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Padres Press Clips Wednesday, September 6, 2017

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For better and worse, Travis Wood all about the homer in loss UT San Diego Sanders 2

At the plate, Austin Hedges' first full year has been a grind UT San Diego Sanders 4

First pitch: Padres shifting to six-man rotation UT San Diego Sanders 6

Hunter Renfroe the Padres' Roberto Clemente Award nominee UT San Diego Sanders 8

Fall's Links at Petco Park tee times available Wednesday UT San Diego Sanders 9

Wood brings lumber, struggles on mound MLB.com Ruiz/Langosch 10

Diaz dazzles with 4 innings of shutout relief MLB.com Cassavell 13

Lyles to stay in Padres' six-man rotation MLB.com Ruiz 15

Renfroe nominated for Clemente Award MLB.com Newman 17

Lamet faces Cards amid impressive stretch MLB.com Ruiz 20

Martinez slugs 2 home runs as Cardinals beat Padres 8-4 Associated Press AP 22

Padres On Deck: Playoffs Open Wednesday for Three FriarWire Center 24

Padres’ Affiliates

This Day in Padres History, 9/6 FriarWire Center 27

Andy’s Address, 9/5 FriarWire Center 28

Former Oregon State receiver Hunter Jarmon exceeding The Oregonian Moran 31

expectations at start of pro baseball career

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For better and worse, Travis Wood all about the homer in loss Jeff Sanders

Michael Wacha’s running two-seamer drifted back over the plate. Travis Woodswung hard through the strike zone. Then the 30-year-old Wood – a pitcher by trade – dropped his bat as he hopped out of the box, his high drive to left bouncing off the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. building for a second home run in as many starts.

The bigger concern are the home runs that Wood is giving up.

He surrendered two before his second-inning shot cut the Padres’ deficit to one run. Then the Padres’ left-hander surrendered two more runs without recording an out in the third inning of an 8-4 loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday night, Wood’s shortest outing since arriving in July as rotation option for this year and next.

“I had already given up two,” Wood said. “I was happy just to get it (almost) back to even and then maybe I could shut them down. I wasn't able to do that, and that's my job.”

The shaky start aside, Wood became the third Padres pitcher to homer in back to back starts, joining Mike Corkins (1973) and Tim Lollar (1982). His 11 homers in the regular season are also the third-most among active pitchers behind Yovani Gallardo (12) and Madison Bumgarner, the last pitcher to homer in back-to-back starts (August 2015) before Wood victimized Giants left-hander Ty Blach on Aug. 30 and Wacha (6 IP, 3 ER) on Tuesday.

Neither supported a ‘W’ – at least not for Wood.

He battled his command in walking four over 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his previous start, ultimately a 5-0 win for the team. On Tuesday, Wood trailed from the get-go after Bader doubled to start the game and scored when Jose Martinez drilled a two-out homer to right.

The Padres scratched across two runs to tie the game a half-inning later only to see Wood stumble again: Stephen Piscotty walked, Alex Mejia singled with one out and Bader homered to left-center to open a 5-2 lead.

“I felt good,” Wood said. “I was leaving some balls up, making mistakes and they didn't miss them. They made me pay for them and got me out of (the game) pretty quick.”

Wood got two of those runs back when he ambushed Wacha’s first offering in the second.

“I was just looking to have a good at-bat really, try to get on base, do whatever I can,” Wood said. “I was fortunate enough to hit a home run.”

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His fortune stopped there.

The first four batters reached in the top of the third. One run scored as Yangervis Solarte threw wildly to third base on Yadier Molina’s grounder to shortstop, his first error in 131 innings at the position. Another crossed the plate as Piscotty’s single to center opened a 7-4 lead as Padres manager Andy Green emerged from the dugout with the early hook.

Wood’s final line: A season-low two-plus innings and a season-high seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and a walk. He struck out just one batter and allowed two homers in a start for the third time this season.

Wood has allowed nine longballs altogether since joining the Padres via a July trade with the Royals.

“Too many middle-middle mistakes,” Green said. “I think the cutter that gave up the first home run, the slider, the curveball that was hit into the gap. All of those ended up in the middle of the plate. He's not the type of guy who can pitch in the middle of the plate and be successful.

“He's going to depend on command and just wasn't locating well enough today to get through good hitters.”

Miguel Diaz’s and Carter Capps’ ensuing relief appearance were among the Padres’ few highlights.

In his first appearance since last week’s activation from the DL, the Rule 5 rookie struck out a career-high six batters over a career-high four innings while scattering one hit and three walks. After Martinez added a second homer off left-hander Buddy Baumann in the seventh, Capps struck out three over two perfect innings, his first multi-inning and multi-strikeout effort since returning from Tommy John surgery last month.

“Outstanding steps from both of them,” Green said. “We know what Carter is going to be again. It's just a matter of time coming off surgery. I thought that was the most life to his fastball, the most bite to his slider. I was excited about him and Miguel too.

“It was encouraging for both those guys.”

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At the plate, Austin Hedges' first full year has been a grind Jeff Sanders

Austin Hedges’ name was penciled into the starting lineup at catcher for the 93rdtime Tuesday. He’s caught more innings this year (795) than he has since 2014 at Double-A San Antonio (953), would have even more on his resume had he not missed two weeks with a concussion and says his legs remain strong heading into the final weeks of his first full season in the majors.

Meantime, his production at the plate has tailed off since an explosive first month, although the 25-year-old catcher chalks that up to a steep learning curve in the majors more than rigors behind the plate.

“I think that’s just part of the grind of baseball,” Hedges said. “I think, offensively, I’ll be searching every year. It’s definitely been tough at times. It’s been good at times. I don’t know that it has to do with playing more. I just think, wherever I’m at, I’ll be searching to be better all the time.”

The grind has been especially rough of late.

Hedges entered Tuesday with one hit in his last 14 plate appearances, one extra-base hit in his last 19 games and a .547 on-base-plus-slugging mark since the All-Star break, worst among all catchers with at least 90 plate appearances. This month alone, Hedges has struck out in 46 percent of his plate appearances.

