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Padres Press Clips

Friday, August 24, 2018

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Long-ball again bites Kirby Yates in Padres’ walk-off loss SD Union Tribune Sanders 2

Padres notes: Asuaje and not Urias, Myers update and Holliday talk SD Union Tribune Sanders 6

Gabriel Arias surging at Fort Wayne SD Union Tribune Sanders 9

Logan Allen wins third straight PCL start SD Union Tribune Sanders 12

After Pirela forges lead, Padres fall on walk-off MLB.com Cassavell 16

Father figure: ‘Dad’ fitting nickname for Ellis MLB.com Cassavell 19

Villanueva placed on DL; season in doubt MLB.com Cassavell 21

See the Padres Players’ Weekend nicknames MLB.com Cassavell 23

This is the most indispensable Padres player MLB.com Gilbert 25

‘This kid’s got ice water in his veins’: Andres Munoz, 19, throws The Athletic Lin 27

103 mph, and could be the Padres’ next great reliever

Rockies welcome back Matt Holliday, upend Padres AP AP 31

#PadresOnDeck: LHP Allen, SS Guerra, C Mejia, 2B Urias Star FriarWire Center 33

As Triple-A El Paso Wins Eighth Straight to Near Fourth Straight

Division Title

Andy’s Address, 8/23 FriarWire Center 38

Padres prospect watch: Luis Urias putting up big numbers for FOX Sports Horvath 40

red-hot Chihuahuas

Desmond hits 2-run homer in 9th, Rockies beat Padres 4-3 FOX Sports AP 41

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Long-ball again bites Kirby Yates in Padres' walk-off loss Jeff Sanders

Jose Pirela may have a new lease on playing time. Kirby Yates may have some

adjusting to do to his new role.

The former’s three-hit game was wasted in Thursday’s 4-3 walk-off loss to the Rockies

at Coors Field, the knock-out blow coming via the third ninth-inning homer that

Yates has allowed in his last four appearances as the Padres’ new closer.

All three tagged Yates with a loss.

“It's kind of the only mistake I felt I made,” Yates said. “A one-run lead in this

ballpark, it's kind of all it takes — a bloop and a blast. It sucks. I got him the other

night. He got me today.”

He was Ian Desmond.

The bloop was Trevor Story’s one-out fly ball falling in front of right fielder Travis

Jankowski.

The mistake was a 1-0 splitter that didn’t dive.

Two days after whiffing on a pitch beneath the strike zone in a game Yates saved,

Desmond yanked Thursday’s offering 419 feet to left field to spoil both rookie Joey

Lucchesi’s best day on the mound in more than four months and Pirela’s encouraging

return to a prominent role.

“Mistakes have gone out of the ballpark,” said Yates, who allowed game-losing

homers to the Angels’ Rene Rivera and the D-backs’ A.J. Pollock in the last nine days.

“Probably not the best pitches. Some of them aren't bad pitches. You know, guys

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probably have better plans coming into me now at this point in the season. I'm

starting to face these guys multiple, multiple times.

“Hitters make adjustments and sometimes they get their pitch and they don't miss it

and you have to tip your hat.”

Lucchesi deserved a hat-tip, too.

He struck out six, scattered five hits and a walk and threw 54 of his 81 pitches for

strikes. His only real mistake was a 2-0 sinker in the middle of the plate that David

Dahlhammered over the wall in right with two outs in the fifth inning to put the

Padres in a 1-0 hole.

Dahl also doubled in the third to log the first hit off Lucchesi. A second run scored in

the sixth when Charlie Blackmon singled, swiped second base, moved to third on a

groundball and scored on Nolan Arenado’s sacrifice fly to center.

Lucchesi had already fanned Arenado twice, including in the fourth when he struck

out D.J. LeMahieu, Arenado and Story in order.

He left after six innings for pinch-hitter Wil Myers with only his second quality start

since April 15.

A minor adjustment at the behest of pitching coach Darren Balsley and bullpen coach

Doug Bochtler — raising his fastball arm slot to match his churve’s — made all the

difference.

“Coach Bals and Coach Bochtler helped me with my arm delivery, just releasing the

same pitches with the same arm slot and trying to carry that over into the game,”

Lucchesi said. “They were swinging through a lot of fastballs and a lot of churves. I

just tried to bring what I worked on in the bullpen into the game.”

Said Padres manager Andy Green: “I'm excited for what we saw in Joey Lucchesi. I

thought it was one of his best outings all season long. I thought his fastball command

was good. I thought he had command of his churve. … He was not getting hit. He

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looked good. It's one of those situations that he would have gone out for the seventh

had we not needed to score a run.”

They got their first on Hunter Renfroe’s sixth-inning homer off Kyle Freeland (6 1/3

IP, 2 ER). Then they got two more in the seventh when Myers – in his first action

since taking a ball off his nose Wednesday – followed A.J. Ellis’ one-out single with a

walk.

Story’s error on Freddy Galvis’ grounder to shortstop loaded the bases and Pirela’s

single up the middle drove in two runs to give the Padres a 3-2 lead, their first of the

game.

Starting for the second day in a row at second base in place of the injured Christian

Villanueva, Pirela also singled in the first and fourth innings and had an opportunity

to add insurance runs in the ninth when he bounced into an inning-ending double

play.

Pirela has started only 11 games since the All-Star break but three more lefties this

weekend in Los Angeles — Rich Hill, Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood — sets up for a

busy weekend for a player who appeared destined for a bench role before Villanueva

fractured his finger Tuesday night.

“We've got nothing but lefties coming up right now,” Green said. “It probably makes a

lot of sense that you're going to see him in there, especially if he continues to have

good at-bats. Those are the guys we're rolling with right now.”

The same goes for the back of a new-look bullpen that fetched eight outs without

incident after Lucchesi’s exit.

Rookie right-hander Trey Wingenter struck out one in a scoreless seventh, Green

managed left-hander Jose Castillo (two outs) and right-hander Craig Stammen (one

out) through an uneventful eighth and Yates fanned Arenado with a splitter to start

the ninth.

He used another to sit down Gerardo Parra after Story’s bloop single to right.

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The last he threw to Desmond simply caught too much of the middle of the plate,

saddling Yates with his first blow save of the year. The home runs he gave up last

week – when he’d been seldom used – were in tied ballgames.

Admittedly, the lack of regular work that Yates had in Brad Hand’s shadow is

requiring some adjustments.

The ninth-inning job is different, too – but one that Yates wants.

“You give up a hit and you're losing the game and walking off the mound,” he said. “It

takes three outs to finish the game. There's not somebody coming in behind you to

bail you out. That's the only difference. But I'd rather have the ball in the ninth

inning. I'd rather have it in my hand and be in control.”

Green wants the ball in Yates’ hand, too.

“If he's getting consistent work, I'm not leaning toward making any dramatic change

right now,” Green said “I think he's going to continue to roll in that inning. He's going

to throw well there.”

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Padres notes: Asuaje and not Urias, Myers update and Holliday talk

Jeff Sanders

Luis Urias’ time is coming. Just not today.

Instead of recalling their scalding hot prospect from Triple-A El Paso, the Padres on

Thursday replaced the injured Christian Villanueva (finger) with infielder Carlos

Asuaje for his fourth tour this year with the big league club.

Discussions about when to recall the 21-year-old Urias – before September call-ups,

the day rosters expand or after the Pacific Coast League playoffs – are ongoing.

“I’d assume in time we’ll see him,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “At this point in

time we’re staying with Carlos Asuaje.”

Asuaje is 2-for-19 in his latest stint with El Paso and hitting .199/.290/.285 with two

homers and 19 RBIs in 75 games in his third year seeing big league time.

Meanwhile, Urias – ranked No. 22 on MLB.com’s top-100 prospects list – is surging

in August.

He’s getting on base at a .482 clip in 20 games this month for the playoff-bound

Chihuahuas (their magic number is 3), slugging .689 this month and hitting

.294/.396/.445 for the season. His eight home runs are a career-high, two more than

when he was the California League MVP in 2016.

“I've talked with (El Paso manager Rod Barajas) regularly,” Green said. “They're

really pleased with how he's playing. I think he's been really focused on their games

there and he's playing well.

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“He's swinging the bat great and having a ton of success.”

Urias has been a minor league all-star each of the last three seasons, started

alongside Fernando Tatis Jr. in this year’s All-Star Futures Game in Washington

D.C. and appears to have little to prove.

