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Padres Press Clips Sunday, August 23, 2015
Article Source Author Page
From start to finish, Padres stymie Cards MLB.com Paris 2
Padres show Cards how to do it in victory MLB.com Maiman/Paris 4
Wallace settling into pinch-hit role for Padres MLB.com Paris 7
Padres rookie Rea draws Wacha in series finale MLB.com Paris 9
Solarte takes a seat to discuss stellar season MLB.com San Diego Padres 10
Orosco on Latino HOF and his 24-year career MLB.com San Diego Padres 11
Kennedy, bullpen combine to lift Padres to 8-0 win MLB.com AP 12
Padres blow out Cardinals, win fifth straight UT San Diego Lin 14
Murphy not ruling out SS for Spangenberg UT San Diego Lin 17
Renfroe could be next in line UT San Diego Maffei 19
On deck: Michael Wacha vs. Colin Rea UT San Diego Sanders 21
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From start to finish, Padres stymie
Cards By Jay Paris / Special to MLB.com | 1:30 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- After Ian Kennedy helped pitch San Diego past St. Louis, 8-0, on Saturday night, anyone
for the Padre Way?
For the second straight game, the Cardinal Way was a wayward effort.
One outing after committing three errors and a wild pitch in a loss, St. Louis tripped again in getting
blanked by Kennedy and four relievers.
"They are a great team, an all-around complete team,'' Kennedy said. "You know you have your hands
full with that lineup.''
But the fist bumps were restricted to the Padres' dugout.
Kennedy went six-plus innings, allowing seven hits and a walk. He struck out a season-high 10.
"He was lights out and he was focused beyond belief,'' Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said. "It was
as good a performance as I've seen all year from anybody.''
Kennedy had a 2-5 lifetime mark against St. Louis, and that included a loss last month at Busch
Stadium.
But there was nothing flat about Kennedy's outing at Petco Park on Saturday. His 10 punchouts
against a contact-happy team caught everyone's attention.
"They don't strike out a whole lot,'' Kennedy said. "I wasn't going for that, just trying to execute,
and when you execute, you get some swings and misses here and there.''
St. Louis had single baserunners in the second, third and fourth innings but couldn't break
through. It squandered a key chance in the fifth after a one-out double by Tommy Pham,
followed by starting pitcher Carlos Martinez's double.
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But with runners in scoring position, Kennedy reached back and struck out Matt Carpenteron a
pitch brushing the outside corner. Carpenter didn't think so and was ejected for arguing with
umpire Chris Segal. Then Kennedy struck out Stephen Piscotty to end the threat.
Kennedy started the seventh inning but didn't last long. Brandon Moss opened with a double
before Pham's single, and the go-ahead runs were aboard. Three relievers barged through the
bullpen gate and they delivered a no-nonsense effort.
"In that situation, it looks like they are definitely going to tie the game,'' Murphy said. "But it was
just great pitching by those three guys. They made pitches.''
While making Murphy look smart.
Shawn Kelley came in and struck out Martinez. Next was Marc Rzepczynski, and he
fanned Kolten Wong. Bud Norris was summoned and he followed suit, getting Piscotty looking.
"It was a turning point in the game and the series ,'' Kelley said. "Basically, we all had a guy to
get out, and fortunately, we all did it . Then we came in and you saw how we responded . There
was a lot of energy in the dugout, for sure .''
The Padres scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning and left the Cardinals wondering what
had happened.
"It took some wind out of our sails, for sure ,'' Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of the
Padres' relief corps. "We've been on the other side of that, and it's like your back is up against
the wall, and we make some great pitches, make some great plays and get out of a situation
that looks like it's inevitable for a run or two to come through, and you feed off that. That's
exactly what happened to us. ''
What's happening in San Diego? The Padres have won five straight, nine of 11 and are within 6
1/2 games of the National League West-leading Dodgers. Plus, they're the only NL team with a
winning record against the Cardinals this season, at 4-2.