Yet to say nothing of the value he brings on defense, the Padres’ belief in Hedges’ upside as a hitter remains rooted in the potential he flashed while homering 21 times last year at Triple-A El Paso and six times in April.

The trick, as it is with anyone, is maintaining his best pass through the strike zone.

“I think he goes through stretches where he’s searching for his swing, searching for consistency,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “When he doesn't have the consistency, he has a late move where he rushes a little bit and that makes it difficult to see the baseball. When he's to his hitting position earlier, I think he sees the ball well and does very well. But I think a lot of it is predicated on the position he puts his body in.”

For a catcher, strong legs plays a large role in that regard as the calendar stretches into August and September. Even with Hedges likely falling well short of Green’s early target for 120 to 135 starts, an offseason regimen built around dead-lifts has him feeling strong as his first full season nears the finish line.

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“The body is holding up well,” Hedges said. “A lot of the offseason work to prepare for it is definitely paying off. I feel fresh. I feel good. I feel mentally good.”

Getting going again, Hedges said, is about understanding the pitches he wants to swing at and taking the others.

Yet even when he’s “searching,” Hedges is often a competitive out.

Especially in tight spots.

Consider his OPS in high-leverage situations – .893 as measured by baseball-reference.com – vs. medium- (.502) and low-leverage (.617) plate appearances.

“The thing I love about him,” Green said, “is he can be struggling and get you one of the biggest hits in the game,” Green said. “I think that's happened over and over and over this year. To me, he competes really well in crucial situations and realizes he has to rise up and meet the task.”

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First pitch: Padres shifting to six-man rotation Jeff Sanders

The Padres, for the time being, are moving into a six-man rotation. The move will allow for both an extended look at minor league signee Jordan Lyles as well as opportunities to rest youngsters Dinelson Lamet and Luis Perdomo.

Lamet threw a career-high 150 innings last year in the minors. This year, between his starts at Triple-A El Paso and the Padres, he’s at 131. Perdomo, meanwhile, is 6 1/3 innings from matching the career-high 146 2/3 innings he threw last year as a Rule 5 pick.

“I think you get to this point in time in the season there's really no reason not to rest, especially your younger guys in Lamet and Perdomo,” Padres manager Andy Green said Tuesday afternoon. “This gives them an extra day off between every start as they finish up this year. In Lamet's case, this is his first full year in the big leagues as a starter. Perdomo, his second. Those are the guys we look at who'll benefit from the rest.”

Left-hander Clayton Richard will slide into Thursday’s spot for the finale against the Cardinals. Lyles will follow with the series-opener on Friday in Arizona in hopes of building off Saturday’s Padres debut.

The 26-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on six hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision. He threw 54 of his 92 pitches for strikes and favored the four-seam fastball (28.3 percent, according to brooksbaseball.net) over the sinker (19.6 percent).

“I think he's an interesting guy because there's reasons to use either,” Green said. “It's not as clear-cut as some guys are. He's got a number of weapons in deciding which to use and it will be a work in progress through the rest of the year. He's got a real fastball. I thought for the most part he competed really well. I know he wanted to get through five innings, but he didn't yield. He had the bases loaded vs. Justin Turner in the fourth and was able to get one of the hottest hitters in the game out at that point in time.

“He wasn't able to get through the fifth, but I liked the way he competed. We'll see where he takes it from there.”

Notable

• OF Nick Buss was awarded the PCL batting title with a .348 average, which was tops in all of Triple-A. Also, OF Hunter Renfroe was named the PCL’s player of the week for the second week in a row. Renfroe hit .500 with three homers, 13 RBIs, 28 total bases and 10 runs scored for the week.

• 1B Wil Myers has logged multi-hit games in three straight games for the first time this season. His 30 multi-hit games are second on the team behind Manuel Margot (33). Myers 10-for-25 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs on this homestand.

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• Friday’s game against the Diamondbacks will be the Padres’ first Facebook Live Broadcast. The Fox Sports Arizona feed will be used.

• Trevor Hoffman, Bill Walton, Marshall Faulk, OF Nick Buss was awarded the PCL batting title with a .348 average, which was tops in all of Triple-A. Also, OF Hunter Renfroe was named the PCL’s player of the week for the second week in a row. Renfroe hit .500 with three homers, 13 RBIs, 28 total bases and 10 runs scored for the week. z, Randy Jones and Steve Fisher are the featured guests for the Celebrate San Diego Tailgate announced for the Sept. 23 game against Bud Black’s Rockies. Visit padres.com/connect for more information.

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ON DECK | Cardinals (70-67) at Padres (62-76) Game 2: 7:10 p.m. Tuesday

Cardinals RHP Michael Wacha (10-7, 4.20 ERA)

• He had a 10.22 ERA over three starts before limiting the Giants to one run in six innings Thursday. He limited the Padres to two runs in six innings in his last start against them – in 2016.

Padres LHP Travis Wood (3-4, 5.47 ERA)

• The former Cub/Red veteran is 6-6 with a 5.37 Era, 89 strikeouts and 39 walks in 109 career innings against the Cardinals. Wood is 4-1 with a 2.13 Era in 50 2/3 career innings at Petco Park.

Up next

• Wednesday: Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty (0-0, 11.25) vs. Padres RHP Dinelson Lamet (7-6, 4.40), 7:10 p.m.

• Thursday: Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (10-6, 2.99) vs. Padres LHP Clayton Richard (6-13, 4.94), 6:10 p.m.

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Hunter Renfroe the Padres' Roberto Clemente Award nominee Jeff Sanders

Hunter Renfroe is the Padres’ nominee for the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award, the most prominent award given to the player who best represents Major League Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field.

Each team nominates a player as a tribute to Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Even 1972 while delivering supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

A fan vote at MLB.com (Oct. 2-6) will be considered alongside those cast by a panel. The winner will be announced during the World Series.

The only Padre to win the award was Tony Gwynn in 1999.

