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Padres Press Clips Sunday, July 30, 2017
Article Source Author Page
Padres back Dinelson Lamet in fourth consecutive victory UT San Diego Lin 2
Padres to activate Solarte, Hedges on Sunday UT San Diego Lin 5
Minors Adrian Morejon strong in TinCaps debut UT San Diego Sanders 8
First pitch: Wil Myers to get three days off UT San Diego Sanders 11
Suddenly-surging Padres trip Pirates MLB.com Cassavell/Berry 13
Pirela’s versatility , speed keep him in lineup MLB.com Ruiz 16
Padres set to welcome back Hedges, Solarte MLB.com Cassavell 18
Maton unfazed by high-leverage situations MLB.com Ruiz 20
Padres aim for sweep behind Richard MLB.com Ruiz 22
Lamet sharp for Padres , who beat Pirates 4-2 Associated Press AP 24
Padres On Deck: Austin Allen Has 2 of Storm’s 7 Homers FriarWire Center 26
This Day in Padres History, 7/30 FriarWire Center 29
Aaron Judge is slumping, but Mark McGwire’s rookie Newsday Marcus 30
HR mark still is in reach
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Padres back Dinelson Lamet in fourth consecutive victory
Dennis Lin
Jose Pirela needed a change of pants.
He had just slid into third for the second time in three innings. His uniform already
had been dirtied by his earlier dash around the bases. Now, a hole had opened in the
fabric near his right thigh.
Such efforts carried the Padres to a 4-2 decision over the Pittsburgh Pirates on
Saturday. They claimed their fourth consecutive victory with enough offense and a
strong performance by Dinelson Lamet. The rookie right-hander carried a shutout bid
into the seventh. He faltered there, but the Padres withstood a charge.
They never trailed. Lamet overcame a 27-pitch first inning. He took the mound in the
second with a 2-0 lead.
Manuel Margot had led off the bottom of the first with a single, stolen second and
advanced to third. Pirela, who started at first base while Wil Myers received a
breather, had tripled to right. Hector Sanchez had rifled a double.
Lamet seemed emboldened by his advantage. He struck out two of the Pirates’ three
batters in the second. Another 1-2-3 inning ensued.
“I knew I had thrown a lot of pitches there (in the first inning),” Lamet said through
an interpreter. “So going forward, from the second inning on, I was really just trying
to be efficient and get outs early in the count.”
In the bottom of the third, Lamet cheered as a teammate dashed around the bases.
One of the Padres’ most welcome surprises of the season, Pirela added another
moment to a growing résumé. The 27-year-old lined a drive to the gap in right-center.
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He sped past second, headed, again, for third. He ruined his outfit, but joined select
company.
Pirela, who has consistently hit near the top of the Padres’ order since his June 6 call-
up, became the eighth major leaguer this season with two triples in one game. In
franchise history, only 15 others have accomplished the feat.
“He’s been hitting balls hard ever since he’s been here,” manager Andy Green said.
“You look up, every day he’s in the middle of something special for us. He’s been a
huge part of what we’ve been able to do over the last month and change. Been a real
pleasant surprise this year. Just continues to play really, really well. Wherever you
stick him on the field, he gets the job done, and then it’s really about his bat.”
Before 2017, Pirela had appeared in 59 major league games across parts of three
seasons. This year, he has played in 43, hitting .298 with 24 extra-base hits.
“It’s something I’ve honestly been waiting for my whole career,” Pirela said through
an interpreter. “It’s pretty hard to show what you can do when you’re only getting a
chance to play every now and then. I think that’s it. I am getting that opportunity
finally, and I’m able to show what I can do as a player and how I can help the team.”
After the bottom of the third, Pirela found time to slip on a fresh pair of pants.
Meanwhile, Lamet continued mowing through the Pirates’ order.
Relying on a formidable fastball-slider combination, the pitcher retired an 11th
consecutive batter to end the top of the fourth. After a Hunter Renfroe double gave
him a 3-0 lead, Lamet returned to the mound for the top of the fifth.
David Freese’s leadoff single represented Pittsburgh’s first hit of the night. Adam
Frazier followed with a single of his own. Lamet’s defense picked him up. Francisco
Cervelli lined into a double play. A fly out stranded Freese.
Soon, Margot padded the lead, launching his third home run in four games. Lamet
threw up another 1-2-3 inning.
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In the seventh, he lost control. He hit a batter, walked another and threw two wild
pitches. Craig Stammen replaced the rookie. Up again, Freese notched an RBI single.
Another single loaded the bases. A run scored during a double play. Phil Maton
entered and halted the rally with a strikeout.
“I probably should have grabbed him after he hit (Andrew) McCutchen, but you want
to see how a young guy rebounds,” Green said. “Looking at our schedule, if nothing
changes with the roster construction, his next start is next Satruday. So you’re looking
at two extra days off. So let’s go up over 100 pitches, show what you’ve got.”
Lamet finished with 104 pitches, surpassing his previous career high by eight. Over
six-plus innings of two-run ball, he allowed two hits and two walks. He struck out
seven.
“He was around the zone pretty much most of the day,” Green said. “It wasn’t
pinpoint command, but we really don’t look at him as that type of pitcher at this point
in time anyway. It’s stuff over location, and it’s trusting that that stuff’s electric
enough that if you mix it effectively, it’s going to get batters out, and it did that. I
thought he did a really good job.”
In what has become a familiar sight, the Padres’ bullpen closed out a victory. Maton
reemerged for the eighth and successfully worked around a leadoff single.
Brad Hand, who had saved each of the previous three games, remained seated as
Kirby Yates jogged in for the ninth. Three batters later, Yates, an April waiver claim,
had earned his first save of the season and lowered his ERA with the Padres to 1.78.
“He’s thrown the ball really well for us,” Green said. “He’s been another great pickup,
in the same way Brad Hand was last year.”
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Padres to activate Solarte, Hedges on Sunday
Dennis Lin
The Padres expect to activate Yangervis Solarte and Austin Hedges on Sunday
morning before their series finale against Pittsburgh. Hedges is scheduled to catch
left-hander Clayton Richard, while Solarte will start somewhere in the infield, though
it won’t be at shortstop.