The Padres even have an open spot on the 40-man roster, to which he’ll be added

ahead of December’s Rule 5 draft.

El Paso shortstop Javy Guerra is already on the 40-man roster. He, too, is having a

career month in El Paso (1.121 OPS in Augsut) but was passed over in favor of Asuaje

despite a natural fit as a back-up to Freddy Galvis down the stretch.

That responsibility, for now, falls to Cory Spangenberg.

“Javy is playing well,” Green said. “He had another four-hit night as well last night.

He's doing some good things as well. We're pleased to see that. All those guys are part

of a conversation that's ongoing as to when their time is.”

Remember him?

Matt Holliday, who – according to the Padres’ perspective – infamously did not

touch plate when credited with winning run in Game 163 in 2007 against San Diego –

was added to the Rockies’ roster today and started in left field.

Holliday, 38, had recently signed a minor league deal with the team that drafted him

in the seventh round in 1998.

With Bud Black managing the Rockies, Holliday not touching home plate is often a

topic of discussion at Coors Field any time the Padres are in town.

Even when they’re not.

Losing that game cost Black his best chance to take the Padres to the playoffs in his

nine-year stay in San Diego.

“He should be blamed,” Black told The Athletic’s Nick Groke. “He missed it.”

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Myers returns

Wil Myers was out of the starting lineup a second day in a row after taking a

groundball off his nose during Wednesday’s batting practice, but he walked as a

pinch-hitter and scored a run.

He had a stitch put in his nose Wednesday and CT scan came back negative. Myers,

nevertheless, listed headaches along with swelling and congestion as the aftereffects

he’s still dealing with.

He remains hopeful to return to lineup Friday at third base.

“I’d like to,” Myers said after Thursday’s game. “That’s the plan — to jump right back

on it.”

Notable

OF Hunter Renfroe returned from a forearm injury to hit his 15th homer in the

sixth inning. It was his seventh homer since Aug. 5, third-most in the NL over that

span. His 18 RBIs since that then are tied with Braves rookie OF Ronald Acuna for

the most in the NL.

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Minors Gabriel Arias surging at Fort Wayne Jeff Sanders

The shortstop of the future won’t play again until winterball at the earliest.

The Padres, of course, have shortstops they’re high on other than Fernando Tatis

Jr.

Take Gabriel Arias, for instance, an elite defensive prospect who is putting together

an impressive month at the plate at low Single-A Fort Wayne.

The 18-year-old Venezuelan homered for the second time in three downs in

the TinCaps’ 9-6 loss at Great Lakes.

Arias has a .643 OPS for the season but is hitting .296/.390/.577 in 20 games in

August. He has hit three of his five homers this month.

Jack Suwinski (.239) drove in three runs on his 10th homer and Jalen

Washington (.240) hit his seventh

Owen Miller (.371) doubled three doubles, drove in a run and scored twice.

Left-hander Ben Sheckler (1-5, 4.29) allowed nine runs – eight earned – in 3 1/3

innings.

The TinCaps are 59-68 overall and 27-31 in the second half.

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (76-52)

• Chihuahuas 14, Albuquerque 2: RHP Cal Quantrill (2-0, 2.74) struck out four

and allowed two runs – one earned – on seven hits and a walk in six innings in

the his fourth PCL start. CF Dusty Coleman (.195) hit his 13th homer and

drove in five runs, RF Forrestt Allday (.280) drove in three runs on his fourth

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homer and 3B Ty France (.283) drove in two runs on his fourth homer.

2B Luis Urias (.295) went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored.

The win was a franchise record ninth in a row for El Paso, which has won 16

straight at home and 42 of its last 57 games.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (26-31, 68-59)

• Frisco 4, Missions 3 (11): RHP Michel Baez (6.91) struck out six and allowed

two runs – one earned – on six hits and two walks in six innings in this best

Texas League start yet. 1B Kyle Overstreet (.263) went 2-for-4 with a walk

and C Austin Allen (.296) went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (28-31, 62-67)

• Inland Empire 7, Storm 6: RHP Pedro Avila (4.37) struck out 10 and allowed

four runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings in the start before the bullpen

allowed three runs in the ninth. SS Chris Baker (.258) drove in two runs on

two hits and 1B Brad Zunica (.251) went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and two

runs scored.

SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (12-15, 30-35)

• Eugene 5, Dust Devils 0: RHP Angel Acevedo (4-2, 3.17) struck out six and

allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in seven innings in the loss.

RF Michael Curry (.244) singled in three at-bats, Tri-City’s lone hit in the

game.

ROOKIE DSL PADRES (35-35)

• Padres 6, D-backs 1: RHP Edgar Martinez (2.01) struck out five over six

shutout innings in the start and RHP Jorge Leo (4-4, 2.43) earned the win

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with one run allowed over the final three innings. 1B Julio De La Cruz (.202)

went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Transactions

• LHP Eric Lauer was assigned to El Paso on an MLB rehab assignment. He will

start Friday.

• INF Carlos Asuaje was recalled by the Padres from El Paso.

• OF Nick Schulz was transferred from San Antonio to El Paso.

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Logan Allen wins third straight PCL start

Jeff Sanders

One by one, from afar, Logan Allen has watched as the Padres pulled up arms from

a rich farm system.

Adam Cimber and Joey Lucchesi were first.

Then Eric Lauer, Walker Lockett, Jose Castillo, Robert Stock, Trey

Wingenter, Brett Kennedy and Jacob Nix.

This is the way the Padres do business.

“A lot of teams take their players and they can sit in high A or low A or Double-A for a

couple years,” Allen said. “Here, we're taking these young players we're developing

and putting them in the big leagues. A lot of them are doing really well and it's

exciting. And it's good to see, especially being in the minor leagues, that you're not as

far off as you may think.

“It's pretty exciting.”

Allen’s case to join that lot is strong – next year if not this.

The 21-year-old left-hander on Wednesday won a third straight decision since his

promotion to Triple-A El Paso, pushing past a shaky first inning to turn in six strong

innings in a 7-2 win over visiting Albuquerque.

Allen (3-0) struck out seven and allowed two unearned runs on three hits and two

walks in completing at least six innings for the 16th time in 22 starts this season.

Allen did so only 11 times all last season and only once in 2016, his first year in the

organization after arriving from the Red Sox in the Craig Kimbrel trade.

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Wednesday’s effort saw him throw 62 of his 90 pitches for strikes.

“I’ve been pretty efficient and throwing the ball better,” said Allen, who has leapt into

MLB.com’s top-100 prospects (No. 86) for the first time in his career. “I’ve just

beared down and worked on some of my pitches and stopped worrying about all the

things that can go wrong or what I'm not doing right.

“I've just competed my way through every game.”

Allen’s 13 wins and 143 strikeouts across both levels are tops in the system. An

improved four-pitch mix helped Allen start the year 10-6 with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.05

WHIP in 121 innings at Double-A San Antonio – which includes seven innings of a

combined no-hitter in late May – before beginning his stay in the Pacific Coast

League with 18 strikeouts and a .206 opponent batting average through 17 innings.

“It's definitely a different level of baseball, but not much is different in terms of

executing pitches and things like that,” Allen said before Wednesday’s start.

“Honestly, my first two starts I haven't had my best stuff and I've been a little erratic,

but the defense behind me and our offense has really helped me out.

“I'm just happy to keep the team in the game lately.”

The offense helped him in El Paso (75-52) on Wednesday.

Shortstop Javy Guerra (.237) went 4-for-4, doubled, hit his 13th homer and drove in

four runs.

Catcher Francisco Mejia (.318) drove in two runs on his fourth homer and first

baseman Ty France (.275) hit his third homer.

Gore back on DL

Left-hander MacKenzie Gore – last year’s No. 3 overall pick – is back on Fort

Wayne’s disabled list. This time it’s because of a fingernail. Blisters sent him two the

DL twice earlier this year.

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The minor but nagging ailments have limited the 19-year-old Gore to 60 2/3 innings

in his first full professional season. He is 2-5 with a 4.45 ERA, 74 strikeouts and a

1.30 WHIP in 16 starts. Opponents have a .260 batting average against Gore, who is

ranked No. 11 on MLB.com’s top-100 prospect list.