The 25-year-old Renfroe, a rookie, was hitting .230/.285/.443 with 20 homers and 47 RBIs when he was demoted to the Pacific Coast League last month. In 14 games at Triple-A El Paso, Renfroe is hitting .509/.557/.891 with four homers, 18 RBIs, six walks and seven strikeouts and was selected Tuesday as the PCL’s Player of the Week for the second week in a row.

The Chihuahuas start the playoffs Wednesday in Reno.

Renfroe, who remains on the 40-man roster, is a candidate to be recalled to San Diego before the end of the season as he was last September.

Since last year’s big league debut, Renfroe has committed his time to a number of non-profits and charitable events, from delivering toys to students enrolled at a school serving homeless youth, to baseball clinics, to assisting military families with holiday gifts, to visiting with patients at Rady Children’s Hospital.

Renfroe and his wife, Courtney, are also involved with Mississippi’s Ronald McDonald House and the Mississippi Toughest Kids Foundation.

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Fall's Links at Petco Park tee times available Wednesday Jeff Sanders

The Padres and Callaway Golf will again transform Petco Park into an original nine-hole golf experience this fall. The event – the third iteration of The Links at Petco Park – will run from Oct. 5 through Oct. 10 and offer golfers the opportunity to tee off onto the playing field from around tee boxes placed through the downtown venues.

"Petco Park was the first MLB ballpark to host a nine-hole golf course and we are excited to once again offer this unique and fun experience,” Padres Chief Operating Officer Erik Greupner said in a statement. “The event has grown and improved every year and working together with Callaway, we've made this year’s course the best layout to date.”

This year’s layout will feature shots from the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. building and from underneath the videoboard in left field. Holes throughout the course will also offer opportunities to win various prizes, while a post-playing Callaway clubhouse features a putting green and additional food and beverages available for purchase.

Pricing starts at $150 for twosomes and $300 for foursomes. The cost includes a hat, nine holes for each golfer, scorecard, access to the clubhouse and a dedicated caddy for each foursome. Golfers can also purchase mulligans (proceeds benefit Pro Kids, an organization aimed at serving underserved youth).

Spectator tickets will also be available for $5.

Tee times for Padres Members went on sale Tuesday, while a presale for past buyers and those registered on the waiting list starts Wednesday. Time times for the general public go on sale at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

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Wood brings lumber, struggles on mound By Nathan Ruiz and Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com | 3:20 AM ET

SAN DIEGO -- Behind two home runs from Jose Martinez, the Cardinals continued their playoff

push Tuesday, downing the Padres, 8-4, at Petco Park.

Martinez put St. Louis ahead with a two-run blast off Travis Wood in the first inning, extending his

hitting streak to seven games. After a third-inning double, Martinez hit his second homer in the

seventh off Buddy Baumann, punctuating the Cardinals' victory as they improved to four games

back of the Cubs in the National League Central and remained three games behind Colorado in the

NL Wild Card standings.

This marked the second time in three days that Martinez had tallied three extra-base hits in a game.

He is 11-for-20 during his hitting streak.

"He just had a great day," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We talk about sparks; he's coming

up with big at-bats in big situations."

The Padres evened the game in the first when Wil Myers brought a run in with a single to center

and center fielder Harrison Bader's wild throw allowed another run to score on the play.

Bader more than made up for it in the second inning, blasting a three-run homer to give St. Louis a

lead that endured the rest of the night.

Wood homered off Michael Wacha in the bottom of the frame, but he was unable to get an out in

the third as he was tagged with six earned runs.

"Really, whatever pitch was thrown, it ended up middle-middle," Padres manager Andy Green said.

"[Wood] caught too much plate. He's not the type of guy that can pitch in the middle of the plate and

be successful. He's going to depend on command. Just wasn't locating well enough today to get

through good hitters."

Wacha recovered from a rough beginning to pitch a quality start, allowing four runs (three earned)

in six innings. He held the Padres scoreless over his final four innings.

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"I was missing up in the zone quite a bit in the first couple innings," said Wacha, who improved to 3-

0 with a 2.52 ERA in four career starts against the Padres. "[My] stuff wasn't quite as sharp as I'd

want it to be coming into the game. After those first couple innings, I was able to settle down and

start throwing strikes in the bottom of the zone."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Keeping it 100: Martinez entered play Tuesday with 11 homers, all of which came off the bat with

an exit velocity of at least 100 mph. He kept that trend going, with his first-inning shot off Wood hit

at 102.9 mph. He upped it with his 107.1-mph homer in the seventh, his third-hardest of 2017. It

was the second two-homer game for the rookie.

"I think it's the confidence I have going up there trying to do something to help the team," Martinez

said of his recent run of success. "Whatever pitcher is going to be out there, I'm just trying to put a

good swing on the ball and make something happen. Everything is going well for me."

Wood's wood: For the second time in as many starts, Wood homered, crushing the first pitch he

saw from Wacha to the Western Metal Building in left field. Wood became the third Padres pitcher

to homer in back-to-back outings and the first pitcher in the Majors to do so since Madison

Bumgarner in 2015.

"I'd already given up two," Wood said. "Just looking to have a good at-bat really. Try to get on base,

do anything I can do."

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Bader became the 10th player in Cardinals history to homer three times in his first 11 Major League

games. Jeremy Hazelbaker (2016) had been the last to accomplish the feat.

QUOTABLE

"That team that started in Memphis was a real talented team. I think we all knew that. I guess in

many ways it was just a matter of time before we all came up together. Everyone is having really

good years and doing really positive things down there. So to see it all come together at the end of

the season is poetic, in a sense, because now we're in a race. We're just trying to do everything we

can to contribute." -- Bader, on the Cardinals starting seven position players who spent time at Triple-

A this season

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"He's strong as an ox." -- Green, on right-hander Miguel Diaz, who set career highs in innings (four)

and strikeouts (six) in scoreless relief More >>

MEDICAL REPORT

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter confirmed after the game that he received a cortisone

shot to try to quell the inflammation in his ailing right shoulder. Carpenter, who has been diagnosed

with bursitis, will be sidelined for the rest of this series. More >>

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW

A successful use of their challenge helped the Cardinals tack on an extra run in the third inning. The

Cardinals asked for a second look after Martinez was called out trying to advance to third on a

ground ball. Replay confirmed that his hand reached the base ahead of the tag, and the call was

overturned. On the play, San Diego's Yangervis Solarte was charged with his first error in 138

innings at shortstop this season.