Both players returned from brief rehab assignments to take batting practice Saturday
at Petco Park. Solarte, San Diego’s everyday second baseman until he suffered a left
oblique strain last month, went 2-for-7 with a walk over two games with Triple-A El
Paso. He played nine innings of shortstop Friday as he prepared to offer the Padres
some flexibility.
With second baseman Carlos Asuaje and third baseman Cory Spangenbergproducing,
the Padres would prefer to keep both players in the lineup. Meanwhile, manager Andy
Green considers Solarte a more natural fit at shortstop than Asuaje or Spangenberg.
“I think it’s probably going to be our best option at this point in time, between those
three guys, if you’re trying to run all of them out there in the lineup on a consistent
basis,” manager Andy Green said. “The nice thing about Soly is he can play second a
day, play short a day, play third a day, stay in the lineup every single day, do what he
does very well, which is be versatile and swing the bat.”
Green said he had penciled Solarte in at a non-shortstop position for Sunday. The
manager, who declined to reveal his choice, indicated that Solarte will start at short in
the near future.
Solarte’s major league experience in the six-hole consists of eight appearances in 2014
— five with the Yankees, then three with the Padres.
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“I played behind Derek Jeter when he got a day off, and when they traded me to San
Diego I play third base and play shortstop, too,” Solarte said. “It was a long time ago,
but I don’t care. … I try to do my best at every position. You never know. I just try to
help the team and be ready.”
Hedges has not played for the Padres since July 14, when he sustained a minor
concussion taking a foul ball off his face mask. As scheduled, he played five innings in
an Arizona Rookie League game Friday. He went 0-for-3 at the plate.
“Caught fine, didn’t necessarily swing the bat very well,” Green said. “We weren’t
really concerned about that. We just wanted to make sure his head was OK. He felt
good that way.”
Hedges and Solarte’s returns will necessitate a pair of corresponding roster moves.
“I think it’s well within the realm of possibility that we look to move a guy out of the
bullpen back down to Triple-A, considering the multiple days off we have coming up
in the next week,” Green said.
Three-day reset In his latest attempt to spark the Padres’ most important player, Green has resorted
to giving Wil Myers consecutive games off. The first baseman was not in Saturday’s
lineup, and Green said he would not be in Sunday’s either. Jose Pirela assumed
Myers’ typical spot Saturday, playing first and batting third.
Since a scorching April, Myers has yet to go on a sustained run of offensive success.
He recently homered on three consecutive days but was 2-for-17 since. His average
(.246) and on-base percentage (.326) have sunk to season lows.
“He gives an unbelievable amount of effort every single day,” Green said. “You look
around baseball, you see times where guys just take a couple days off. Couple that
with an off-day (Monday), it ends up being three days, and give him a chance to
regroup and get going back in the right direction.
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“Completely my decision. Just felt like it was best for him at this point in time, as
hard as he’s been grinded, to step back. Last year, I remember Justin Upton going
through that with Detroit. I think he had three consecutive days off, and next thing
you know with him, he comes back and gets two to three hits every single day.
Sometimes, it’s nice just to take a step back, and we’ll take that approach with him
here, and hopefully he takes off from it.”
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Minors
Adrian Morejon strong in TinCaps debut
Jeff Sanders
Again, Adrian Morejon remained in complete control in his Midwest League debut.
The 18-year-old left-hander didn’t walk a batter and allowed just one run on five hits
in five innings in low Single-A Fort Wayne’s 3-2 win over Dayton, Morejon’s first start
since a promotion to the full-season team.
Morejon struck out two and threw 57 of his 77 pitches for strikes in the no-decision.
After starting the season at short-season Tri-City, Morejon – who signed out of Cuba
last summer for a club record $11 million – has a 3.35 ERA, 37 strikeouts and just
three walks in 40 1/3 innings. Six of his eight starts have come without issuing a free
pass.
Right-hander Lake Bachar (1-0, 2.25) struck out four over the final four innings for
the win. He scattered a run on two hits and no walks.
Second baseman Reinaldo Ilarraza (.221), center fielder Buddy Reed (.231) and
catcher A.J. Kennedy (.152) all drove in one run, while designated hitter Marcus
Greene Jr. went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
The TinCaps are 22-13 in the second half and 48-57 overall.
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (52-55)
• Round Rock 9, Chihuahuas 2: LHP Dillon Overton (3-4, 7.35) struck out three
and allowed eight runs – seven earned – on 11 hits and two walks in five
innings. CF Travis Jankowski stole his second base and went 1-for-4 in the
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rehab game and 1B Christian Villanueva (.304) went 2-for-4 with a double and
two runs scored.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (20-16, 61-45)
• Frisco 2, Missions 1: RHP Chris Huffman (4-4, 3.26) allowed two runs on seven
hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. RHP Cesar Vargas (3.11) struck out three
over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. 2B Noah Perio (.265) went 2-for-4 with a double
and RF Franmil Reyes drove in San Antonio’s lone run on a sacrifice fly. INF
Luis Urias remained out of the lineup with an ankle sprain.
HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (14-22, 49-57)
• Storm 18, Visalia 1: RHP Jacob Nix (4-3, 4.32) got back on track with seven
innings of one-run ball. He struck out eight and scattered five hits and a walk. C
Austin Allen (.300) drove in six runs on four hits, including a double and two
homers. His 18 blasts are tied for most in the system with Christian Villanueva
and Jabari Blash. Also going dee in the game were C Kyle Overstreet (.320) with
his fourth homer, RF Edwin Moreno (.277) with his eighth, CF Michael Gettys
(.262) with his 11th, 1B Fernando Perez (.283) with his fifth and 3B Carlos Belen
(.247) with his ninth.
SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (23-21)
• Vancouver 5, Dust Devils 4: LHP Thomas Cosgrove (0-1, 5.51) allowed five runs
on six hits and two walks in four innings. LF Robbie Podorsky (.371) went 4-for-
5 with a triple, his 10th steal and a run scored and CF Tre Carter (.229) went 2-
for-4 with a triple, his seventh steal and a run scored.
ROOKIE AZL PADRES1 (15-13)
• Athletics 7, Padres 4: RHP Michell Miliano (0-1, 9.00) struck out three, but
allowed two runs on three hits in an inning in his second pro appearance. LHP
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Danny Sexton (5.91) allowed five runs – four earned – in 3 1/3 innings. CF
Angel Santos (.320) went 2-for-2 with a run scored and CF Jeisson Rosario
(.287) walked and swiped two baes. 2B Esteury Ruiz (.371) went 0-for-3 with a
strikeout.