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (26-30, 68-58)

• Frisco 4, Missions 3: RHP Chris Paddack (3-2, 1.91) struck out six and

allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk in five innings. RHP Andres

Munoz (1.13) struck out the side in the ninth. CF Buddy Reed (.165) went 2-

for-5 with a double and two RBIs

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (28-30, 62-66)

• Storm 5, Missions 2: RHP Bryan Mitchell (1-2, 3.80) struck out eight and

allowed two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings in his fifth rehab start

(elbow). RHP Dauris Valdez struck out two in the ninth to record his

11th save. SS Chris Baker (.253) doubled in three runs.

LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (27-30, 59-67)

• Great Lakes 2, TinCaps 1: LHP Tom Cosgrove (4.01) struck out seven over six

shutout innings in the start and LHP Dan Dallas (1.80) struck out three in the

seventh. RHP Dylan Coleman (1-2, 2.30) allowed two runs on two hits and

three walks in the eighth. DH Owen Miller (.351) went 2-for-4 with a double

and a run scored.

SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (12-14, 30-34)

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• Dust Devils 15, Vancouver 6: C Blake Hunt (.233) doubled, hit his second

homer and drove in three runs and 2B Xavier Edwards (.289) went 3-for-5

with a double, three RBIs, one walk, two runs and two steals (8). CF Tre

Carter (.230) and LF Michael Curry (.243) also both drove in three runs.

ROOKIE AZL PADRES 1 (14-10, 24-28)

• Rangers 4, Padres 0: LHP Jose Cabrera (2.00) threw three shutout

innings in relief in the completion of a previously suspended game. 1B Luis

Roman (.229) doubled for one of two Padres hits.

• Rangers 1, Padres 0 (7): RHP Efrain Contreras (1-3, 2.72) struck out five and

allowed an unearned run in the start. CF Jawuan Harris (.211) went 1-for-2

with a walk.

ROOKIE AZL PADRES 2 (8-15, 23-28)

• Royals 6, Padres 0: LHP Joey Cantillo (2-2, 2.18) struck out six and allowed

five runs – three earned on three hits and two walks in three innings in the

start. SS Jordy Barley (.199) went 2-for-4 with a walk and his 11th steal.

ROOKIE DSL PADRES (34-35)

• D-backs 4, Padres 1: RHP Carlos Guarate (2.33) started the game with four

shutout innings, one hit and two walks allowed. C Matias Polanco (.269)

went 2-for-4 and LF Carlos Batista (.1110 went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Transactions

• With Gore landing on Fort Wayne’s disabled list, RHP Gabe Mosser was

transferred from Tri-City to Fort Wayne.

• C Michael Cantu was transferred from Lake Elsinore to Fort Wayne.

• OF Hunter Jarmon was transferred from Fort Wayne to Lake Elsinore.

• 1B Allen Craig was placed on El Paso’s temporary inactive list.

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After Pirela forges lead, Padres fall on walk-off Yates allows 3rd 9th-inning HR in 8 games; quality start for Lucchesi By AJ Cassavell

DENVER -- Kirby Yates' tenure as closer is off to an inauspicious start.

The typically sure-handed Padres reliever surrendered a walk-off two-run homer to Ian Desmond on Thursday afternoon, as San Diego dropped its rubber match in Colorado, 4-3. It's the third go-ahead home run Yates has allowed in the ninth inning in the Padres' last eight games.

Yates' ERA still sits at a minuscule 2.16, but it's jumped by 67 points since the start of August. He struck out two in the ninth and surrendered a bloop single to Trevor Story before Desmond crushed a 1-0 splitter into the left-field seats.

"That's the only mistake I felt I made," Yates said. "A one-run lead in this ballpark, that's all it takes -- a bloop and a blast."

Following the late-July trade that sent Brad Hand to Cleveland, Yates took over as San Diego's primary ninth-inning option. His appearances have been sporadic since, with few close leads to protect.

Yates has surrendered five homers all season and three have come since last Wednesday. The Angels' Rene Rivera and the D-backs' A.J. Pollock took him deep last week in San Diego. But the Padres insist those struggles have little to do with his transition to closer.

In reality, Yates looked excellent for three batters. He finished his strikeouts of Nolan Arenado and Gerardo Parra with filthy split-finger fastballs. Story's one-out single had a hit probability of just 26 percent, according to Statcast™.

"I've got a ton of confidence in Kirby," Padres manager Andy Green said. "He's going to be good, and he's been good all season long. … Just look at the at-bats against Arenado and Parra -- his split's good. He just left one up."

Such is the nature of the closer role: Yates' final pitch is the only one that'll be remembered.

"You don't have somebody coming in behind you to bail you out," Yates said. "That's the only difference, I think. But I'd rather have the ball in my hand, be in control."

Hunter Renfroe homered in the sixth inning, and starter Joey Lucchesi was sharp over six innings of two-run ball before second baseman Jose Pirela put the Padres on top with a two-run single in the seventh. Pirela finished 3-for-5, taking full advantage of a newfound opportunity.

Having struggled for much of the season, Pirela seemed hard-pressed to find much playing time before the series began. But Christian Villanueva landed on the disabled list Thursday with a fractured right middle finger, and Wil Myers was out of the lineup with a lacerated nose.

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The Padres head to Los Angeles this weekend, where they'll face a trio of lefty Dodgers starters. The righty-hitting Pirela -- whose long-term roster spot remains tenuous -- is going to get further chances to prove himself.

"He played well today," Green said. "... It makes a lot of sense that you're going to see him in there, especially if he continues to have good at-bats."

ADJUSTMENT PAYS DIVIDENDS Not one to show much emotion, Lucchesi let loose a bit in the bottom of the third inning. He put men on the corners with no one out, but worked out of trouble with a pair of ground balls -- including an inning-ending double play. He pumped his fist into his glove and let out a shout as he headed toward the dugout.

In Lucchesi's eyes, his six solid innings were the product of between-starts work with pitching coach Darren Balsley and bullpen coach Doug Bochtler. They had noticed a difference in Lucchesi's arm angle, based on the pitch he was throwing.

When he threw his "churve" -- a changeup/curveball hybrid -- he did so by coming directly over the top. When he threw his fastball, his angle dropped closer to three-quarters. On Thursday, he made a point not to drop down at all.

"[Different] pitches, same arm slot," Lucchesi said. "I tried to carry that into the game. They swung through a lot of fastballs and churves."

Lucchesi allowed five hits and struck out six, and he filled up the strike zone all afternoon. It was an impressive response to the five runs he allowed in four innings against Arizona on Friday. He faced 23 batters and threw first-pitch strikes to 17 of them. He was only removed in the top of the seventh to allow Myers to pinch-hit.

MYERS ON THE MEND Myers drew a crucial walk during the seventh-inning rally that culminated with Pirela's two-run single. It was his first plate appearance since taking a ground ball to the face during batting practice on Wednesday, when he was sent to the hospital for stitches and further testing.

A day later, Myers said he was experiencing some congestion and headaches, and his nose was swollen. But he expects to return to the starting lineup Friday in Los Angeles.

"That's the plan, just jump back on it, hopefully get over there at third again and pretend like it never happened," Myers said.

SOUND SMART Since 1954, only two catchers age 37 or older have finished a season with at least 150 plate appearances and a batting average above .300. Don Slaught batted .313 in 1996, and Greg Myers hit .307 in 2003.

A.J. Ellis -- who will go by "Dad" this weekend on his Players' Weekend uniform -- went 2-for-4 on Thursday, bringing his average this season to .287. Because he's playing sparingly as the Padres' backup catcher, Ellis doesn't appear to be tiring either.

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YOU GOTTA SEE THIS During Lucchesi's third-inning escape act, the Rockies attempted a safety squeeze with pitcher Kyle Freeland. He bunted up the first-base line, but Eric Hosmer charged and read the play perfectly. Hosmer threw to third, where David Dahl wandered too far off the bag. Third baseman Cory Spangenberg chased Dahl down, as he attempted to scamper home.

UP NEXT The Padres head to Los Angeles, where they'll open a three-game set against the Dodgers on Friday at 7:10 p.m. PT as Players' Weekend begins. Veteran left-handers Clayton Richard (aka "Clay Clay") and Rich Hill ("D. Mountain") are set to square off, while Ellis returns to where it all began for him as a big leaguer. It's been a rough second half for Richard, who owns a 7.84 ERA since the break. He served as a reliable innings-eater in the early part of the season, but he's struggled to do that lately.