"If we keep playing well, we are going to make a run at it,'' Kennedy said.
Of late, teams don't want to get in the Padres' way -- however you want to label it.
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Padres show Cards how to do it in
victory By Beth Maiman and Jay Paris / MLB.com | 2:21 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- Stellar work by the Padres' bullpen in the top of the 7th, and a seven-run outburst by San
Diego's bats in the bottom of the inning, helped the Padres defeat the Cardinals, 8-0, on Saturday night at
Petco Park, inching one game closer to a sweep of St. Louis.
Padres starter Ian Kennedy, who entered the game with a 2.63 ERA since the All-Star break, allowed no
runs and seven hits while striking out a season-high 10 batters in six-plus innings.
"They are a great team, an all-around complete team,'' Kennedy said. "You know you have your
hands full with that lineup.''
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Matt Kemp and Justin Upton knocked in two runs each,
Kemp with a single and Upton with a double to start a scoring frenzy for San Diego that followed
three San Diego relievers escaping a two-on, none-out jam in the top of the frame to keep
Kennedy in line for the win.
"It took some wind out of our sail, for sure," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said about the
missed opportunities to score and the ensuing Padres breakout. "You know, we have been on
the other side of that when it looks like our back is up against the wall and we come in and make
some great pitches, make some great plays, and get out of a situation that looks like it's
inevitable for a run or two -- and how you feed off that -- that's exactly what happened to us."
Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits,
walking one and striking out six. The Cardinals are now 19-5 when Martinez starts.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The bullpen K squad: With the Padres clinging to a 1-0 lead in the seventh with no outs and the
go-ahead runners aboard, Kennedy was lifted. San Diego relievers Shawn Kelley, Marc
Rzepczynski and Bud Norris struck out the side to strand Brandon Moss and Tommy Pham on
the corners.
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"In that situation, it looks like they are definitely going to tie the game,'' Padres interim manager
Pat Murphy said. "But it was just great pitching by those three guys. They made pitches.'' Martinez swinging: Martinez provided an offensive spark to the Cardinals on Saturday night. In his first at-bat of the game, the pitcher doubled to right field, recording the first extra-base hit of his career. Later Martinez would get another hit, an infield single in the sixth inning. Saturday marked his second multi-hit game of the season. Rookie RBI: Travis Jankowski got his second and third Major League RBIs in his second game. He gave the Padres a 1-0 lead by plating Derek Norris on a grounder to second base in the fourth. Norris was aboard after leading off with a triple, his second of the season. The rookie would add another RBI in the seventh with an infield single to score Clint Barmes.
Seventh heaven: The Padres' cushion was extended from 1-0 to 8-0 in the seventh inning as they
sent 12 batters to the plate. San Diego's offense did its part, but the Cardinals helped, too.
Three of the runs were unearned thanks to a key throwing error by third baseman Mark
Reynolds.
"Just one of those innings that just kind of blew up on us," said Matheny.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Padres are the only National League team that is .500 or better against the Cardinals this
season. They have won four out of six games.
CARPENTER SHOWN THE DOOR
In the the fifth inning, Matt Carpenter was ejected by home-plate umpire Chris Segal after the
Cardinals' second baseman was unhappy with the third-strike call. Immediately after Kennedy's
pitch was called a strike, Carpenter yelled, turned around, got in the umpire's face and was
ejected fairly quickly. Manager Mike Matheny came out and held back Carpenter and also had
some words with Segal, but ultimately kept his cool and headed back to the dugout. Carpenter
was 0-for-3 before the ejection, and entered Saturday's game batting .136 in his last six
games. Kolten Wong came in to replace Carpenter.
"It's probably the worst strike I have ever had called against me, and I will stand by that,"
Carpenter said. "I didn't say anything offensive to him, I just let him know. And I am sure he
wasn't happy that I was screaming at him and pointing at him, but in that crucial point in the
game, [the call] can't happen."