Notable
• The DSL Padres (17-29) and the Padres’ second AZL team (15-12) were all
rained out on Saturday.
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First pitch: Wil Myers to get three days off
Jeff Sanders
Andy Green is giving Wil Myers the day off. In fact, he’s giving his scuffling first
baseman three days off – Saturday’s game, Sunday’s game and Monday’s off-day.
The hope is an extended mental break can jump-start Myers’ bat.
“We’re just letting him take a step back, reboot and re-center,” the Padres’ second-
year skipper said after penciling Jose Pirela into the lineup at first base. “He gives
an incredible amount of effort every single day. You take a look around baseball and
you see times when guys take a couple days off and couple that with off days and they
get a chance to regroup and get going in a different direction.”
Myers could use a new trajectory.
He hasn’t had a two-hit game since July 16, one of just two in a month in which he’s
hitting .195/.287/.390. Over that stretch, Myers has struck out 30 times in 22 games
to up his total to an NL-worst 127 in 100 games this season.
For the season, Myers hitting .246/.326/.463 and is tied for the team-lead in homers
(20) with Hunter Renfroe. His 49 RBIs are also tops on the team, but he has just
seven this month.
At last, a winning month With two games left, the Padres are 13-10 in July, their first winning month since
going 13-11 in July 2015. The Padres haven’t managed back-to-back winning months
since 2013 (May-June).
“Obviously we’re pleased things are moving in the right direction, especially with the
noise that's been around the trade deadline and losing three guys and bouncing back
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from that and winning games again,” Green said. “I feel good about those things, but I
don't get too caught up in winning months or winning streaks.”
Notable
• INF Yangervis Solarte (oblique) returned to San Diego after playing all nine
innings at shortstop in Friday’s game in El Paso. He was 2-for-7 with two RBIs,
a walk and two strikeouts in two rehab games. Solarte will be activated Sunday.
• C Austin Hedges (concussion) will also be activated Sunday after catching
five innings on Friday in the Arizona Rookie League. Hedges went 0-for-3 with
two strikeouts.
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Suddenly-surging Padres trip Pirates
By AJ Cassavell and Adam Berry / MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- Jose Pirela tripled twice, Manuel Margot homered, and the suddenly red-hot
Padres put another dent in the Pirates' playoff push Saturday night.
San Diego's 4-2 victory -- its fourth straight -- dropped the Bucs 5 1/2 games back of the Cubs in
the National League Central race. Dinelson Lamet, whose nasty slider was in full effect, carried
a no-hit bid into the fifth inning and was victorious for a second consecutive start. The rookie
right-hander allowed two runs on two hits while striking out seven over six-plus frames.
"It wasn't pinpoint command," said Padres manager Andy Green. "We really don't look at him as
that type of pitcher anyway. It's stuff over location. And it's [about] trusting that. That stuff's
electric enough that if you mix it effectively, it's going to get batters out. It did that."
The Pirates have dropped six of their last seven games, and righty Ivan Nova was roughed up in
the bottom of the first inning. He allowed two runs on four hits in the frame, though he would
settled down a bit and last through five.
Hunter Renfroe tacked on an RBI single in the fourth and Margot added his eighth homer of the
season an inning later. He smashed an 0-1 changeup from Nova off the second deck of the
Western Metal Building.
"Just missing my pitches. I didn't make pitches when I had to," said Nova, who placed the blame
on his control more than his stuff. "They're a young team, really aggressive. They put some
good swings on it."
• Location issues haunt Nova
The Pirates finally got to Lamet in the seventh, scoring twice. But reliever Craig
Stammen got Francisco Cervelli to bounce into a pivotal double play with the bases loaded. Two
batters later, Phil Maton struck out Jose Osuna, ending the threat.
With Brad Hand on the shelf after saving three straight games, Kirby Yates cruised through a
perfect ninth for his first save since 2014. He struck out a pair and has fanned 54 hitters in 35
1/3 nnings since he was claimed by the Padres in late April.
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"He's thrown the ball really well for us," Green said. "He's been another great pickup, in the
same way Brad Hand was last year."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
No way, Jose: The first of Pirela's two triples got the Padres on the board in the bottom of the first
inning. After Margot led off with a single, Pirela smashed a line drive that one-hopped the right-
field wall. He would come around to score on Hector Sanchez's double. Pirela's third-inning triple
made him the 15th Padre with multiple triples in the same game and the first since Nick
Hundley did so in 2011. More >>
"It's pretty hard to show what you can do when you're only getting a chance to play every now
and then," said Pirela, who has 24 extra-base hits since his June callup. "I think that's it. I am
getting that opportunity finally, and I'm able to show what I can do as a player and how I can
help the team."
Double trouble: The Pirates didn't touch Lamet until the fifth inning, when Freese broke up his
early bid at a no-no with a single. Adam Frazier followed suit with a single as well. With two on
and nobody out, Cervelli smacked a sharp liner right at second baseman Carlos Asuaje, who
doubled Freese off second base. Jordy Mercer then popped to left, and the Bucs' rally ended as
quickly as it began.
"Double plays are pitchers' best friends," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "You're starting to
hunt there again. You're starting to get in position to maybe have a big inning. Then you get two
outs in one swing, that can be challenging. We do it to other teams. We got it done to ourselves
a couple times tonight."
QUOTABLE
"We just keep hunting. We just keep playing. You don't get concerned about all that other noise,
because that's what it is. You've got to take care of your own team. You've got to take care of
yourselves. That's what we need to do right now."-- Hurdle, on the Pirates' losing streak and
standing in the division
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Among qualified relievers, no National League pitcher has a higher swing-and-miss rate than
Kirby Yates' 18.1 percent mark this season. But on his two strikeouts Saturday, Freese and
Cervelli went down looking. Yates is the sixth different Padre to record a save this season.
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The Pirates had five hits, all singles, snapping a streak of 59 straight games with an extra-base
hit that dated back to May 22.
WHAT'S NEXT
Pirates: The Pirates will try to avoid a sweep with Gerrit Cole on the mound Sunday afternoon at
Petco Park. Cole, looking to finish a strong month, is set to start the series finale -- and the
Bucs' final game before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. Cole has posted a 2.52 ERA in
four starts this month, all wins for Pittsburgh. First pitch is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. ET.