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Father figure: 'Dad' fitting nickname for Ellis

Padres C to feature moniker back where it all began for Players' Weekend

DENVER -- The Padres' pitching staff features six rookies and two more who are nearing a return from the disabled list. On the 40-man roster, there are 11 pitchers 25 years old or younger.

No wonder A.J. Ellis -- a 37-year-old catcher in his 16th professional season -- is going by "Dad" for his Players' Weekend nickname.

"Everybody here has learned a lot from him," said Austin Hedges, the Padres' starting catcher, who is younger than Ellis by nearly a dozen years. "He's definitely quite the father figure on the team."

It's no coincidence that Ellis' arrival coincided with a season in which the Padres have promoted a number of their young pitchers to the big leagues well ahead of schedule.

"He's stabilizing," said Padres manager Andy Green. "He's someone who knows what championship-caliber pitching looks like. He can give them a reference point, not just with what they do on the mound, but with what they do in between starts. He's seen the best do it, and he provides that perspective."

In his 11-year big league career, Ellis has caught for the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Josh Beckett, among others. He's played in three postseasons, and he brings a wealth of experience -- experience young San Diego pitchers like Joey Lucchesi, Eric Lauer and Jacob Nix don't have.

Ellis began his career with the Dodgers, and he'll return to Los Angeles for Players' Weekend on Friday. He'll sport "Dad" as his nickname across the back of his colorful alternate jersey, specially designed for the weekend.

It's a fitting nickname. But Ellis insists he's merely trying to make himself available -- the way veterans like Brad Ausmus, Greg Maddux and Derek Lowe were for him upon his callup in 2008.

"If guys have questions or things come up, I feel like I've kind of been given a microphone to speak to those guys, try to help out in any way possible," said Ellis. "I try to make it as organic as possible. I don't want to be breathing down their necks constantly. I just want to always be available for them to talk about anything that's going on."

Ellis recalled a conversation he had with Manny Ramirez during his first week in the big leagues. Ramirez told Ellis that, with two strikes, he focused on pulling any offspeed pitch and hitting any fastballs to the opposite field. A decade later, Ellis still employs that mindset.

"I don't know if 10 years from now they'll be telling A.J. Ellis stories," Ellis said. "But hopefully there's some things I've done that can make an impact here."

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It's clear he's already doing that.

"He knows pretty much every single hitter like the back of his hand," said Lauer. "I love seeing how much he puts into every single game, every lineup. It shows you how much you have to work to stay in the game."

Of course, Ellis isn't with the Padres merely to serve as a mentor (though he's doing a fine job of it). As backup catcher this season, he's had a renaissance at the plate.

Ellis has started just 39 games, but he's making the most of his sporadic playing time. He's hitting .280/.386/.364 in 161 plate appearances. That's no small feat for a 37-year-old catcher.

"Age-wise, physically, I'm pretty self-aware to know where I'm at, what my limitations are," Ellis said. "I also know the impact I can make on a team over 162 games, even when my name's not in the lineup. I don't want to be a guy who only shows up for the 25-40 starts he's going to get over the course of the year. I want to be a guy who's present and trying to affect his teammates in a positive way."

By the time these Padres pitchers reach their prime, Ellis will have long since retired. It seems clear his impact will still be felt -- not that Ellis is willing to look too far into that future.

"I just try to stay in the moment," he said. "Maybe that's why I've been able to hang around as long as I have. I just solve the problem in front of me, work on what's going on today, stay in the best shape I possibly can to get ready to play.

"As much as a thrill it is to be personally performing well, I get more of a thrill out of my teammates doing well. I love watching Austin Hedges rebound in the second half of the season, becoming the catcher I know he's going to be. ... I get a thrill out of Brett Kennedy pitching five solid innings, Eric Lauer, Joey Lucchesi getting off to a great start. That's what keeps me in the moment."

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Villanueva placed on DL; season in doubt

By AJ Cassavell

DENVER -- Christian Villanueva's rookie season has been filled with high highs and low lows. Perhaps the lowest of those lows came Wednesday night, when X-rays revealed a fracture in Villanueva's right middle finger, putting the remainder of his season into question.

In the immediate aftermath, the Padres were hesitant to put a timetable on Villanueva's potential return. Doctors noted a recovery time of at least three to four weeks. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday, and infielder Carlos Asuaje was recalled from Triple-A El Paso in his place.

Villanueva sustained the injury on Tuesday night when he attempted to field a sharp one-hopper off the bat of Colorado's Ian Desmond. The ball struck Villanueva in the right hand. He remained in the game, but his finger swelled overnight, and he was sent for X-rays Wednesday.

"Let's hope that the rehab goes well and things progress pretty well, so I can get back out there and finish strong," Villanueva said. "... It's definitely frustrating. I feel like I'd gotten my rhythm and was playing the way I wanted to play." Asuaje's callup isn't surprising, considering the role he's played providing infield depth. But Luis Urias -- the team's No. 4 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 22 prospect overall -- has been red-hot at El Paso, posting a .432/.482/.689 slash line in August. His callup will have to wait, for now.

Manager Andy Green wasn't willing to divulge the Padres' plans for a callup. Luis Urias -- the team's No. 4 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 22 prospect overall -- has been red-hot at Triple-A El Paso, posting a .432/.482/.689 slash line in August.

Urias isn't on the team's 40-man roster. Fellow infielders Carlos Asuaje and Javy Guerra are, and both have seen time in the big leagues already this season. They're the three likeliest options.

As for Villanueva, the injury comes at a particularly inopportune time. He'd only just begun to turn things around at the plate after a slump that lasted from May through July.

"I don't see guys coming back from fractures in three weeks very often," Green said. "But that's the number I get at the beginning. My guess is it's going to take longer than that. If he can make it back by the end of the year, that'd be great."

Villanueva burst onto the scene in April, taking home National League Rookie of the Month honors as he slugged eight homers and posted a 1.103 OPS before May.

But the rest of the league caught up to him quickly. His OPS didn't exceed .650 in any of the three months that followed. This month, however, he's hitting .356/.442/.489, including a dramatic walk-off single on Saturday that capped the Padres' Trevor Hoffman celebration at Petco Park.

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"He made some really good adjustments in August," said Green. "They were probably the most encouraging things we saw since the beginning of the season."

Villanueva's long-term place in the organization remains uncertain. There aren't any obvious answers at third base in the Minor Leagues. But Villanueva hasn't proved himself to be the answer there either.

Now, he might not get the chance to do so this year. Were his season to end today, he'd finish with a .236/.299/.450 slash line, and he's been worth 1.3 WAR according to Baseball-Reference.com.

"I've learned a lot, especially from the struggles, the slump that I had," Villanueva said. "I learned that I have to take everything a day at a time and continue to work. Also the successes that I've had; just always stay grounded and continue to work."

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See the Padres Players' Weekend nicknames

By A.J. Cassavell

For the second consecutive year, Major Leaguers will put their personalities and passions on the field when Players' Weekend takes center stage during all games from Friday through Sunday.

Here are the nicknames big leaguers will wear on their backs while sporting colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms:

Padres

Carlos Asuaje: "CARL" Colten Brewer: "BREWSKI" Jose Castillo: "BIG DUDE" At 6-foot-5, 246 pounds, Castillo is, indeed, a big dude. Franchy Cordero: "CORDY"

Alex Dickerson: "DICKERSON" A.J. Ellis: "DAD" At 37, Ellis is the oldest Padre, and his teammates casually refer to him as "the dad of the team." That being said, none actually call him "Dad," though he is a father of three. Robbie Erlin: "BOB" Freddy Galvis: "TOCO" Galvis' older brother began calling him Toco when the two were young. In his hometown of Punto Fijo in Venezuela, the nickname stuck. "Everyone there calls me it," Galvis said. Austin Hedges: "HEDGEY" Eric Hosmer: "PAPO" A Cuban term of endearment akin to "Dude," Hosmer paid tribute to his Cuban roots with his Players' Weekend nickname. He wore the same name in Kansas City last season. Travis Jankowski: "FRED" The speedy Padres outfielder grew watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. He watched it nearly every day, to the point where his brothers began calling him Fred for Fred Rogers. It stuck, and his teammates still call him Fred to this day. Brett Kennedy: "KENNEDY" Dinelson Lamet: "EL FLACO" Lamet was skinny as a child, and the word skinny literally translates to "flaco." The nickname was given to him by a childhood friend. Eric Lauer: "GOMER" Gomer Pyle was character on "The Andy Griffith Show." When Lauer was a kid, his dad gave him the nickname, though no one's called him Gomer in years. Walker Lockett: "LOCKETT" Joey Lucchesi" "JOEY FUEGO" Lucchesi's college teammate at Southwest Missouri State dubbed him "Joey Fuego" while trying to think up a creative nickname for Lucchesi's Twitter handle. That nickname stuck through the Minors, and Lucchesi occasionally goes by "Fuego" in the Padres' clubhouse.