QUOTABLE
"When we get a lead, we're holding it. We're full throttle right now and clicking on all cylinders.'' -
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- Kelley after the Padres won their fifth in a row and clinched their second winning series of the season
over the Cardinals.
WHAT'S NEXT
Cardinals: The Cardinals will send Michael Wacha to the mound for Sunday's series finale at
:310 p.m. CT. Sunday marks Wacha's second career start against the Padres. He faced San
Diego last on July 3, when he took a no-decision, allowing five hits and one run.
Padres: Rookie Colin Rea looks to continue his solid run on Sunday, aiming for his third win in as
many Major League starts. The 1:10 p.m. PT contest is the final one of the six-game
homestand. The Padres will head out to visit Washington and Philadelphia, playing each club
three times.
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Wallace settling into pinch-hit role for
Padres By Jay Paris / Special to MLB.com | August 22nd, 2015
SAN DIEGO -- Brett Wallace's blast was more of a bomb, but one gets the idea.
"He's our offensive bullet,'' Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said.
Wallace's moon shot in Friday's 9-3 win over the Cardinals did land. But first, the pinch-hit homer went
431 feet -- as measured by Statcast™ -- and landed in the right-field seats.
Before Wallace went orbit, Alexia Amarista doubled. So Wallace was attempting to advance Amarista
rather than rattle the rafters.
"I was just trying to work the right side of the field and get him over,'' Wallace said on Saturday.
"Anything more than that was icing on the cake.''
Wallace was the big cheese in 2008 as the Cardinals' first-round Draft pick, 13th overall. The following
year, he was the key piece pointed toward Oakland when the A's sent Matt Holliday to St. Louis.
So that made Wallace's high-arching shot an appropriate gateway to the Padres' fourth straight victory. He
counts Jon Jay and Pete Kozma as buddies; Yadier Molina as a mentor.
"It was an added bonus for me,'' he said of his second pinch-hit homer of the season coming vs. St. Louis.
Wallace's production never matched his pedigree as he bounced from the Cardinals to the A's to the Blue
Jays to the Astros to the Orioles and again to Toronto.
Last year was spent in the Minors, and he signed in December as a Minor League free agent, and when
asked to explain his career trek, his knees buckled.
"That's a great question,'' said Wallace, a corner infielder. "It's hard to look back, because you try to look
forward all the time.''
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A peak at Wallace now shows someone in the cage, during the game. Since being summoned from Triple-
A El Paso on June 19, Wallace has settled in as a pinch-hitter. He's hit .296 (8-for-27) with those two
home runs.
"I think Brett has done a great job of handling it,'' said Murphy, who was Wallace's coach for three
seasons when Murphy was the head coach at Arizona State.
It's as challenging between the ears as it is between the chalk lines.
"It's definitely tougher mentally,'' Murphy said. "But physically it's tough, because you don't see a pitch in
three days and you're asked to go up in a key situation.''
Wallace has unlocked a new role by thinking along with Murphy. The scoreboard might say the fourth
inning, but Wallace is looking ahead, playing what-if and when.
"It shows the other side of the game a little bit more,'' Wallace said. "You have to start to understand it,
what moves they might make, what that would mean for me, and who I would face and what situation I
might be in.''
He's in the Majors and considering last year, that's a major accomplishment.
"It's been a blast,'' Murphy said.
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Padres rookie Rea draws Wacha in
series finale By Jay Paris / Special to MLB.com | 12:05 AM ET
Rookie Colin Rea will try to remain perfect at the outset of his big league career in San Diego on Sunday
afternoon, as the right-handed Rea (2-0) seeks his third win in as many Major League starts.
Opposing Rea is another right-hander, but one with a deeper resume in Michael Wacha (14-4).
Wacha is among eight Cardinals pitchers since 1969 with 14 wins in a season at age 24 or younger.