WHAT'S NEXT

Cardinals: Right-hander Jack Flaherty will make his second Major League start as the series

continues at Petco Park on Wednesday night at 9:10 CT. Flaherty, a southern California native,

allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out six in his four-inning debut.

Padres: Dinelson Lamet will look to keep his hot stretch going Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. PT. The

rookie right-hander has a 2.49 ERA in his past nine starts, including a 10-strikeout outing against

the Dodgers his last time out.

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Diaz dazzles with 4 innings of shutout relief Rule 5 Draft pick shows potential with career-high 6 K's

By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | @AJCassavell | 3:08 AM ET

SAN DIEGO -- Miguel Diaz made the Padres' Opening Day roster, because he had to. Per the

stipulations of the Rule 5 Draft, Diaz -- the top overall selection in December -- needs to spend an

entire season with the big league club or be offered back to the Brewers, his former team.

Next year there will be no mandate on Diaz's roster status. But if he pitches like he did Tuesday -- in

an 8-4 loss to the Cardinals -- he'll find himself back at Petco Park awfully quickly.

Diaz, making his first appearance since he suffered a forearm strain in late June, entered in the third

inning, after St. Louis had roughed up Padres starter Travis Wood for seven runs. The 22-year-old

rookie promptly stranded a pair, and he would set career highs with four innings and six strikeouts.

"That guy we saw today has the potential to start in the big leagues," said Padres manager Andy

Green. "We've always believed in that potential. Now, he's moving in the right direction."

Diaz left his outing in Chicago on June 21 with tightness in his right forearm -- a setback that cost

him 2 1/2 months of his rookie season. That downtime wasn't for naught, however. While he

recovered at the team's Spring Training complex in Peoria, Ariz., Diaz worked extensively with the

Padres' staff to incorporate his lower half into his delivery.

"It's something I was focusing on," Diaz said. "When I wasn't throwing, I did a lot of work on my

legs. Tonight I felt like I might have stood up on a few pitches early on, but I was able to make that

adjustment and use my legs."

The future is still a bit uncertain for Diaz, whose best chance to make the Opening Day roster next

spring might be as a reliever. That said, the organization views Diaz as a starter in the long term. He

feels the same way.

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"I have to build up that endurance, and then always throw first-pitch strikes," Diaz said, when asked

to pinpoint where he needs to make strides as a starter.

In 25 appearances this season (including three starts), Diaz owns a 6.06 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP.

Those struggles were probably to be expected for a young hurler who had never thrown a pitch

above Class A until Opening Day.

But he's shown more than a few flashes of potential this season -- with Tuesday serving as a prime

example. He punctuated his outing with consecutive strikeouts in the sixth -- first with a tight

curveball to catch Harrison Bader looking, then with an elevated 97-mph heater to get Randal

Grichuk swinging.

"He could pitch himself into our plans in the bullpen, and he could pitch himself into our plans in

the rotation," said Green, when asked where Diaz fits in 2018. "All those things are possible. He's

going to have to earn his spot onto the Major League club next year if he's going to be with us. ... He

has some ground to make up. But everything will be open for him as far as competition goes coming

into Spring Training."

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Lyles to stay in Padres' six-man rotation Move allows extra rest for youngsters Perdomo, Lamet

By Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com | September 5th, 2017

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres will employ a six-man rotation for the rest of the season, manager Andy

Green announced Tuesday.

"That would be the expectation, but we always reserve the right to change things," Green said. "If

something's not functioning the way we want it to, then we'll adjust it accordingly."

Right-hander Jordan Lyles, who made his team debut when he started the nightcap of a

doubleheader against the Dodgers on Saturday, will remain in the rotation, joining left-

handers Clayton Richard and Travis Wood, and right-handers Jhoulys Chacin, Luis

Perdomo and Dinelson Lamet. The move affords extra rest for the Padres' younger arms, Green

said.

"I think you get to this point in the season, and there's really no reason not to rest, especially your

younger guys in Lamet and Perdomo, which gives them an extra day off between every start as they

finish up this year," Green said.

Perdomo, in his second Major League season, has thrown 146 2/3 innings, surpassing his rookie

total of 140 1/3. Lamet, a rookie, has pitched 131 frames between San Diego and Triple-A El Paso.

He threw 150 innings across three Minor League levels in 2016.

Green pointed to the Padres' off-days bookending a two-game series in Minnesota as a time when

the six-man rotation might change, given the possibility of the starters receiving too much rest.

The Padres signed Lyles, 26, as a Minor League free agent in August after the Rockies released him.

Once viewed as a top prospect, Lyles struggled and was moved to Colorado's bullpen, where success

continued to evade him.

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He had a 5.80 ERA in 68 relief outings the past two seasons before Saturday's start, in which he held

Los Angeles to two runs in 4 1/3 innings. Almost half of Lyles' pitches were his two- and four-seam

fastballs, offerings that impressed Green.

"He's got good explosion up in the zone," Green said. "To me, [Lyles] is an interesting guy because

there's reasons to use either [fastball]. It's not as clear cut as some guys are. He's got a number of

weapons."

The decision also means Miguel Diaz, a Rule 5 Draft selection whose high-velocity fastball has

impressed the Padres, will continue to serve as the team's long reliever, pitching extended outings

when necessary.

Worth noting

• Outfielder Hunter Renfroe is the Padres' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which goes

to a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community

involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

• El Paso outfielder Nick Buss won the Pacific Coast League batting title, hitting .348 for the

Chihuahuas. The 30-year-old is in his first year in the Padres' organization but has Major League

experience with the Dodgers and Angels.

• The San Diego Padres and Callaway Golf announced Tuesday that The Links at Petco Park will

return for the third year in a row. For $75, fans will have the opportunity to participate in a nine-

hole golf experience on the field at Petco Park from Oct. 5-10.