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Manuel Margot: "YOANDRY" Yoandry is a family nickname he's had for years, to the point he can't remember when they first began using it. It's stretched into the Padres' clubhouse, though it isn't used regularly. Phil Maton: "SPIN RATE" The spin rate on Maton's fastball ranks sixth in the Majors among pitchers who have thrown at least 200 of them. It's unquestionably one of Maton's strengths -- and now, his nickname, too. Wil Myers: "WIL" Bryan Mitchell: "MITCH" Jacob Nix: "NIX" Luis Perdomo: "EL CHAMAQUITO" After Perdomo was selected in the Rule 5 Draft in 2015, his teammates began calling him "Chamaquito," which loosely translates to "youngster." At the time, he was making the jump from Class A Advanced to the Majors. In his third big league season, Perdomo is still only 25, so the name still fits. Jose Pirela: "AGUILA NEGRA" Pirela plays winter ball for Aguilas del Zulia in Venezuela, where the team's announcer has taken to calling him Aguila Negra, which translates to Black Eagle. Hunter Renfroe: "FROE" Franmil Reyes: "LA MOLE" Reyes was dubbed "La Mole" -- or "The Beast" -- by his teammates in the Dominican Summer League in 2012. Easy to see why. At 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, Reyes boasts otherworldly power. Despite his sporadic playing time this year, he's hit three homers 440 feet or further -- one of only eight National Leaguers to do so. Clayton Richard: "CLAY CLAY" Cory Spangenberg: "SPANGY" Craig Stammen: "TRIG" Trigger was a nickname given to Stammen by one of his friends' fathers. Over the years, it was shortened to Trig. Robert Stock: "CRETCH" A noted gamer, Stock has gone by "Cretch" as his gaming pseudonym for years. Matt Strahm: "STRAHMY" Christian Villanueva: "VILLA" Trey Wingenter: "WINGENTER" Kirby Yates: "KIRBS"

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This is the most indispensable Padres player

By Steve Gilbert

Depth has never been more important in the game, and being able to fill in for an injured player or pick up the slack for a struggling one are key components for any successful team.

Some players are more easily replaceable -- even for short periods of time -- than others. This week, we take a look at who the most indispensable player is on each team in the National League West. In some cases, it's the team's best player, but not always.

D-backs: Paul Goldschmidt The D-backs didn't need a reminder of how important Goldschmidt was to the lineup, but they got one in May. The six-time All-Star had a miserable month, and he was hitting just .198 on May 22. It was no coincidence that the D-backs lost 15 of 17 at one point during May and finished the month with an 8-19 record. Goldschmidt provides not just outstanding offense, but he also is a three-time Gold Glove Award winner. There is no obvious alternative at first base, with the D-backs sometimes using Daniel Descalso there when Goldschmidt gets a rare day off.

Dodgers: Kenley Jansen He's not only the most indispensable player on this team, but maybe any team. In the Dodgers' first five losses after he went on the disabled list with an irregular heartbeat, each game was lost in the opponent's final at-bat. Even though he hasn't been as dominating as previous years, Jansen has still been so good he made his third All-Star team. And the Dodgers realized his value, making an exception to their usual stance on not handing out huge free-agent contracts when they inked Jansen to an $80 million, five-year deal.

Giants: Buster Posey The six-time All-Star catcher influences the club's fortunes almost daily. Though his hip problems have muted his offensive numbers and may require season-ending surgery, Posey remains the one Giants player who opponents tend to skirt in tight situations. He manipulates the bat extremely well, making him the ideal man to have at the plate under any circumstance. Defensively, Posey remains an expert receiver who's skilled in the art of pitch framing. More importantly, he commands the trust of San Francisco's pitchers, who have been bright spot for the team. Additionally, Posey's ability to play first base gives manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in assembling each day's lineup.

Padres: Wil Myers The Padres' lineup is just different when it's anchored by Myers -- as they learned the hard way this year. Myers has spent three separate stints on the disabled list. When he's healthy, Myers is a force, and his upside on offense rates higher than anyone else on San Diego's roster -- even Eric Hosmer. Myers' newfound versatility has become important for the Padres, too. He can play across the outfield, and he's added third base to his repertoire. That's allowed the Padres to give opportunities to a handful of youngsters, based on matchups.

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Rockies: Trevor Story The Rockies have strong starting pitching and stars all over the diamond, such as third baseman Nolan Arenado, right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, center fielder Charlie Blackmon and second baseman DJ LeMahieu. But it's tough to come up with a workable Plan B if something were to happen to Story, with former top pick Brendan Rodgers currently on the Triple-A Albuquerque disabled list with a left hamstring injury -- plus being 22 and still learning. Story's power can help transform the lineup, and his glovework helps support a pitching staff that is driving the Rockies' push for the postseason.

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‘This kid’s got ice water in his veins’:

Andres Muñoz, 19, throws 103 mph, and

could be the Padres’ next great reliever

By Dennis Lin

SAN ANTONIO — Last Saturday in Tulsa, Okla., a teenager wearing braces

on his teeth astounded veteran baseball men with a ninth-inning show of force.

Andres Muñoz threw nine strikes, one ball and not a single pitch clocked below

100 mph. Three Tulsa Drillers came to the plate. All three trudged back to their

dugout. The lone batter to avoid striking out was Keibert Ruiz, one of the

sport’s top prospects.

Muñoz got Ruiz to fly out against a 103-mph fastball, one of three he fired

while securing a 4-1 victory for Double-A San Antonio. According to Statcast,

only three major leaguers — Aroldis Chapman, Jordan Hicks and Tayron

Guerrero — have reached that velocity threshold in 2018.

“It was their [radar] gun, our gun and the stadium gun,” San Antonio manager

Phillip Wellman said. “Their manager called me after the game and goes, ‘Are

you kidding me?’”

Wellman embarked on a career in professional baseball more than three

decades ago. Before last Saturday in Tulsa, he had seen Muñoz routinely top

out at 102 mph. Never, he said, has he seen someone this age display a more

electric fastball.

Muñoz turned 19 in January. The right-hander averages close to triple digits

with his primary pitch.

“When you hear numbers like that, it’s still hard to believe and register in your

mind,” said Chris Kemp, who is in his first year as San Diego’s minor-league

field coordinator. “You don’t see that. That’s one of the best arms in the game

if true.”

Kemp joined the Padres in October 2014 as their international scouting

director, a job he has retained even as he has delved into player development.

In early meetings concerning Mexican prospects, international cross-checker

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Trevor Schumm offered the names of two players above all others: an infielder

named Isaac Paredes, now an up-and-comer in Detroit’s system, and a slight

15-year-old with an intriguing arm action.

Less than two weeks later, Kemp and Schumm trekked to the Mexico City Red

Devils’ academy in Monterrey for an eyewitness’ view. Muñoz, Kemp

recalled, threw a fastball that day that ranged from 87 to 91 mph. He showed an

unimpressive curveball. Yet the ingredients for something greater were evident.

“You saw a quick arm, real arm speed,” Kemp said. “You could project, ‘Yeah,

this is going to be a plus, plus, plus fastball.’ I had no idea it was going to be a

100 mph-type fastball.”

Muñoz might have entertained an idea or two of his own. The Los Mochis,

Mexico, native grew serious about baseball around his 11th birthday,

encouraged by a grandfather. He signed with the Red Devils at 15. Within a

year, he said, he was touching 96 mph. On Wednesday, he sat inside the home

dugout at Wolff Stadium and grinned at Kemp’s recollection of their initial

encounter.

“Whenever he got to see me pitch in Mexico, I was not feeling really good, so I

was throwing 90, 89,” Muñoz said, with fellow San Antonio reliever and

Mexican native Gerardo Reyes interpreting. “I don’t really agree that I was

throwing that slow at the time.”

