .382 since being promoted to the Dust Devils.

— Left-hander Joey Cantillo, 18, allowed no runs on a hit and no walks with six strikeouts in the Arizona Rookie League, lowering his ERA to 1.70.

Around the Farm:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (70–52): CHIHUAHUAS 3, Las Vegas 2 — RHP Eric Yardley (5.40 ERA) followed Yardley and worked a perfect inning. RHP Rowan Wick (2.37) allowed a run on a hit in an inning but gained his sixth save. LF Shane Peterson (.268) backed Urías and Mejía, going 1-for-4 with a RBI. SS Javy Guerra (.220) was 1-for-3.

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PH Brett Nicholas (.299) had a single. CF Dusty Coleman (.183) was 1-for-4.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (25–25, 67–53): The Missions game at Springfield was cancelled by rain and will not be made up.

ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (25–28, 59–64): RANCHO CUCAMONGA 9, Storm 1–3B Ruddy Giron (.260) backed Easley, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. DH Michael Cantu (.214) was 2-for-3 with a RBI. SS Chris Baker (.250) was 1-for-3. C Luis Torrens (.284) had a double in four at-bats. RHP Pedro Avila (7–8, 4.29 ERA) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss. RHP Caleb Boushley (3.86) allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. RHP Korey Anderson (7.36) allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in an inning.

SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (25–26, 57–63): TIN CAPS 5, South Bend 1 (second game postponed by rain and will be played Friday) — LHP Dan Dallas (9.00) followed Hernandez and struck out two in two perfect innings. LF Hunter Jarmon (.167) backed Ruiz with a two-run double. SS Gabriel Arias (.230) had a RBI double in three at-bats. C Juan Fernandez (.224) was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. RF Aldemar Burgos (.157) was 1-for-3 with a run scored. 3B Olivier Basabe (.308) was 0-for-2 with a RBI.

SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (8–13, 26–33): Dust Devils 6, VANCOUVER 0 — RHP Spencer Kulman (.1–0, 4.11) followed Cruz and allowed two hits and two walks with a strikeout in two scoreless innings to get the win. RHP Nick Kuzia (4.18) allowed a hit with three strikeouts in three scoreless innings to earn the save. SS Xavier Edwards (.192) backed Marcano, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored. CF Grant Little (.250) had a double in four at-bats with two RBIs and a run scored. 1B Justin Paulsen (.229) was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. 3B Elvis Sabala (.150) had a double in four at-bats. C Chandler Seagle (.213) was 1-for-4 with a run scored. RF Tre Carter (.229) was 1-for-4.

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DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (32–32): Padres 3, REDS 2 — LF Carlos Batista (.107) was 2-for-3 with a run scored. RHP Carlos Guarte(2.74 ERA) allowed an unearned run on four hits and two walks with a strikeout in six innings. RHP Mauricio Rodriguez (2–1, 2.77) gave up an unearned run on no hits and walks with two strikeouts in two innings. RHP Jose Garcia (2.00) struck out one in a perfect inning for his fourth save.

ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES:

PADRES-1 (12–6, 22–24): PADRES 10, Mariners 8 — DH Nick Gatewood(.285) was 4-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored. 2B Lee Solomon (.323) was 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. RF-CF Agustin Ruiz (.272) was 3-for-3 with a double, two triples,two walks, two RBIs and two runs scored. 3B Luis Almanzar (.227) was 2-for-5 with a RBI and two runs scored. CF Jawuan Harris (.184) was 1-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored. LF Jaquez Williams (.247) was 1-for-5 with a RBI. SS Reinaldo Ilarraza (.226) was 1-for-4. Starting RHP Nick Thwaits (2.84 ERA) allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. RHP Dalton Erb (1–2, 3.16) allowed two hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. RHP Jake Sims (7.20) allowed three runs on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. RHP Starlin Cordero(5.29) issued two walks with three strikeouts in 1 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings.

PADRES-2 (8–9, 23–22): BREWERS 2, Padres 0 — LHP Tyler Mortensen(6.62 ERA) followed Cantillo and allowed two unearned runs on a walk and no hits with a strikeout in two innings to take the loss. C Alison Quintero(.292) was 2-for-3 with a walk. CF Angel Solarte (.241) and 2B Sean Guilke(.224) were each 1-for-3 with a walk. SS Jordy Barley (.200) and DH Yordi Francisco (.275) were each 1-for-4.

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Hosmer homers, but Padres fall 9-4 to Diamondbacks AP

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run, Steven Souza Jr. drove in three and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 9-4 on Friday night.

Goldschmidt drove the first pitch he saw from left-hander Joey Lucchesi out to left-center field for his 28th of the season. That got Arizona going en route to its sixth straight win over San Diego at Petco Park.

Souza doubled into the right-center gap with the bases loaded to bring home three runs in the sixth and extend the lead to 8-3.

Robbie Ray started for Arizona and walked his first two batters. While Ray held San Diego to two hits, both by Eric Hosmer, he allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings. Ray walked five and struck out three.

Hosmer homered in the fifth on a ball that just cleared the left field fence beyond Jon Jay’s glove. Arizona challenged the call as it appeared a fan interfered with Jay, but the call was upheld after replay review.

Eduardo Escobar added a solo home run in the eighth against Jose Castillo.

Lucchesi (6-7) allowed five runs and nine hits over four innings. He struck out six and walked three.

Manuel Margot hit a solo homer to left in the eighth to cut the lead to 9-4.

YOU’RE OUTTA HERE

Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed was ejected in the third by home plate umpire James Hoye after striking out looking. Daniel Descalsco replaced Ahmed in the lineup. It was Ahmed’s second career ejection.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: LHP Eric Lauer made a rehab start at Class A Lake Elsinore on Friday night. Lauer has been sidelined since July 31 with a left forearm strain.

UP NEXT

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Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Godley (13-6, 4.20) takes the mound in the third game of the series. Godley is 4-0 in his last eight starts.

Padres: LHP Clayton Richard gets the call and looks to continue a stretch of pitching five innings or more in his last four starts.