Padres: Yangervis Solarte and Austin Hedges are expected back from the disabled list Sunday
when the Pirates and Padres conclude their three-game set at 1:40 p.m. PT. Clayton
Richard starts for San Diego, looking to put his recent struggles behind him.
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Pirela's versatility, speed keep him in lineup
By Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- Jose Pirela had a pair of triples Saturday, but he lost a pair of pants.
In San Diego's 4-2 victory against the Pirates, Pirela tied a franchise record, becoming the first
Padre with two three-baggers in a single game since Nick Hundley in 2011. But Pirela's historic
night couldn't save his pants.
As he slid into third to complete his second triple, the back of his right pant leg ripped. Once the
third inning ended, he changed into another pair, able to laugh about the mishap after the game.
"We've got plenty of pairs here," Pirela said through a team interpreter. "This is a professional
team, so we've got plenty of everything."
Pirela went hitless in the new pair of pants, but he continued to provide the Padres with the
fierce bat he has been since being promoted in early June. While playing four positions and
starting in the top six spots in the lineup, Pirela has constantly provided offense.
After short stints with the Yankees and Padres the past three years, Pirela is batting .298 with
an .835 OPS in a career-high 43 games. The 27-year-old finally has his first extended
opportunity.
"It's something I've honestly been waiting for my whole career," Pirela said. "It's pretty hard to
show what you can do when you're only getting a chance to play every now and then. I think
that's it. I am getting that opportunity finally, and I'm able to show what I can do as a player and
how I can help the team."
Batting third and playing first base Saturday, Pirela became the 15th Padre with two triples in a
game, done twice by only former outfielder and current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
With Wil Myers, San Diego's regular first baseman and No. 3 hitter, getting the night off,
manager Andy Green could plug in Pirela with no drop in production.
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"He's been hitting balls hard ever since he's been here," Green said. "It's not soft off his bat at
all. He's hitting balls hard. Takes an aggressive pass, puts good at-bats together. You look up,
every day he's in the middle of something special for us."
Pirela's first triple gave the Padres a lead they retained throughout Saturday's contest.
After Manuel Margot led off the bottom of the first with a single, he stole second before
advancing to third on a Carlos Asuaje flyball. Pirela then traded places with him, lacing the first
pitch he gto from Ivan Nova over right fielder Adam Frazier. It bounced off the wall and back
behind Frazier, allowing Pirela to flash his speed.
"My speed game is something I've always cared about or always taken care of," Pirela said. "I
think it is one of the reasons that I'm still here and playing the way I am today."
Unfortunately on Saturday, his speed cost him his pants.
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Padres set to welcome back Hedges, Solarte
Catcher, infielder likely to return from disabled list
Sunday
By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- Two key pieces are set to return to the Padres' lineup on Sunday
afternoon. Austin Hedges is expected back behind the plate after two weeks on the disabled list
with a concussion. And Yangervis Solarte will return from a left oblique strain -- though his
position remains a bit of a mystery.
Solarte, who spent the first three months at second base, strained his oblique in Chicago in late
June. With the emergence of Carlos Asuaje at second, it's likely Solarte will move around the
diamond, playing third base and even some shortstop.
"I'm always taking ground balls," Solarte said. "For me, you never know [where you'll be
needed]. I try to do my best at every position. You never know. I just try to help the team and be
ready."
Solarte hasn't played shortstop since 2014. He played nine innings there in a Triple-A rehab
game on Friday night.
Padres manager Andy Green said Solarte would not start at shortstop on Sunday. But he could
see time there later this week.
"The nice thing about Soly is he can play second a day, play short a day, play third a day,"
Green said. "[He can] stay in the lineup every single day, do what he does very well, which is be
versatile and swing the bat."
As for Hedges, he sustained his concussion taking a Brandon Belt foul ball off his mask on July
14. He caught five innings in the Arizona League on Friday.
"It was frustrating," Hedges said. "Each day I was feeling a little bit better, but didn't know what
that meant. I was just searching for what normal felt like again. It's felt like a lot longer than two
weeks."
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Since the injury, Hedges has made some adjustments to his mask, adding a bit more padding.
"There are some new masks, technologies that I'm looking into," Hedges said. "It's definitely not
super comfortable, but it's going to keep me safer."
To clear room for Hedges and Solarte, the Padres are likely to option an infielder and a reliever.
On the surface, lefty Kyle McGrath and shortstop Dusty Coleman -- both called up earlier this
week -- seem the likeliest options.
"No secret we have some roster decisions to make," said Green, who also noted that the two
off-days this week will give Hedges and Solarte ample time to re-acclimate themselves.
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Maton unfazed by high-leverage situations
Rookie showing his stuff in revamped Padres' bullpen
By Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- When right-hander Phil Maton is on the mound, he gives Padres manager Andy
Green a vibe similar to that of the All-Star reliever the rookie could soon replace as San Diego's
ninth-inning man.
Monday's trade with the Royals sent closer Brandon Maurer and setup man Ryan Buchter to
Kansas City, giving Maton an opportunity to pitch in more high-leverage situations. He took
advantage of his first shot Thursday, retiring all four batters he faced and striking out the side in
the eighth inning of a two-run game.
The trade also moved All-Star left-hander Brad Hand into the closer role. Hand, whose third
save in three days Friday gave him a 19-outing scoreless streak, could soon be traded as well,
potentially opening the closer's role for Maton.
Maton showed well again in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Pirates, as he tossed 1 1/3 scoreless
innings with two strikeouts.
"Phil's not scared of anything," Green said. "He's got some of the same Brad Hand demeanor.
No situation fazes him. He's going to give you his best stuff."
Maton, 24, didn't allow a run in his first 10 Major League outings. He has a 2.95 ERA, striking
out 24 in 21 1/3 innings while posting a 0.85 WHIP.
Maton said he was sad to lose a pair of mentors, but he's excited for his rise up the Padres'
bullpen ladder.
"They helped me out a lot," Maton said. "... It's just a matter of doing what I can to help fill that
void that Maurer and Buchter left in our bullpen. Guys are going to have to step up, and
hopefully, I'm one of them.
"High-leverage baseball, it's what I signed up for."
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This is only Maton's second month in the big leagues. He isn't preoccupied with closing games,
but simply pitching well enough to stay in San Diego. He knows his role could change further if
Hand gets moved, but Maton is content learning from the Padres' veterans, Hand included.