In the end, the disparity in scouting reports would not matter. Kemp and

Schumm returned for more looks. The following July, Muñoz signed for

$700,000, more than a quarter of the Padres’ 2015-16 international bonus pool.

He debuted in the Arizona Rookie League in 2016, a 17-year-old with rare

velocity but limited ability to harness it. He threw 19 2/3 innings, struck out 26

batters and walked 16. His ERA finished at 5.49.

Work with the organization’s pitching instructors yielded greater command and

better numbers the subsequent year. Muñoz cracked 100 mph in the spring,

then recorded a 3.81 ERA across stints with short-season Tri-City and Low-A

Fort Wayne. He still walked too many opponents, but the Padres, perceiving

unique potential, issued a unique challenge.

Muñoz, then 18, became the youngest participant in the Arizona Fall League, a

setting dotted with majors-ready prospects. He did not pitch like it, however,

permitting only one run over 8 2/3 innings. In the league’s Military

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Appreciation Game, he retired the side with a fastball that ran up to 102 mph

and a mid-80s slider.

“Wow,” one commentator remarked on the MLB Network telecast.

“Geez,” another said.

“It was the best thing that could happen to me at the time,” Muñoz said of his

Fall League experience. “I was the youngest player there, so I was just looking

around and trying to figure out what [other players] were doing, because now

they’re in ‘The Show’ already.”

Extreme velocity, especially if experienced at a young age, can have side

effects, of course. Muñoz reported to Arizona this spring with a tender elbow.

The Padres soon shut him down and later prescribed a platelet-rich plasma

injection. While others began their seasons, Muñoz remained behind in

extended spring training.

“It seemed at the time it was very minor,” Kemp said. “He had kind of a small

tweak or something. … It was an ultra-cautious buildup, which I think ended

up being for the best.”

The results have supported the Padres’ approach. Muñoz made his season debut

June 15 with Tri-City, proving his health in a hitless outing. Four more short-

season appearances followed, each without a single hit. In late June, the Padres

officially returned Muñoz to an accelerated path. He bypassed both levels of A-

ball, introducing himself as one of the youngest players in Double A.

The hyper-aggressive promotion has not proven overwhelming. Opposing

batters might have the reverse perspective. Muñoz, over 16 innings with San

Antonio, has surrendered two runs, notched an 18-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio

and converted six of seven save opportunities. Coaches and teammates, still

acquainting themselves with the precocious righty, shake their heads at what

they have witnessed.

“His legs are strong, but his upper body hasn’t even really filled out yet,” San

Antonio pitching coach Jimmy Jones said. “And his arm is so quick, producing

100 to 103 easily. … He’s able to throw strikes. He’s able to do that with a

delivery he can repeat. He’s not just throwing 100 all over the place and just

telling guys to sit up over the middle and ‘I might throw a strike.’”

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“Every time I see him warming up, I’m tempted to put on a padded batting

glove,” catcher Austin Allen said. “But he’s definitely a lot of fun. Any time he

comes in there, I feel like he’s going to go 1-2-3 really quick. … If he’s down

2-0, he can still throw 97, 98 for a strike. … And he’s not throwing it down the

middle, either. He’s still painting corners and stuff.”

In Wellman’s words, Muñoz has “locked bowels” by going from a roaring

fastball one pitch to a biting slider the next. His demeanor appears ideal for the

job. Wellman described an instance in which Muñoz narrowly missed on a full

count before allowing a bloop double. With two outs and runners on second

and third, the manager went to the mound, thinking a 19-year-old closer might

require some settling.

“I said, ‘Hey, todo bien, everything’s good,’” Wellman recalled. “He just looks

me dead in the eye and goes, ‘Yeah.’ No expression. And I’ve always put my

hand on their chest because I want to feel that heart. And I didn’t feel it, I

didn’t feel it thumping. I told [Jones], ‘This kid’s got ice water in his veins,

man.’

“I said, ‘Hey, don’t pay attention to the baserunners. Your sole focus, sole

intention is on the hitter. Be aggressive and attack.’ And he goes, ‘Always.’ I

say OK. Turn around, walk back and, three fastballs later, we’re shaking

hands.”

Muñoz is not perfect, of course. His slider, he and Jones acknowledge, could

stand to improve; it sometimes curls in at 83 mph, when an upper-80s offering

would better complement his fastball. He would like to continue adding muscle

to his 6-foot-2 frame and perhaps introduce a changeup, though in all

likelihood he will not need one. As with any youthful practitioner of triple-digit

heat, there are concerns about his long-term health.

Then, on Wednesday night, Muñoz produced his latest show of dominance.

With San Antonio trailing by two runs in the ninth, he struck out the side on 11

pitches — 10 fastballs, ranging from 100 to 103 mph, and an 86-mph slider. It

was the kind of performance that has scouts believing Muñoz could be a

flamethrowing major-league reliever before the end of next season.

“He’s still got braces on his teeth for crying out loud,” Wellman said. “When I

was 19 years old I was trying to figure out where my next class was going to be

and how I was going to get enough money to buy a loaf of bread in college.

He’s 19 years old, knocking on the door. It’s impressive.”

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Rockies welcome back veteran Matt Holliday, upend Padres Associated Press

DENVER -- Matt Holliday wore cleats from 2007. The Coors Field mojo almost felt straight from that decade, too.

When Colorado made a charge to its only World Series appearance, it was behind late-season wins just like the dramatic one the Rockies pulled out on this throwback Thursday.

Ian Desmond hit a two-run, two-out homer in the ninth inning, and the Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 in the return of the 38-year-old outfielder Holliday. "When something special is happening, you find ways to win games," said Holliday, who wore a pair of black spikes that the clubhouse manager dug out of storage from '07 since Holliday had only a gray pair. "Those are important wins and a huge swing by Ian."

Desmond lined an 88-mph splitter from reliever Kirby Yates (4-3) over the fence in left after Trevor Story singled earlier in the ninth and stole second. It was Desmond's second career walk-off homer. His other was May 2, 2012, against Arizona. "It felt good. It felt good to win the series," Desmond said. "Winning a series is really important this time of year."

Yates said the pitch to Desmond was one that didn't "have any bite to it."

"I got him the other night," Yates said. "He got me today."

Holliday was in Colorado's starting lineup for the first time in a decade after having his contract selected from Triple-A Albuquerque before the game. He finished 0 for 3 -- he was lifted for a defensive replacement in the seventh -- but had a long drive in the fifth that he thought was gone. He even went into a little hop.

"I remembered it was a tornado blowing in from left field," Holliday cracked. "I hit that good."

The Rockies overcame a baserunning blunder early and a costly error late to take two of three games from the Padres and move within one game of first-place Arizona in the NL West.

Jose Pirela came through with a bases-loaded, one-out hit up the middle off reliever Bryan Shaw to give the Padres a 3-2 lead. It was just after Story misplayed a slow roller. Chris Rusin (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth to pick up the win. Kyle Freeland turned in a solid outing by allowing two runs over 6 1/3 innings in the no-decision. The 25-year-old Denver native was elated to take the field with Holliday.

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"That's a guy I looked up to big time, when I was in middle school and high school," Freeland said.

On a blustery day, Joey Lucchesi kept the Rockies in check for six innings. The left-hander allowed two runs and struck out six. His only major mistake was allowing a solo homer to David Dahl. Lucchesi worked his way out of a messy situation in the third courtesy of a mistake on the bases by the Rockies. With no outs and runners on first and third, Dahl broke for home on Freeland's bunt, only to be thrown out. Charlie Blackmon then hit into a double play to end the threat. It was an emotional day for Holliday, who returned to where his career began. The team played the song "Holiday Road" from "National Lampoon's Vacation" before the game. He also received a standing ovation before his first at-bat -- a groundout to second.

Holliday hasn't played in the majors since last season with the New York Yankees. He suited up the first five seasons of his career for Colorado, hitting .290 as a rookie in 2004 and helping lead the Rockies to their only World Series appearance in 2007. "I'm grateful to be back," said Holliday, who hit .319 with 128 homers for Colorado from 2004-08.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: INF Christian Villanueva was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured right middle finger. INF Carlos Asuaje was recalled from Triple-A El Paso. MYERS UPDATE

San Diego infielder Wil Myers wasn't in the lineup after suffering a cut on his nose the day before. He was working on grounders at third during batting practice when a ball hit him. He entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and drew a walk. He hopes to play Friday. "Hopefully get back over at third again and pretend like it never happened," Myers said.