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Renfroe nominated for Clemente Award By Mark Newman / MLB.com | September 5th, 2017

It was 45 years ago this month when Roberto Clemente doubled to the wall for his 3,000th and final

career hit -- three months before the plane crash that took his life as he tried to deliver relief

supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

"I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give," Clemente once said.

Today the legend of Puerto Rico's favorite son is stronger than ever, and the annual Roberto

Clemente Award has become "baseball's most prestigious award," according to Commissioner Rob

Manfred.

On Tuesday, Major League Baseball revealed the 30 club nominees for the 2017 honor, which goes

to a player from each club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary

character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the

field.

American League nominees are Chris Davis of Baltimore, Rick Porcello of Boston, Jose Abreu of

the Chicago White Sox, Carlos Carrasco of Cleveland, Miguel Cabrera of Detroit, Jose Altuve of

Houston, Drew Butera of Kansas City, Cameron Maybin of the Los Angeles Angels (since acquired

by Houston), Joe Mauer of Minnesota, Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees, Liam Hendriks of

Oakland, Robinson Cano of Seattle, Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay, Cole Hamels of Texas,

and Marcus Stroman of Toronto.

National League nominees are Paul Goldschmidt of Arizona, Jason Motte of Atlanta, Anthony

Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs, Scooter Gennett of Cincinnati, Ian Desmond of Colorado, Justin

Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dee Gordon of Miami, Matt Garza of Milwaukee, T.J. Rivera of

the New York Mets, Cameron Rupp of Philadelphia, Josh Harrison of Pittsburgh, Adam

Wainwright of St. Louis, Hunter Renfroe of San Diego, Buster Posey of San Francisco and Ryan

Zimmerman of Washington.

The list of nominees features Major Leaguers whose work in the community focuses on important

issues ranging from awareness and fundraising of childhood cancer and other illnesses, education,

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outreach to underserved children and communities in the U.S. and abroad, care for veterans and

more.

"This award represents everything Roberto stood for as a 'good Samaritan,'" said MLB goodwill

ambassador Vera Clemente, Roberto's wife. "Through the Roberto Clemente Award, today's players

are recognized for these same qualities."

Each club nominates one current player to be considered for the Roberto Clemente Award in tribute

to Clemente's achievements and character. Wednesday marks the 16th annual Roberto Clemente

Day, which was established by MLB to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially acknowledge local

club nominees of the award in his honor.

Clubs playing at home on Wednesday will recognize their local nominees as part of Roberto

Clemente Day ceremonies. Visiting clubs will honor their nominees on a subsequent homestand. As

part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and

official dugout lineup cards and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks.

There are seven 2017 All-Stars among the nominees: Goldschmidt, Altuve, Turner, Harrison, Posey,

Cano and Zimmerman.

The Roberto Clemente Award winner will be selected among the group of nominees via a blue-

ribbon panel that includes individuals connected to the game, including Manfred, representatives

from MLB-affiliated networks (MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN and TBS) and MLB Advanced

Media, as well as Vera Clemente.

Fans will be able to vote from Oct. 2-6 for the overall Roberto Clemente Award winner. The voting

page will feature bios of each of the nominees and will allow fans to easily vote by clicking on the

respective nominee's name. The winner of the fan balloting will count as one vote among those cast

by the blue-ribbon panel. Additional information about fan voting will be shared via MLB.com and

MLB social media channels.

Maybin remains the Angels' nominee despite changing teams via waivers on Aug. 31. The Angels

notified MLB after the transaction that they wanted him to retain the honor. In fact, Maybin will be

returning as an Astro to Anaheim in mid-September, when the Angels were already planning to

honor him.

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Last year's recipient was Dodgers outfielder Curtis Granderson. He was like other recipients who

say at each presentation that it is the most important honor of their careers, on or off the field.

"This is all part of just trying to do the legacy, like Ms. Clemente said, trying to do better each day,

making it better for the next group to come up behind you," Granderson said.

Willie Mays won the first of these honors in 1971 when it was known as the Commissioner's Award,

to recognize players for their philanthropic work, and he is among 16 Hall of Famers who have been

recipients of the honor. After 1972, the award was dedicated in Clemente's name.

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Lamet faces Cards amid impressive stretch By Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com | 1:21 AM ET

The Cardinals and Padres continue a four-game series with a matchup of rookie right-handers

Wednesday night, when St. Louis' Jack Flaherty faces San Diego's Dinelson Lamet at Petco Park.

St. Louis enters the third game of the series chasing for a postseason spot in both the National

League Central and the Wild Card races. The Cards are four games behind the Cubs in the NL

Central and three games behind the Rockies for the second Wild Card spot. St. Louis also trails

Milwaukee by a half-game.

Making his second Major League start, Flaherty will try to lift St. Louis in the standings. The

Cardinals' No. 3 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com, allowed five runs in four innings against

the Giants in his Major League debut, receiving a no-decision.

"I'm anxious to see him get another chance and get back out there," Cardinals manager Mike

Matheny said. "I just know he's better locating his fastball than what he did. I thought he had good

composure."

Lamet has excelled since late July, compiling a 2.49 ERA to lower his season mark from 6.40 to 4.40.

In that span, he's held opponents to a .183 average. His 27 called strikes against the Dodgers in his

last start tied Jhoulys Chacin (twice) for the most in a single game by a Padres pitcher in 2017.

Three things to know for this game

• In Lamet's last start, he allowed six hits to the Dodgers, ending a six-start streak of giving up four

or fewer. However, he struck out 10, the second time he's reached double-digit strikeouts.

• Flaherty, a Southern California native, dominated before his callup. Between Double-A and Triple-

A, he had a 2.18 ERA in 25 starts. He was the Cardinals' first-round Draft pick in 2014 out of

Harvard-Westlake in Studio City, Calif.

• The Cardinals sent second baseman Kolten Wong (back tightness) to St. Louis on Tuesday to

continue treatment there, so he will not be available the rest of this series. It's also unlikely third

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baseman Matt Carpenter (right shoulder) will play for the remainder of the series. Outfielders

Dexter Fowler (left hip) and Tommy Pham (right shoulder) are optimistic they'll be cleared to

return to the lineup Wednesday.