If Rea can prevail in the final contest of the three-game series at Petco Park, he'll accomplishment
something pretty special. He'll join Dave Freisleben as the only Padres in franchise history to win their
first three starts. Freisleben turned the trick in 1974.
The Padres took the first two games of the series and will be looking to finish their homestand 6-0.
Things to know about this game
• It's only Wacha's second career start against the Padres. He pitched to a no-decision on July 3, allowing
one run in a 2-1 Cardinals loss.
• Padres third baseman Yangerivs Solarte, who once played for the Yankees, has faced Wacha more than
any other Padre expected to start on Sunday. Solarte is 0-for-6 against Wacha.
• Second baseman Jedd Gyroko is 1-for-3 against Wacha, with his lone hit being a home run.
• Austin Hedges is scheduled to get the nod over Derek Norris to catch Sunday's game. For the rookie
Hedges, it will be his 25th start.
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Solarte takes a seat to discuss stellar
season San Diego Padres | 2:05 AM ET
Padres corner infielder Yangervis Solarte stopped by Padres Social Hour and sat in the Cholula Hot Seat
on Friday to discuss his improved play and stellar season so far in 2015. Solarte, who joined the Padres in
2014 after being traded from the New York Yankees, has put up some great numbers this season with a
.267 batting average and 49 RBIs with 25 doubles. Solarte's numbers in 2015 are approaching career
highs, which thus begs the question of what has Solarte done to improve his play out on the field?
"Every time I cross the foul line I just want to have as much fun as possible," commented Solarte.
"Especially with my family and my team out here on the field … Even when I'm playing poorly, I try to
turn it into a positive no matter what. I've been able to play more, too, so that helps me with being more
comfortable out on the field." Solarte finished on that note by saying that "The additional at-bats and extra
playing time has really helped."
While the extra playing time has certainly paid dividends for Solarte, the 28-year-old Venezuelan credits a
positive attitude and approach to the changes in his career for being the biggest factor in seeing
improvement in San Diego.
"You have to think that every change is going to be good in some sort of fashion," said Solarte. "This is
my third team I've been with and I've loved everything since I've been here. The city, the lifestyle, I've
just been a little more chill and calmer, so I think that's why I've fit in really well here."
Moving on to the mechanics of his improved play, Solarte commented that part of his success has come
from seeing the ball better. Specifically, Solarte has sported a healthy .280 batting average against right
handed pitchers this year: "I feel more comfortable depending on where I'm seeing the ball come from…
I've seen a lot more pitchers throwing from the right side this year, so I've been hitting from the right side
of the plate more often."
To hear more about Solarte's experiences in San Diego and the energy he thrives in when among his
teammates, be sure to watch the entire interview in the video above. For more interviews, highlights and
Padres content just like this, check out padres.com/socialhour.
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Orosco on Latino HOF and his 24-year
career San Diego Padres | 2:05 AM ET
Former Padres reliever and two-time World Series champion Jesse Orosco joined Padres Social Hour on
Friday to discuss his time in San Diego and his recent induction into the 2016 Class of the Latino Baseball
Hall of Fame. Orosco, who pitched for the Padres in 2003 and finished out his career after a Major
League record 1,252 appearances, found out about his induction on Friday and was grateful for the honor
that had been bestowed upon him. "I was quite surprised and pretty excited about it," said Orosco.
The induction ceremony is set to take place in the Dominican Republic this December and Orosco was
happy to be inducted along with some other Latino baseball greats. "To be a part of playing baseball in
the United States and seeing some great names in the (American Hall of Fame) line is great. And now to
go on to the other side and get in this new chapter for myself and see the Roberto Clemente's, Felipe
Alous' and all that, it's just great. It's worldwide."
Orosco's illustrious career spanned over 24 seasons between 1979 and 2003 and over the years the reliable
southpaw needed to reinvent himself to stay sharp in a game that was constantly changing. "The changes
were amazing. I had to make a number of adjustments as the years went on," said Orosco.