"Just the way he attacks hitters, the way he handles himself on the mound is something I feel
everyone should try to emulate," Maton said. "Just goes about it the right way, works hard.
Perfect person to try to copy."
Maton served as a closer during his rapid rise through the Minors after San Diego drafted him in
2015, but as a result, he didn't get much experience entering with runners already on base,
which Green identified as a role Maton is still learning.
Green said it also has been nice to see Maton use his slider more often recently. In the Minor
Leagues, Maton relied on his high-spin fastball. His four-seamer has the 33rd-highest average
spin rate in baseball, per Statcast™, allowing him to be effective as a reliever despite throwing
only nine of his 205 fastballs above 94 mph.
"Sometimes, the guy that's got that good of a fastball gets overly reliant on it," Green said. "At
the big league level, guys hit fastballs. That's just what they do. His willingness to mix in the
fastball [and] mix in the slider plays."
Maton has altered his throwing program, putting more emphasis on pregame work than in-game
adjustments so his arm is more rested and ready to face Major League batters.
"Closing's a lot of fun, so if that's what they want me to do, I'm happy with it," Maton said, "but if
not, I'm just as happy being here and filling whatever role they need me to do."
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Padres aim for sweep behind Richard By Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com
When the Pirates and Padres take the field for their series finale Sunday at Petco Park, it's
possible it will be the last time their rosters take the field as currently composed.
Neither team plays Monday, when the non-waiver Trade Deadline could shake up rosters
across the league. The Pirates are a team in limbo that could both buy and sell, while the
Padres, in the midst of a rebuild, have many tradeable assets, including Sunday starter Clayton
Richard.
A free agent after the season, Richard could prove more valuable to the Padres as an innings-
eater and clubhouse leader.
Opposing him will be right-hander Gerrit Cole, himself a rumored trade candidate earlier in the
season who's now likely to stay put through the deadline. Cole has had a strong July thus far,
with a 2.52 ERA in 24 innings as the Pirates have won all four of his starts.
"You take the one month where there were some challenges; balls were elevated, and they
didn't get missed. Outside of that, his stuff has played," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
"Take away the four starts in that span, it's been bottom of the zone, finish with velocity, spin to
the slider and breaking ball, changeup to both sides. It's been really good."
Things to know for this game:
● Out of the lineup Saturday, Padres first baseman Wil Myers will also get the day off Sunday,
manager Andy Green said. With Monday's scheduled off-day, Myers will get a three-day break
to "reboot, recenter," Green said. Myers is hitting .246 this season.
"He gives an unbelievable amount of effort every single day," Green said. "... Sometimes, it's
nice just to take a step back, and we'll take that approach with him here, and hopefully, he takes
off."
● The teams' closers, both of which are left-handers, have excelled as of late. Pittsburgh's
Felipe Rivero entered Saturday's game having not allowed a run in his past 10 appearances,
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while San Diego's Brad Hand has 19 straight scoreless outings after earning his third save in as
many nights Friday.
● While Cole has feasted in July, it's been nothing but famine for Richard since the end of June.
The veteran left-hander has gone 0-4 in his past five starts, allowing 63 baserunners in 27 2/3
innings. His 8.78 ERA is the highest of any starter in that span.
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Lamet sharp for Padres, who beat Pirates 4-2
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO -- Dinelson Lamet needed 27 pitches to get through the first inning. He settled down quite nicely from there. Lamet pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning and fellow rookie Manuel Margot homered and scored twice, leading the San Diego Padresto a 4-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night. "It was something that I was aware of and I focused on," Lamet said through a translator "I knew after that first inning that they had made me work and I had thrown a lot of pitches there. So going on from the second inning on, I tried to get outs early."
Lamet (5-4) held the Pirates hitless until David Freese and Adam Frazieropened the fifth with singles. The right-hander got Francisco Cervelli to line out to second baseman Carlos Asuaje, who doubled off Freese. Jordy Mercer flied out to end the inning. Lamet was pulled after the first two batters reached in the seventh. Craig Stammen came in and Freese responded with an RBI single. Adam Frazier then singled before Cervelli hit into a double play, bringing in Josh Bell. After Mercer walked, Phil Maton came in and struck out pinch hitter Jose Osuna to end the inning. "I was honestly just focused on getting deep into the game. ... I wanted to throw at least seven innings," Lamet said.
"He did a great job tonight," manager Andy Green said. "He was around the zone pretty much most of the day. It wasn't pinpoint command, but we don't really look at him as that type of pitcher. It's stuff over location. It's trusting that stuff. It's electric enough that if he mixes it effectively he's going to do a good job." San Diego stretched its win streak to four. Pittsburgh lost its fourth straight and sixth in seven games overall.
Kirby Yates pitched the ninth for his first save of the season and second of his career. Pittsburgh right-hander Ivan Nova (10-8) was charged with four runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked none. San Diego jumped on Nova for two in the first. Margot singled and scored on Jose Pirela's first of two triples. Hector Sanchez added a run-scoring double. Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit an RBI double in the fourth, and Margot added his eighth homer in the fifth. Pirela went 2 for 4 and scored a run. He is filling in at first base while slumping Wil Myers gets two games off.
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The Pirates have been frustrated in the first two games of the series.
"We need to show up tomorrow," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We need to shower well tonight and show up tomorrow and win a ballgame."
The Pirates are struggling to stay in the NL Central race while the Padres are buried in fourth place in the West.
"You keep playing," Hurdle said. "You don't get concerned about all that other noise, because that's what it is. You've got to take care of your own team, you've got to take care of yourselves, and that's what we need to do right now."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: Hurdle said OF Gregory Polanco (hamstring) is getting close to coming off the disabled list. Padres: C Austin Hedges(concussion) and 2B Yangervis Solarte (strained side muscle) are scheduled to come off the disabled list on Sunday. Solarte could play some shortstop. UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (8-7, 4.12 ERA), who lives in Santa Ana and played at UCLA, is scheduled to start the series finale Sunday. He is 5-1 with a 3.04 ERA in his last eight starts, and 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA in four career starts against San Diego. Padres: LHP Clayton Richard (5-11, 5.37 ERA) has a 2.01 ERA in eight appearances against the Pirates, including three starts.