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Martinez slugs 2 home runs as Cardinals beat Padres 8-4 Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- The Cardinals' Jose Martinez is making the most of his opportunity. A series of injuries has opened the door for Martinez and his power was on display when St. Louis thumped the San Diego Padres 8-4 on Tuesday night.

"Talk about sparks," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "He has just come up with big at-bats in big situations."

Martinez smacked two home runs, rookie Harrison Bader added a career-high three RBI and Michael Wacha survived a shaky start to last six innings as the streaking Cardinals won for the fifth time in six games.

Martinez added a double to go 3 for 3 and finish with three RBI.

"I think it's confidence," Martinez said. "I think no matter what pitcher is out there I'm trying to do the best I can. You have to take advantage of this time and just try to stay positive and do the same thing."

Bader, who was a September call-up on Friday, stroked his third home run and had his third multi-hit game since being summoned for his second stint with the club.

"I'm just more relaxed," Bader said. "It's just a feeling that you belong. I think some young players struggle with that aspect."

Wacha (11-7), who blanked the Padres over his last four innings, was charged with four runs (three earned) and seven hits. He walked three and struck out six in winning for the second straight time after suffering three consecutive losses.

"Today wasn't necessarily what you are looking for but that is great sign of him just trusting himself," Matheny said. "He was taking his time, catching his breath, making sure he had his mind right. He has grown as a pitcher in how he is using his stuff."

Three Cardinals relievers shut out the Padres in the final three innings.

Travis Wood (2-2) lasted two-plus innings and was nicked for two home runs. Wood was rocked for seven runs (six earned) and seven hits, with two walks and two strikeouts. It was his second loss in his last three decisions.

"I was leaving some balls up, I made some mistakes and they didn't miss them," Wood said. "They made me pay for them and they got me out of there pretty quick."

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Padres manager Andy Green agreed that Wood was careless with his location as numerous offerings found the heart of the plate.

"Too many mid-middle mistakes," Green said. "Really whatever pitcher was thrown it ended up middle-middle."

Neither starting pitcher was effective early, although Wacha didn't struggle as badly as Wood.

Both teams came out swinging as they combined for 11 runs through the first 2 1/2 innings.

The Cardinals scored twice in the first when Martinez smacked his 12th homer, a two-run shot off Wood's 85 mph cut fastball.

The Padres tied it with two of their own, on Wil Myers' RBI single and Bader's throwing error. St. Louis tacked on three runs in the second, in what would be Wood's last full inning. Bader compensated for his erratic throw with a three-run homer into the left-field seats for a 5-2 lead.

San Diego made it 5-4 thanks to an unlikely, but not surprising, power source: Wood. He blasted a two-run homer, his 12th career homer (counting the playoffs) and his second in consecutive outings.

But Wood didn't record an out in the third, pulled after 45 pitches. Stephen Piscotty and Yadier Molina each contributed RBI for a 7-4 lead. Padres rookie Miguel Diaz threw four innings of scoreless relief.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: 3B Matt Shoemaker(right shoulder strain) had an MRI and it appears he'll be out until at least the weekend. ... CF Dexter Fowler (hip strain) remained out but he could start on Wednesday. ... 2B Kolten Wong (sore back) is expected to be ready by Friday. ... OF Tommy Pham (right shoulder strain) could return on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-0, 11.25), the team's first-round draft pick in 2014, makes his second start in the majors. Flaherty didn't get a decision in his debut against the Giants on Friday, pitching four innings and allowing five runs and eight hits. He struck out six. Padres: RHP Dinelson Lamet (7-6, 4.40) is coming off a stellar outing when he dueled the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw. Lamet was on the losing end of a 1-0 game. But he surrendered but a run and six hits over six innings, with 10 strikeouts.

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Padres On Deck: Playoffs Open

Wednesday for Three Padres’

Affiliates

Triple-A El Paso opens defense of PCL title; AA-San

Antonio, A-Fort Wayne also seeking titles

By Bill Center

Three of the Padres’ four full-season minor league affiliates open post-season play Wednesday night.

— Triple-A El Paso opens defense of its Pacific Coast League championship in the opener of a best-of-five series against Reno in the Nevada city. The Chihuahuas won eight of their last 10 games — and went 19–9 over the last 28 games — to win a third straight PCL Pacific South division title with a 73–69 record.

— Double-A San Antonio, which won both the first and second-half Southern Division titles in the Texas League, opens the best-of-five series against Midland at Wolff Stadium in San Antonio. The Missions finished the season with a 78–62 record.

— Single-A Fort Wayne opens the best-of-three first round of the Midwest League playoffs at Bowling Green. The TinCaps were 42–28 in the second half and 68–72 overall.

A closer look at each series:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO — The first two games of the series will be played in Reno. The series shifts to El Paso Friday night with the Chihuahuas also hosting the fourth and fifth games Saturday and Sunday (if needed) at Southwest University Stadium. Right-hander Chris Huffman (3–1, 3.77 earned run average in seven starts) will start the series opener for El Paso.

El Paso got a late-season boost when the Padres optioned right fielder Hunter Renfroe to the Chihuahuas. The PCL’s Most Valuable Player in 2016 went 28-for-55 (.509) in his return to the Chihuahuas with seven doubles, a triple, four homers, 18 RBIs and 18 runs scored with a 1.448

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OPS in 14 games. Renfroe was named the PCL Player of the Week for each of the final two weeks of the season.

Nick Buss (.348) became the first Chihuahua to win the PCL batting title. But he is El Paso’s fifth outfielder behind Renfroe, Franchy Cordero, Travis Jankowski and Rafael Ortega. Cordero finished seventh in the PCL with a .326 batting average with 21 doubles, 18 triples and 17 homers. He led the league in triples with a Padres all-time minor league mark of 18. Ortega tied for the PCL lead with 26 steals and finished 13th in the batting race at .317. Jankowski came on late to hit .266.