UP NEXT

Padres: Open a three-game series Friday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. LHP Clayton Richard (7-10, 5.11 ERA) goes for the Padres and LHP Rich Hill (5-4, 3.73) for the Dodgers. Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (4-3, 4.47) takes the mound Friday when the Rockies start a three-game series versus St. Louis. The Cardinals will throw RHP Miles Mikolas (13-3, 2.80).

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#PadresOnDeck: LHP Allen, SS

Guerra, C Mejía, 2B Urías Star as

Triple-A El Paso Wins Eighth

Straight to Near Fourth Straight

Division Title By Bill Center

Left-handed starter Logan Allen gave up two unearned runs on three hits over six innings and shortstop Javy Guerra was 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs Wednesday night as Triple-A El Paso defeated Albuquerque 7–2 for their eighth straight win and their 15th straight home win to reduce their magic number for a fourth straight Pacific Coast League division title to three.

Allen, 21, the Padres’ eighth-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, issued two walks while striking out seven to improve to 3–0 and lower his earned run average to 1.06 since being promoted to the Chihuahuas.

Guerra, 22, who was formerly a top-five Padres’ prospect, had his second, four-hit game of the season. He had a double along with his 13th homer to raise his batting average to .237.

Catcher Francisco Mejía, 22, the Padres’ №3 prospect, was 2-for-5 with a two-run homer for El Paso. He has four homers and is hitting .318 since coming to the Padres from Cleveland in a trade for relievers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber.

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Second baseman Luis Urías, 21, the Padres’ №4 prospect, was 2-for-4 with a walk to raise his batting average to .294.

Other leading performances by Padres’ Top-30 prospects.

— Right-handed reliever Andres Munoz, 19, the Padres’ №22 prospect, struck out the side in an inning on 11 pitches for Double-A San Antonio with all nine fastballs topping 100 mph.

— Right-handed starter Chris Paddack, 22, the Padres’ №5 prospect, allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk with six strikeouts for San Antonio, where he suffered the loss (3–2) with a 1.91 ERA.

— Center fielder Buddy Reed, 23, the Padres’ №13 prospect, was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs for San Antonio, where he is off to a .165 start since being promoted from Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore. Reed was recently named to the California League post-season All-Star team.

— Shortstop Owen Miller, the Padres’ №30 prospect and the 84th player taken in the 2018 Draft, was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored to raise his batting average to .351 for Single-A Fort Wayne.

— Second baseman Xavier Edwards, 18, the Padres’ №18 prospect and the 38th overall pick in the June Draft, was 3-for-5 Wednesday night with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, three RBIs and two runs scored for Short-Season Single-A Tri-City to boost his batting average to .289.

Also in the Padres’ system Wednesday:

— Left-handed starter Tom Cosgrove (4.01 ERA) allowed three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over six shutout innings for Fort Wayne.

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— Rehabbing right-handed starter Bryan Mitchell (1–2, 3.80 ERA) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over six innings to get credit for the win with Lake Elsinore.

Left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, the Padres’ first-round pick (third overall) in the 2017 Draft and the franchise’s №2 prospect, was placed on the disabled list for the third time this season with Fort Wayne. The first two trips to the 10-day disabled list were for blisters. This time, Gore was sidelined by a fingernail issue.

In other moves affecting Fort Wayne, catcher Michael Cantu was transferred to the TinCaps from Lake Elsinore, outfielder Hunter Jarmon was transferred from Fort Wayne to Lake Elsinore and right-handed reliever Gabe Mosser was transferred from Tri-City to Fort Wayne.

At El Paso, first baseman Allen Craig was placed on the temporarily inactive list.

Around the Farm:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (75–52): CHIHUAHUAS 7, Albuquerque 2 — RHP T.J. Weir (4.15 ERA) followed Logan Allen and struck out two in two perfect innings. RHP Kyle Lloyd (5.36) pitched a perfect ninth. 1B Ty France (.275) hit a solo homer in four at-bats with a walk. RF Forrestt Allday (.282) was 2-for-5 with a run scored. LF Shane Peterson (.274) was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. CF Dusty Coleman (.188) doubled in four at-bats with a run scored.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (26–30, 68–58): Frisco 4, MISSIONS 3 — RHP Elliot Ashbeck (5.14) followed Paddack and allowed a run on a hit and a walk with a strikeout in two innings. RHP Eric Yardley (3.57) struck out two in a perfect inning. C Webster Rivas (.278) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. DH Nick Schulz (.173) was 1-for-3 with a RBI. PH Logan Allen(.295) singled. SS Ruddy Giron (.200) was 1-for-4 with a run scored. 2B Matthew Batten (.260) was 1-for-3.

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LF Josh Naylor (.303) and RF Michael Gettys (.235) were each 1-for-4 with a stolen base.

ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (28–30, 62–66): STORM 5, Inland Empire 2–1B Brad Zunica (.251) was 2-for-2 with a double, two walks and a run scored. SS Chris Baker (.253) had a double in four at-bats with three RBIs. CF Edward Olivares (.266) was 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, a RBI and a run scored. DH Luis Torrens (.285) was 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. RF Nate Easley (.274) had a double in four at-bats with a run scored. C A.J. Kennedy (.125) was 1-for-4. RHP Korey Anderson (5.79) followed Cosgrove and allowed a hit with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning. RHP Caleb Boushley (3.18) allowed a hit with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. RHP Dauris Valdez (4.06) issued a walk with two strikeouts in an otherwise perfect inning to earn his 11th save.

SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (27–30, 59–67): GREAT LAKES 2, TinCaps 1 — LF Jack Suwinski (.238) backed Miller with a triple in four at-bats. CF Jeisson Rosario (.279) was 1-for-4. LHP Dan Dallas (1.80 ERA) followed Cosgrove and struck out three in a perfect inning. RHP Dylan Coleman (1–2, 2.30) allowed two runs on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts in an inning to suffer the loss. LHP Fred Schlichtholz (3.21) allowed the walk-off hit in one-third of a scoreless inning.

SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (12–14, 30–34): DUST DEVILS 15, Vancouver 6 — C Blake Hunt (.233) backed Edwards, going 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, a walk, three RBIs and two runs scored. LF Michael Curry(.243) was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, three RBIs and two runs scored. 3B Kelvin Alarcon (.174) was 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored. DH Tyler Benson was 0-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored in his Dust Devils debut. CF Tre Carter (.230) was 1-for-5 with a sacrifice fly, three RBIs and a run scored. 1B Justin Paulsen (.219) was 0-for-3 with two walks, a RBI and a run scored. Starting RHP Sam Keating (5.36 ERA) allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and five walks with three strikeouts in four innings. LHP Omar Cruz (2.01) allowed four runs on a hit and five

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walks with two strikeouts in an inning. RHP Jonathan Guzman (3–1, 3.18) allowed a hit with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings to get credit for the win. RHPNick Kuzia (4.03) struck out one in a perfect inning. RHP Joe Galindo (1.80) struck out two in a perfect inning.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (34–35): DIAMONDBACKS 4, Padres 1 — SS Bryan Torres (.227) was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly, a walk and a stolen base. C Matias Polanco (.269) was 2-for-4. Starting RHP Carlos Guarte (2.33) allowed a hit and two walks with a strikeout over four scoreless innings.

ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES:

PADRES-1 (14–10, 24–28): RANGERS 4–1, Padres 0–0 — RHP Edwuin Bencomo (2–2, 5.09 ERA) allowed two runs on two hits without retiring a hitter in the resumption of the suspended game to take the loss. RHP Nick Thwaits (0.69) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with six strikeouts in four innings. LHP Jose Cabrera (2.00) allowed four hits and a walk over three scoreless innings. Second-game starter RHP Efrain Contreras(1–3, 2.72) allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five innings to take the loss. RHP Tom Colletti (0.64) pitched a perfect inning. CF Jawuan Harris (.211) was 2-for-5 with a walk in the two games. 2B Yerry Landinez (.105) was 1-for-2. 1B-3B Luis Roman (.279) was 1-for-4 with a double. RF Agustin Ruiz (.270) and C Gilberto Vizcarra(.135) were each 1-for-5 with a walk.