Orosco continued on saying that "with the Mets, I was a closer for about five years and then I went into
being a setup man. I was very fortunate that I was able to do my job and could stay steady in the seventh
inning on rather than get demoted."
While Orosco is certainly known for his excellent pitching over the years and his performances in the
postseason, one of his most memorable moments came as a member of the 1986 New York Mets when he
hit an RBI-single in game seven of the '86 Fall Classic. "That was probably one of my only five hits over
24 years in baseball," quipped Orosco.
To hear more about Orosco's well-known career, including his time in San Diego and his thoughts on
being inducted into the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame, be sure to watch the entire interview in the video
above. For more interviews, highlights and Padres content just like this, check
out padres.com/socialhour.
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Kennedy, bullpen combine to lift Padres to 8-0 win Associated Press
SAN DIEGO -- In the span of just a few batters, Ian Kennedy and the San Diego Padres were saved by their clutch bullpen. Kennedy escaped a tough jam in the seventh with the help of three relievers andMatt
Kemp and Justin Upton keyed a seven-run bottom of the inning, lifting the Padres to an 8-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night. Relievers Sean Kelley, Marc Rzepczynski and recently acquired Bud Norris came in to strike out consecutive batters in the seventh with two men on to preserve a 1-0 lead.
San Diego then erupted for the seven-run inning, keyed by two-run hits from both Kemp and Upton and helped by a Cardinals error that led to three unearned runs.
"It was the turning point in the game," Kelley said. "We all basically had a guy to get out and we all did it. Then we came in and you saw how we responded. There was a lot of energy in the dugout, for sure."
The Cardinals (77-45) have the best record in baseball but have lost the first two games of the series by a combined score of 17-3.
"It was one of those innings that kind of blew up on us," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. The loss reduced St. Louis' lead in the NL Central to 3 1-2 games over Pittsburgh, which beat San Francisco 3-2.
The Padres, who have won nine of 11, tied their season high with their fifth straight win.
San Diego led 1-0 when the Cardinals threatened in the seventh inning against Kennedy (8-11).
Brandon Moss led off with a double and took third on Tommy Pham's single. Kelley replaced Kennedy and struck out pitcher Carlos Martinez, who had hits in his first two at-bats. The left-handed Rzepczynski came in to strike out Kolten Wong and Norris struck out Stephen
Piscotty looking.
"The situation couldn't get any better than the bullpen coming in and picking me up in that big spot punching out the side," Kennedy said.
Kevin Quackenbush and Odrisamer Despaigne each pitched a scoreless inning for San Diego's fourth shutout of the season.
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Kennedy allowed seven hits, struck out 10 and walked one. Overall, Padres pitchers struck out 16 batters.
"It was not a good night offensively," St. Louis' Matt Carpenter said. "Kennedy threw the ball well. He kept throwing the ball off the plate and he was getting some calls." San Diego sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, keyed by Kemp's two-run, bases-loaded single and Upton's two-run double, both off reliever Seth Maness, that made it 5-0. A throwing error by St. Louis third baseman Mark Reynolds then led to the unearned runs. Martinez (12-6) lost his second straight start, allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
San Diego's Travis Jankowski, who made his major league debut Friday night with two hits and an RBI, followed with two hits and two RBI.
Kennedy used strikeouts to escape a couple of jams. After Martinez reached on a one-out double in the third inning and advanced to third base, Kennedy struck out Piscotty looking.
In the fifth, Pham had a one-out double and took third on Martinez's infield single. Kennedy struck out Carpenter and Piscotty to end the inning.
Carpenter was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Segal for arguing after being called out on strikes.