Corner infielder Christian Villanueva has been a Chihuahuas’ leader throughout the season, batting .296 with 28 doubles, two triples, 20 homers and 86 RBIs.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO — Right-hander Enyel De Los Santos will start the post-season opener in San Antonio. The Missions will host the first two games at Wolff Stadium. Games third and four (if necessary) will be in Midland. The fifth game, if needed, would be back at San Antonio.

Right fielder Franmil Reyes led the Texas League with 25 homers and finished second with 102 RBIs. Texas League All-Star second baseman Luis Urías led the league in on-base percentage (.398) and finished sixth in batting average (.296). Right-handed starter Brett Kennedy led the league in wins (13), finished fourth in strikeouts (134) and sixth in ERA (3.70). De Los Santos was third in strikeouts (138) and eighth in ERA (3.78). Right-handed closer Trey Wingenter led the Texas League with 20 saves. The Missions staff set the all-time Texas League record for strikeouts.

Two of the Padres top prospects form San Antonio’s double play combination. Urías, 20, is the Padres’ third-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline. Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., 18, who was promoted from Fort Wayne late in the season, is №4.

The Missions’ rotation includes three top prospects from the 2016 draft — first-rounders Cal Quantrill (the Padres’ second-ranked prospect) and Eric Lauer (№8) and fourth-round pick Joey Lucchesi (№9).

SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE — The TinCaps open the best of three series in Bowling Green Wednesday, then return to Fort Wayne for Thursday’s second game. The TinCaps will also host the third game, if needed, Friday. This is the eighth time in the last nine seasons that Fort Wayne has made the Midwest League playoffs.

Fort Wayne had the youngest roster in the league at the beginning of the Midwest League season. The players to watch are starting pitchers Michel Baez and Adrian Morejon of Cuba and Pedro Avila of the Dominican Republic. Morejon is rated as the Padres’ No., 6 prospect with Baez at №7.

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Third baseman Hudson Potts finished strong and has 20 homers and 69 RBIs with a .253 batting average. Cuban outfielder Jorge Oña, the Padres’ №11 prospect, hit .277 with 11 homers and 64 RBIs. The TinCaps got an added boost recently when first baseman Brad Zunica (18 homers) and catcher Marcus Greene Jr. were activated from the disabled list.

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This Day in Padres History, 9/6

Game-winning shot by Gwynn; walk-off homers by

Roberts, McAnulty

By Bill Center

Sept. 6, 1975 — Right-hander Brent Strom allows six hits and a walk with four strikeouts in a complete game as the Padres scored a 2–1 win over Houston in the Astrodome.

Sept. 6, 1990 — Bip Roberts hit a three-run, walk-off homer with two out in the 10th to give the Padres a 3–0 victory over Houston at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris combined on the five-hit shutout.

Sept. 6, 1999 — Tony Gwynn hits a three-run homer as the Padres defeat the Pirates 4–3 in Pittsburgh.

Sept. 6, 2006 — Pinch-hitter Paul McAnulty hits a two-run, walk-off homer with one out in the 11th inning to give the Padres a 2–0 victory over Colorado at Petco Park.

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Andy’s Address, 9/5

Andy addresses Lyles as the sixth starter, Wood,

Solarte, Miguel Diaz

By Bill Center

Andy Green announced at his pregame media session Tuesday that the Padres will be going to a six-man rotation with right-hander Jordan Lylesmoving onto the sixth slot.

“We’re keeping Jordan Lyles in the rotation,” said Green. “We’re going to stick with a six-man rotation moving forward. You get to this point in the season and there’s really no point not to rest pitchers, especially your younger starters in (Dinelson) Lamet and (Luis) Perdomo. It gives them an extra day off between every start.”

“This is Lamet’s first season and Perdomo’s second. Those are guys you look at as benefitting from the extra rest. Clayton Richard will get last start here (on Thursday) and Jordan Lyles has the first start in Arizona.”

“The expectation is that this would be for the rest of the season. We have the right to change things if something is not functioning the way we want it to. Then we’ll adjust it accordingly. After the series in Arizona, we’ll see two off days in a span of four days, which with a six-man rotation ends up being a lot of rest. We could make an adjustment, although for now we feel good moving forward with those six guys.”

In his first start for the Padres in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers, Lyles allowed two runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

“Lyles used more of his four-seam fastball than the two seamer,” said Green. “He has explosion up in the zone. He has a number of weapons. It’s a real fastball. He competed very well.”

Green turned to discussing Tuesday night’s starter, left-hander Travis Wood. “With the Cardinals running a right-handed dominated lineup out there, it’s going to be about mixing pitches and throwing strikes,” said the manager. He had trouble with pitch efficiency in his last couple of starts which is why he hasn’t gone deeper, but he’s done a great job battling for us and giving us a chance to win.

“I’d love to see him get a little deeper into the ballgame but if he manages to give us five or six scoreless innings like he’s done a couple of times for us, that will be good, too.”

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Wood has faced St. Louis more than any other team and Green addressed the familiarity the Cardinals might have with Wood.

“They definitely have familiarity with him,” said Green. “But it’s a much different lineup right now. (Matt) Carpenter is out, (Kolton) Wong is out . . . a number of their guys who have been around for a while aren’t in their lineup right now. They have a bunch of young guys over there who all have talent.”

“I don’t know if they have the level of familiarity that one would expect against Wood right now. That can be an advantage or a disadvantage. For Wood, he’s intelligent so he learns and uses it to his advantage.”

Green said his club is fresh despite playing five games over the past four days.

“Everybody missed one of those games at some point in time,” said Green. “Most the guys are relatively fresh. It was a hot weekend, we had some heat and humidity here which almost never happens. It’s cooling down a little bit. Today is the first time we’re taking batting practice in almost a week. Most of them are well rested.”

Green spoke more on the mental development of Perdomo and Lamet.

“I don’t think Lamet gets too excited,” said Green. “From the first day he showed up in New York, he’s seemed poised on the mound . . . he’s been very calm. When things haven’t gone well, I don’t think it’s because he’s been rattled. . . more because his stuff wasn’t there that day. I think we’re pleased with him in that regard. It’s fun watching him take steps forward with his command major steps forward in his last start with command of his fastball.”