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Padres On Deck: Austin Allen Has 2
of Storm’s 7 Homers
Morejon allows 1 run in 5 innings in first Fort
Wayne start
By Bill Center
Advanced Single-A catcher Austin Allen continued his assault on California League pitching Saturday night. And this time he had a lot of help.
Allen, who was the league’s Player of the Week each of the past two weeks, was 4-for-6 with a double, two homers and six RBIs as the Storm had a total of seven homers in an 18–1 win at Visalia. Allen also scored three runs while raising his batting average to .300.
Other Storm homers were hit by Michael Gettys, Fernando Perez, Carlos Belen, Edwin Moreno and Kyle Overstreet.
Right-handed starter Jacob Nix (4–3, 4.32 ERA) allowed a run on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in seven innings for the Storm.
Elsewhere in the Padres’ system:
— Left-handed starter Adrian Morejon, the Padres’ sixth-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, allowed a run on five hits with two strikeouts in his first start since being promoted to Single-A Fort Wayne.
— Left fielder Robbie Podorsky (.371) was 4-for-5 with a triple and a stolen base and a run scored for short-season Single-A Tri-City.
27
Around the Farm:
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (52–55) — ROUND ROCK 9, Chihuahuas 2: 1B Christian Villanueva (.304) was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. 2B Diego Goris (.286) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. DH Travis Jankowski (.207) was 1-for-4 with a stolen base. SS Chase d’Arnaud (.377) was 1-for-4. Starting LHP Dillon Overton (3–4, 7.35 ERA) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings. RHP Logan Bawcom(2.70) allowed a run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings. RHP Adam Cimber (3.56) struck out two in a perfect inning.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (20–16, 61–45) — Frisco 2, MISSIONS 1: Starting RHP Chris Huffman (4–4, 3.26 ERA) allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks with a strikeout in 5 2/3 innings. RHP Cesar Vargas (5.75) allowed a hit in two scoreless innings. RHP Trey Wingenter (1.96) issued a walk in an otherwise perfect inning. 2B Noah Perio (.265) was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. RF Franmil Reyes (.260) was 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. 1B Josh Naylor (.258) was 1-for-3.
ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (14–22, 49–57) — Storm 18, VISALIA 1: 3B Belen (.247) was 2-for-5 with a double and his homer for four RBIs. CF Gettys (.262) was 2-for-4 with a walk, a hit-by-pitcher with three runs scored and his homer. 1B Perez (.283) was 2-for-5 with a double, his homer, a hit-by-pitcher and two runs scored. Moreno (.277) was 2-for-4 with a walk, his homer and three runs scored. Overstreet (.320) had a double and his homer in five at-bats with two RBIs and two runs scored. CF Rod Boykin (.338) had a double and a triple in five at-bats with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. LHP Thomas Dorminy (3.26) followed Nix and allowed a hit with a strikeout in s scoreless inning. RHP Gerardo Reyes (1.93) allowed a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning.
SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (22–13, 48–57) — TIN CAPS 3, Dayton 2: Starting RHP Lake Bachar (1–0, 2.25 ERA) followed Morejon and allowed a run on two hits with four strikeouts over four innings to get the
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win. 2B Reinaldo Ilarraza (.221) was 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a RBI. SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (.270) was 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. DH Marcus Greene Jr. (.276) had a double in three at-bats with a run scored. CF Buddy Reed (.231) was 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a run scored and a RBI. C A.J. Kennedy (.152) was 1-for-3 with a RBI.
SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI CITY (4–3, 23–21) — VANCOUVER 5, Dust Devils 4: CF Tre Carter (.229) was 2-for-4 with a triple and a steal for a stolen base in support of Podorsky. 2B Kelvin Melean (.238) was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a RBI. 3B Luis Almanzar (.219) and RF Greg Lambert (.286) were each 1-for-4 with a run scored. SS Justin Lopez (.260) was 1-for-5 with a RBI. Starting LHP Thomas Cosgrove (0–1, 5.51) allowed five runs on six hits and two walks in four innings to suffer the loss. RHP Andres Munoz (5.27) allowed a hit with three strikeouts in a scoreless inning. RHP Trevor Megill(0.00) struck out five in two scoreless innings. RHP Jose Galindo (0.00) struck out the side in a perfect inning.
ARIZONA ROOKIE LEAGUE PADRES-1 (15–13) — ATHLETICS 7, Padres-1 4: OF Angel Santos (.320) was 2-for-2 with a run scored. 1B Jason Pineda(.302) was 1-for-3 with a RBI. RF Christopher Bono (.263) and SS Yordi Barley (.281) each had a double in three at-bats with a run scored. C Jose Lezama (.350) had a RBI double in three at-bats. RHP Michell Miliano (0–1, 9.00 ERA) allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts in an inning. LHP Danny Sexton (5.91) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. LHP Eduardo Solano (7.36) issued two walks with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 hitless, scoreless innings. RHP Korey Anderson (0.00) issued a walk with a strikeout in an otherwise two perfect innings.
ARIZONA ROOKIE LEAGUE PADRES-2 (15–12) — The Padres-2 game was postponed.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (17–29) — The Padres had a doubleheader rained out Saturday.
29
This Day in Padres History, 7/30
One-hitters, trades, Upton’s rain-delayed homer,
big hits by Denorfia, Nettles
By Bill Center
July 30, 1977 — Outfielder George Hendrick has two doubles and a homer in five at-bats for five RBIs in a 8–6 Padres win over the Mets in New York.
July 30, 1984 — Left-handerDave Dravecky pitches the ninth one-hitter in Padres history, shutting out the Dodgers on one-hit and four walks with four strikeouts in a complete-game, 12–0 win at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
July 30, 1985 — Third baseman Graig Nettles drives in five runs with two home runs in a 9–3 win over Cincinnati at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.
July 30, 1988 — Pinch-hitter Carlos Hernandez hits a tie-breaking, two-run, pinch-hit double in the top of the 10th to lead the Padres to a 3–1 win over the Mets in New York.
July 30, 2005 — Phil Nevin traded to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Chan Ho Park.
July 30, 2009 — Outfielder Will Venable goes 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs in the Padres’ 7–4 win at Cincinnati.