PADRES-2 (8–15, 23–28): ROYALS 6, Padres 0 — SS Jordy Barley (.199) was 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base. LF Blinger Perez (.229) was 1-for-3 with a walk. RF Payton Smith (.143) was 1-for-4. Starting LHP Joey Cantillo(2–2, 2.18) allowed five runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in three innings to suffer the loss. LHP Tyler Mortensen (5.40) allowed a hit with four strikeouts in four scoreless innings. RHP Chandler Newman (16.88) allowed an unearned run on a walk and no hits with a strikeout in an inning.

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Andy’s Address, 8/23

Thoughts on Rookie LHP Joey Lucchesi, Veteran C

A.J. Ellis

By Bill Center

The Padres close their three-game series in Colorado Thursday afternoon, meaning manager Andy Green didn’t have a media session.

But there has been plenty of news since Thursday.

X-rays revealed that infielder Christian Villanueva suffered a fractured middle finger on his right hand during one of his first appearances as a second baseman and was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday morning . . . although he will be sidelined longer.

Infielder Carlos Asuaje was recalled from Triple-A El Paso.

Wil Myers will miss a second straight game Thursday after being struck in the face while field grounders during batting practice Thursday — meaning Cory Spangenberg will start at third and Jose Pirela at second.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Green did discuss Thursday’s starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi and veteran catcher A.J. Ellis, who will be catching Lucchesi.

On Lucchesi, Green started by saying: “Growth is never some clean linear ascent to greatness.”

“You have peaks and you have valleys in development,” continued Green. “What you have to look back upon over the course of the year is that your

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peaks are higher and your valleys are higher, too, and then you are making progress. There’s not a pitcher that you look at their outings and from April all the way through August this guy just got better every single time he towed the rubber. What’s the trend lines?”

“And for us, we’re very pleased with the way Joey Lucchesi has pitched this year. But he still has growth out in front of him. We think there is more inside of him. They’ve done a lot of work in the bullpen recently to work on some things. We’re hoping some of that pays dividends in his growth story.”

Turning to the value of Ellis, Green said:

“A.J. Ellis is stabilizing. He’s someone who knows what championship caliber pitching looks like and can give them a reference point of not just what they do on the mound but what they do in between starts — the way they go about their days, the way they run, the way they work out, the way they mentally prepare, the way they study.”

“A.J. has seen that. He’s seen the best do it. I think he supplies a perspective. I think it’s in his DNA to want to give that to people, too. Most of these young guys know he’s invested in making them better. Just about everybody looks back at the people who were around them for their rookie year when they were trying to find their footing in the big leagues since those were the primary influences in their career. A.J. has a way about him that will help shape some of these guys and help them respond to adversity when they have it and show them the way to go through it. I think he does that very well. He definitely has advice he’s not afraid to share.”

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Padres prospect watch: Luis Urías putting up big numbers for red-hot Chihuahuas

John Horvath

The El Paso Chihuahuas, San Diego’s Triple-A affiliate, are arguably the hottest team in all of minor league baseball right now. They have come out victorious in a franchise-record 15 home games in a row, are winners of eight straight overall, and are 17-3 in August. Their recent surge has made it a near certainty that they return to the Pacific Coast League playoffs for the fourth year in a row (with 12 games left in the regular season, their magic number to win the division is three).

At the center of El Paso’s recent torrid stretch has been one of the brightest, more advanced prospects in the Padres’ top ranked farm system: infielder Luis Urías.

Urías, ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the system and No. 22 in all of baseball, has been absolutely tearing the cover off the ball in August. In the season’s final full month, the Mexico native is batting a blistering .432/.482/.689 (32-for-74) with 13 extra base hits in 20 games played. In that time, Urías has seen his OPS skyrocket from .774 to .841. His bat has especially caught fire in recent days, to the tune of a .525 average with three walks and six strikeouts in his last 10 games.

The 21-year-old’s recent performance has many fans antsy about when his much-anticipated MLB debut will come. With rosters expanding to 40 on September 1, Luis Urías may be in line to debut then, or shortly thereafter. However, recent talk makes it seem much more likely that Urías gets the call once the Chihuahuas’ season is over, whenever that may be.

The Padres organization has shown a desire to have their minor leaguers play meaningful baseball prior to call ups in the past. Take El Paso’s 2016 “core four” (Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe, Austin Hedges, & Carlos Asuaje), who won a PCL title with the Chihuahuas before being called up in late September. The organization may see benefit in allowing Urías (as well as players such as Francisco Mejia) to do the same before reaching San Diego.

Whatever the Padres do decide to do, Luis Urías is not too far away from MLB action. He should be in line to be San Diego’s Opening Day second baseman in 2019.

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Desmond hits 2-run homer in 9th, Rockies beat Padres 4-3

AP

DENVER (AP) — Matt Holliday wore cleats from 2007. The Coors Field mojo almost felt straight from that decade, too.

When Colorado made a charge to its only World Series appearance, it was behind late-season wins just like the dramatic one the Rockies pulled out on this throwback Thursday.

Ian Desmond hit a two-run, two-out homer in the ninth inning, and the Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 in the return of the 38-year-old outfielder Holliday.

“When something special is happening, you find ways to win games,” said Holliday, who wore a pair of black spikes that the clubhouse manager dug out of storage from ’07 since Holliday had only a gray pair. “Those are important wins and a huge swing by Ian.”

Desmond lined an 88-mph splitter from reliever Kirby Yates (4-3) over the fence in left after Trevor Story singled earlier in the ninth and stole second. It was Desmond’s second career walk-off homer. His other was May 2, 2012, against Arizona.

“It felt good. It felt good to win the series,” Desmond said. “Winning a series is really important this time of year.”

Yates said the pitch to Desmond was one that didn’t “have any bite to it.”

“I got him the other night,” Yates said. “He got me today.”

Holliday was in Colorado’s starting lineup for the first time in a decade after having his contract selected from Triple-A Albuquerque before the game. He finished 0 for 3 — he was lifted for a defensive replacement in the seventh — but had a long drive in the fifth that he thought was gone. He even went into a little hop.

“I remembered it was a tornado blowing in from left field,” Holliday cracked. “I hit that good.”

The Rockies overcame a baserunning blunder early and a costly error late to take two of three games from the Padres and move within one game of first-place Arizona in the NL West.

Jose Pirela came through with a bases-loaded, one-out hit up the middle off reliever Bryan Shaw to give the Padres a 3-2 lead. It was just after Story misplayed a slow roller.

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Chris Rusin (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth to pick up the win.

Kyle Freeland turned in a solid outing by allowing two runs over 6 1/3 innings in the no-decision. The 25-year-old Denver native was elated to take the field with Holliday.

“That’s a guy I looked up to big time, when I was in middle school and high school,” Freeland said.

On a blustery day, Joey Lucchesi kept the Rockies in check for six innings. The left-hander allowed two runs and struck out six. His only major mistake was allowing a solo homer to David Dahl.

Lucchesi worked his way out of a messy situation in the third courtesy of a mistake on the bases by the Rockies. With no outs and runners on first and third, Dahl broke for home on Freeland’s bunt, only to be thrown out. Charlie Blackmon then hit into a double play to end the threat.

It was an emotional day for Holliday, who returned to where his career began. The team played the song “Holiday Road” from “National Lampoon’s Vacation” before the game. He also received a standing ovation before his first at-bat — a groundout to second.

Holliday hasn’t played in the majors since last season with the New York Yankees. He suited up the first five seasons of his career for Colorado, hitting .290 as a rookie in 2004 and helping lead the Rockies to their only World Series appearance in 2007.

“I’m grateful to be back,” said Holliday, who hit .319 with 128 homers for Colorado from 2004-08.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: INF Christian Villanueva was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured right middle finger. INF Carlos Asuaje was recalled from Triple-A El Paso.

MYERS UPDATE

San Diego infielder Wil Myers wasn’t in the lineup after suffering a cut on his nose the day before. He was working on grounders at third during batting practice when a ball hit him. He entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and drew a walk. He hopes to play Friday.

“Hopefully get back over at third again and pretend like it never happened,” Myers said.

UP NEXT

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Padres: Open a three-game series Friday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. LHP Clayton Richard (7-10, 5.11 ERA) goes for the Padres and LHP Rich Hill (5-4, 3.73) for the Dodgers.

Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (4-3, 4.47) takes the mound Friday when the Rockies start a three-game series versus St. Louis. The Cardinals will throw RHP Miles Mikolas (13-3, 2.80).