“In Perdomo’s case, there is so much desire to win and do well for the team, it does impact him from time to time, the bad call, or the bad play or bad pitch He’s grown in that capacity over the last month. Yesterday, that ball in the gap, maybe it should have been caught. There are two in and runners at first and second with on one out. I’ve see times when he’s been pitching where that would have turned into four and five-run inning. Perdomo is advancing.”

Green spoke briefly on Yangervis Solarte at short, home-cooking for pitchers at Petco Park and the role of Rule 5 rookie right-hander Miguel Diaz.

“Solarte has played beyond anyone’s expectations but his own at this point at short,” said Green. “The flexibility of him playing short has given us has been huge. We’re able to get another bat into the lineup. We’re thrilled with his defense.”

On why some pitchers pitch well at Petco Park. “Most love pitching in front of home fans,” said Green. “At one time this was a pitcher’s ballpark, now plays very fair. But guys are comfortable pitching on their home mound. They have their routines and the fans.”

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Finally, on the role of Diaz, who recently had been penciled in to possibly make a start or two before the end of the season.

“Miguel Diaz going to pitch out of the bullpen,” said Green. “He was one swing away from coming in Monday and pitching two to three innings. We’ve done a really good job of staying in every game here recently, which has kept the long man from pitching. When the opportunity arises, he’ll get the opportunity to throw extended innings in that role.”

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Former Oregon State receiver Hunter Jarmon exceeding expectations at start of pro

baseball career

By Danny Moran

The Oregonian/OregonLive

Last Saturday, as a brisk two-minute drill secured Oregon State football's first win of 2017, Hunter

Jarmon was taking one last set of pre-game batting practice swings.

The former Oregon State wide receiver likely would have been a go-to target for quarterback Jake Luton

on the 77-yard march that spared OSU the disaster of an FCS loss to Portland State. Instead, he could only

watch his former teammates for one quarter before heading to Maryvale Baseball Park to aggressively

develop his skills for a new full-time sport.

The 22-year-old Jarmon's home base for the summer was in Peoria, Arizona, a northern Phoenix suburb

that features the training hub of the San Diego Padres. In a surprise turn of events, he signed with the

Padres in June and joined one of their rookie league affiliates, foregoing his senior season of football at

Oregon State.

His first season back at his favorite childhood sport yielded growing pains along with pleasant surprises.

Jarmon hit .247 while sharing time in a five-man outfield platoon after spending three years solely

focused on football.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said.

The 5-foot-11 Jarmon finished his college football career with 41 catches for 555 yards and three

touchdowns. He would have had an ample opportunity to add to those numbers as a senior before the

unique chance came his way.

Jarmon was sitting in his Corvallis home in May when assistant athletic director for student-athlete

development Jason Thomas reached out. Thomas told Jarmon about Preston Mattingly, the son of Don

Mattingly and a scout from the Padres who reached out after taking note of the wideout based on his

performance as an elite high school recruit in his native Waco, Texas.

Mattingly wanted to see if Jarmon wanted to give baseball one last try.

"At first I thought it was a joke," Jarmon said.

Jarmon had not thrown a ball or swung a bat - let alone played competitive baseball - since 2014.

He arrived in Corvallis on a football scholarship and also made the 35-man Oregon State baseball roster

that featured the likes of future Major Leaguers Michael Conforto and Andrew Moore. Yet Jarmon said

he was dealing with personal issues at the time and had struggled to learn the complexities of the football

playbook.

Less than two months into the 2014 baseball season, he left the team and focused all his attention on

football. It is a decision he said he has long regretted.

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"I wish I would have played baseball and football my four years there," Jarmon said.

He was the Beavers' fourth-leading receiver as a freshman and sophomore, but his production diminished

as OSU went from Sean Mannion to a trio of freshmen quarterbacks. An ankle injury then cut his 2016

season short.

Still, Jarmon had been one of the highlights for OSU during its 2017 spring practice. Victor Bolden was

preparing for the NFL draft and neither Seth Collins (illness) nor Noah Togiai (knee) could participate, so

Jarmon emerged as a senior leader and caught two touchdowns of 60 yards or more at the Spring Game.

But the chance to rectify his decision to leave baseball outweighed playing for one more shot at a bowl

game.

Jarmon had five catches for 44 yards and one touchdown in 2016, but only played six games due to an

ankle sprain. (AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)

He said he hit two home runs during batting practices throughout a two-day workout at Goss Stadium

after OSU, the No. 1 team in the country, finished its day's work. When the Padres made a contract offer,

he told football coach Gary Andersen and learned he had full support, even if it thinned the Beavers'

receiving corps.

"I think it's my job to support them if I am who I say I am," Andersen said. "If I'm a farce, I would say,

'Stay here and play because I don't really care about you. I just need you to be on this football team.' But I

don't need to do that."

Coaches for the "AZL Padres 2" of the Arizona League introduced Jarmon to the basics of baseball

throughout their 10-week season. He arrived at the park early for what hitting coach Vinny Lopez called

"Hitting 101 with Jarmon," going through fundamental swing drills to improve muscle memory before

other younger players arrived.

During his relatively short time in Arizona, Lopez said Jarmon shortened his bat path to more effectively

catch up to power pitching. Consistently anticipating late-count breaking balls will be a continuing

process.

While the footwork Jarmon developed on the gridiron was key to his development as an outfielder, Lopez

especially credited him for the calming influence he provided for a team packed with teenagers and said

his football background should help him going forward.

"He has no fear," Lopez said. "Half the battle for a young player is a lack of confidence, a lack of

experience. That causes a little fear, a little anxiety. When Jarmon gets in the box, I don't sense that at

all."

Jarmon returned to Corvallis after his baseball season finale and will be in attendance when the Beavers

host Minnesota on Saturday before returning to Arizona to play in the fall instructional league.

Football took a toll on his body and although Jarmon maintains friendships throughout the OSU roster

and will soon be back in Reser Stadium, he does not look back at the playing time that could now be on

the table.

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"I'm loving this decision," Jarmon said. "I try not to think about football anymore."