July 30, 2015 — Left fielder Justin Upton hits a three-run, ninth-inning homer to give the Padres a come-from-behind, 8–7 win over the Mets in a rain-delayed game at CitiField in New York. The Padres were a strike away from losing before the delay interrupted Upton’s at-bat.
July 30, 2016 — The Padres trade right fielder and home run leader Matt Kemp to the Atlanta Braves.
30
Aaron Judge is slumping, but Mark McGwire’s rookie HR mark still is in reach By Steven Marcus
On April 29, after hitting his 10th home run in his 21st game of the season, Aaron Judge
was asked what he thought about hitting 60 this year. “Anything’s possible,’’ he said.
Judge, who had 30 home runs before the All-Star break, said this past week that he
hasn’t given Mark McGwire’s rookie record of 49 homers (with the 1987 Oakland A’s) a
thought.
“No. My main concern is to keep getting wins in that column. That’s the main thing.,” said
Judge, who hit his 33rd home run Friday night. “All the other stuff will take care of itself. I
focus on my job, which is to drive people in who are on base and get on base for people
behind me. If I do that, I think everything else will take care of itself.”
Judge should finish with at least the second-highest home run total by a rookie. Wally
Berger (1930 Boston Braves) and Frank Robinson (1956 Cincinnati Reds) each finished
with 38. That, however, might not satisfy the ravenous appetite of the homer-hungry fan
base that the 6-7, 282-pound Judge established with his huge first half and his colossal
display in winning the Home Run Derby.
Are the expectations too weighty? Fans expect a long ball every at-bat. “They can’t wait
to see what’s possible,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s very grounded and he
understands that great hitters hit .300 and you’re going to make outs and you’re going to
strike out.
“When he goes through a hard time, people are like, ‘Uh- oh, uh-oh,’ but what I’ve seen
so far [is] he’s built to handle it.’’
31
Girardi thinks McGwire’s record is within reach. “I think it’s definitely possible,” he said.
“It’s not something that’s really entered my mind, but I think it’s possible, yeah.’’
Before the All-Star break, Judge had a .329/.448/.691 slash line with 30 homers and 66
RBIs in 84 games. He had struck out 109 times in 301 at-bats.
After going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts Saturday, he was hitting .170 with three home
runs and eight RBIs in 15 games since the break. He had struck out 23 times in 53 at-
bats.
The operative theory for Judge’s reduced numbers since the break is that pitchers are
figuring out how to throw to him. Judge disagrees.
“No, it’s been about the same, to be honest,’’ he said. “They’re still trying to do the same
kind of thing. It’s a chess match out there. Sometimes, the first at-bat, they’re going to try
to come in on you. Maybe the next at-bat, they’re going to go off-speed. Third at-bat,
they’ll try to go away.
“It’s about making adjustments. They’ve been pitching me all sorts of different ways, in
the first half and the second half. It’s my job to keep adjusting, sticking to my plan,
sticking to my strengths and try to execute it.”
Retired Yankee Alex Rod riguez, who is fourth on the all-time home run list with 696,
was asked if power hitters carry an extra burden because pitchers are either trying to
pitch around them or give them little to hit.
“Yes, but Aaron can use that to his advantage,’’ Rodriguez said in an email. “Patience
and discipline will be one of the keys for him to continue to dominate . . . The biggest
difference is from now on, he is the focal point of every team and pitcher he faces.’’
On April 29, after hitting his 10th home run in his 21st game of the season, Aaron Judge was asked what he thought about hitting 60 this year. “Anything’s possible,’’ he said.
32
Judge, who had 30 home runs before the All-Star break, said this past week that he
hasn’t given Mark McGwire’s rookie record of 49 homers (with the 1987 Oakland A’s) a
thought.
“No. My main concern is to keep getting wins in that column. That’s the main thing.,”
said Judge, who hit his 33rd home run Friday night. “All the other stuff will take care of
itself. I focus on my job, which is to drive people in who are on base and get on base for
people behind me. If I do that, I think everything else will take care of itself.”
Judge should finish with at least the second-highest home run total by a rookie. Wally
Berger (1930 Boston Braves) and Frank Robinson (1956 Cincinnati Reds) each finished
with 38. That, however, might not satisfy the ravenous appetite of the homer-hungry fan
base that the 6-7, 282-pound Judge established with his huge first half and his colossal
display in winning the Home Run Derby.
Are the expectations too weighty? Fans expect a long ball every at-bat. “They can’t wait
to see what’s possible,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s very grounded and he
understands that great hitters hit .300 and you’re going to make outs and you’re going to
strike out.
“When he goes through a hard time, people are like, ‘Uh- oh, uh-oh,’ but what I’ve seen
so far [is] he’s built to handle it.’’
Girardi thinks McGwire’s record is within reach. “I think it’s definitely possible,” he said.
“It’s not something that’s really entered my mind, but I think it’s possible, yeah.’’
Before the All-Star break, Judge had a .329/.448/.691 slash line with 30 homers and 66
RBIs in 84 games. He had struck out 109 times in 301 at-bats.
After going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts Saturday, he was hitting .170 with three home
runs and eight RBIs in 15 games since the break. He had struck out 23 times in 53 at-
bats.
33
The operative theory for Judge’s reduced numbers since the break is that pitchers are
figuring out how to throw to him. Judge disagrees.
“No, it’s been about the same, to be honest,’’ he said. “They’re still trying to do the same
kind of thing. It’s a chess match out there. Sometimes, the first at-bat, they’re going to try
to come in on you. Maybe the next at-bat, they’re going to go off-speed. Third at-bat,
they’ll try to go away.
“It’s about making adjustments. They’ve been pitching me all sorts of different ways, in
the first half and the second half. It’s my job to keep adjusting, sticking to my plan,
sticking to my strengths and try to execute it.”
Retired Yankee Alex Rodriguez, who is fourth on the all-time home run list with 696, was
asked if power hitters carry an extra burden because pitchers are either trying to pitch
around them or give them little to hit.
“Yes, but Aaron can use that to his advantage,’’ Rodriguez said in an email. “Patience
and discipline will be one of the keys for him to continue to dominate . . . The biggest
difference is from now on, he is the focal point of every team and pitcher he faces.’’
JOINING MCGWIRE
Judge became only the second rookie to hit at least 30 homers before the All-Star break
(McGwire had 33). Mc Gwire had 37 homers by July 30 in 1987.
Former Yankee John Habyan, who lives in Nesconset and is an assistant coach at
Hofstra, was pitching for the Orioles when he gave up McGwire’s 42nd homer that
season. “When you have a rookie sometimes, you don’t know what his weakness is,’’ he
said. “You’re kind of just going after a guy until you figure it out.’’
In 1987, McGwire hit 15 homers in May but only three in August. He came back with
nine in September.
34
“It was a mixture of, I think, [pitchers adjusting] and playing at the big-league level on an
everyday basis,’’ said McGwire, now the Padres’ bench coach. “It’s not easy. The travel,
the wear and tear. Somewhere, somehow, in these six months, you’re going to have a
down time where things aren’t going to go well for you. That’s everybody who’s ever
played this game. I think back 30 years ago, that’s a long time ago.”
McGwire said he did undergo the same scrutiny that Judge and Dodgers rookie Cody
Bellinger, who had 28 homers through Friday, are facing now.
“Obviously, today, people pay attention to things on so much of a greater scale,’’
McGwire said. “Back then, it’s definitely not as big as what they’re going through right
now as far as a chance of breaking it, and probably shattering it. Judge and Bellinger are
set up perfectly to break it, and we’ll see what happens. They’re really fun to watch.
“It’s just ironic how it took 31 years [for McGwire to break the rookie record that
Robinson tied in 1956] and now at 30 years, they’re doing it. I’ve always been one of
those guys that thinks that records are meant to be broken. And if it happens this year,
I’d be happy to hand it off to either one of them.”
Rene Lachemann was a coach with the A’s when McGwire set the rookie record.
McGwire, who played in 151 games, averaged one home run every 3.08 games.
“You saw the power and it was evident he was going to [break the record] unless he was
involved in any kind of an injury,’’ Lachemann, 72, said from Scottsdale, Arizona. “It’s a
game of adjustments, and right now Judge is getting some people to make adjustments
to him. Nowadays, especially with guys throwing 95 to 100 miles an hour and all the
relievers you got coming in and you only see them once.”
McGwire, who hit 583 homers in a 16-year career from 1986 to 2001, said in a published
statement in 2010 that he used steroids in 1998 when he hit 70 homers, breaking Roger
Maris’ record of 61 set in 1961. Mc Gwire said he first used steroids in the 1989-90
offseason.
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Rodriguez has said he used steroids for a three-year period beginning in 2001 when he
was with the Rangers. He was suspended for the 2014 season as a result of the
Biogenesis probe into performance-enhancing drugs. Major League Baseball recognizes
all records set in the so-called Steroid Era.
Jose Abreu, the American League Rookie of the Year for the White Sox in 2014, had 29
homers before the All-Star break that year despite missing 14 games with left ankle
tendinitis. He totaled 36 in 145 games.
White Sox hitting instructor Todd Steverson said Abreu was content to hit for a high
average in the second half after pitchers didn’t give him much to hit.
“If you look back at the history of homers, everybody gets all hyped up about first-half
home runs,’’ Steverson said. “The second half of the season when you’re playing
contending teams, they’re not going to let you beat them. They’re just not going to offer
you much. ‘I’m going to see if I can get you to chase a pitch. If you don’t, you walk and I’ll
deal with the next guy.’ Judge is going to run up against that.’’
HR DROUGHTS ARE EXPECTED
Lee Elia was Rodriguez’s hitting coach for his first five years with the Mariners. The true
home run hitter, Elia, 80, said from Odessa, Florida, “understands that when he comes
up, he’s not going to get anything to hit. When you’re out there in front of 50,000 people,
it gets tougher and tougher and the pressure starts to build within your body.’’
Jim Thome, 46, who hit 612 homers in a 22-year career that ended in 2012, said of
Judge, “From a fundamental end, where he’s at the plate, it’s all great stuff.’’
Thome, who will be on the ballot for the Hall of Fame in 2018, is a special assistant to
the general manager of the White Sox and an analyst for the MLB Network. “Every
player, no matter if you have one to 15 or 20 years’ experience, goes through slides
during the course of the year,’’ Thome said from Chicago. “I think when you get a big guy
36
in the lineup, I think these guys are always looking like ‘don’t let him beat you.’ A guy
gets 30 homers and the league goes, ‘Wait a minute, now let’s really dissect this.’ ’’
Then-Tigers rookie catcher Matt Nokes hit 32 homers in 1987, the same year McGwire
set the record. “I think the more you play, the better the pitchers get to know you,’’
Nokes, 53, said from San Diego. “I want to know what Aaron Judge’s nitro zone is. When
pitchers get to know where your bread and butter is, it does become more difficult.’’
Former pitcher Dan Plesac gave up McGwire’s 33rd homer in 1987. “McGwire was a
notoriously low-ball hitter,’’ said Plesac, 55, a studio analyst for the MLB Network. “You
couldn’t throw it too low or too hard that he won’t hit it. Aaron Judge is a much better
hitter right now than Mark McGwire was at this stage if he continues to lay off the bad
breaking pitches particularly from righties, the sliders and balls down and away. He’s
going to strike out, but I’ve been unbelievably impressed with his discipline.’’
NO MORE DRILLING
In years past, rookies who showed home run power early on were dealt with from the
mound, said Ron Kittle, 59, who lives in Mokena, Illinois, and was reached during a
vacation in Alaska.
Kittle, who hit 35 for the 1983 White Sox, said he fell short of the then-record 38 because
“my elbows, wrist and shoulders couldn’t hold up to getting drilled. Nowadays, it’s like
more of a free swing. You can’t pitch hardly anybody inside. Somebody asked me what
pitches I got and I said fastball at my face and changeups and sliders away.’’
Rookie records were not highly publicized when Berger hit his 38 for the 1930 Braves.
Seven years later, the Tigers’ Rudy York challenged with 35. “He talked more about his
18 home runs in one month that broke Babe Ruth’s record of 17,’’ York’s son Joseph
said from Jackson, Mississippi. “He was hitting home runs at a pace faster than Babe
Ruth at that time.’’
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In 1963, Jimmie Hall hit 33 for the Twins, and for him, it was more about overtaking the
31 hit by future Hall of Famer Ted Williams for the Red Sox in 1939. “I was just like any
other rookie they were trying to figure out,’’ Hall, 79, said from Wilson, North Carolina.
“Now Judge, he’s something else. He’s as big as a stadium.’’
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