UNLIKELY STAT
The Padres (61-62) have won four of six games against St. Louis to take the season series with just one game remaining. San Diego is the only National League team with a winning record against the Cardinals.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cardinals: Although RF Jason Heyward started his second straight game, the team is being cautious about his sore hamstring. Padres: C Derek Norris left the game with a bruised left hand in the eighth inning after Quackenbush struck out pinch-hitter Peter Bourjos. The strikeout pitch deflected off Norris' hand and bounced away, allowing Bourjos to take first. Norris went to his knees before coming out.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (14-4, 2.85 ERA) will look to increase his career highs in wins (14), starts (23), innings pitched (145 1-3) and strikeouts (125) in Sunday's series finale. Padres: RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 4.22) will attempt to join Dave Freisleben (1974) as the only Padres to win their first three career starts. All three of Rea's starts have been at home.
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Padres blow out Cardinals, win fifth straight San Diego moves to within a game of .500 for first time since June 14
By Dennis Lin | 8:52 p.m. Aug. 22, 2015 | Updated, 9:58 p.m.
The continuation of the Padres' winning streak - and of Ian Kennedy's resurgence - hinged on a
series of tense encounters in the fifth and seventh innings Saturday.
First, the fifth: With one out and runners on the corners, Kennedy fired an 0-2, 92 mph fastball a
shade or two outside the strike zone. Cardinals leadoff man Matt Carpenter immediately turned
and took exception to a strike-three call. Almost as quickly, home-plate umpire Chris Segal
ejected him.
With two outs and runners on the corners, Kennedy, after working away from Stephen Piscotty,
flung a full-count, 92 mph fastball up and in. Handcuffed, Piscotty managed only a weak swing.
Padres catcher Derek Norris pumped his fist.
In an 8-0 blowout at sold-out Petco Park, Kennedy hurled the Padres past the Cardinals before
his bullpen and then his offense took over. The right-hander highlighted one of his strongest
performances of the year with 10 strikeouts, a season high. The Padres (61-62) matched
another season-best, with a fifth consecutive victory. They are within a game of .500 for the first
time since June 14.
The Padres claimed the series against the Cardinals (77-45), with the finale still left to play.
Their season seemed effectively over earlier this month, after they lost six consecutive games to
a pair of last-place teams. Sunday morning, a heartbeat remains. San Diego has won nine of its
last 11. The division-leading Dodgers, who absorbed their fourth consecutive loss Saturday, are
6 1/2 games ahead.
"If we keep playing well, we’re going to make a good run at it," Kennedy said after the Padres
clinched their first season series against the Cardinals since 2006. At 4-2, they are the only
National League team with a winning record against St. Louis.
Kennedy manuevered the Padres into position. Their bullpen completed a highwire act by
comittee.
The starter took the mound in the top of the seventh with a 1-0 lead (Norris tripled in the fourth
and scored on Travis Jankowski's groundout) and his pitch count at 97. He promptly allowed a
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double, then a single. The Cardinals had runners on the corners again, but this time with no
outs.
Padres interim manager Pat Murphy replaced Kennedy with Shawn Kelley. Opposing pitcher
Carlos Martinez, who'd gotten a hit in each of his first two at-bats, struck out on three pitches.
Murphy replaced Kelley with left-hander Marc Rzepczynski. Fellow lefty Kolten Wong, who'd
replaced Carpenter, struck out on five pitches. Murphy walked back to the mound a final time,
inserting right-hander Bud Norris.
On a full count, Norris directed a 96 mph fastball toward the outer half of the strike zone.
Stephen Piscotty gazed at strike three. An announced crowd of 44,816, the eighth-largest in
Petco history, roared. In the dugout, Kennedy breathed a sigh of relief. He had been lifted by
perhaps the bullpen's best-executed inning this season.
"Especially in that situation," Murphy said, "it looks like they’re definitely going to tie the game;
the guys they had up were contact guys. It was just great pitching by those three guys."
"It was big," Kelley said. "It was obviously a turning point in the game and the series, looking
back now. We all had basically a guy to get out, and fortunately we all three did it."
Added Kennedy: "The situation couldn’t get any better with the bullpen coming in and picking
me up in a big spot, striking out the side. That was awesome. ... Our whole dugout was pumped
up."
Before Kelley and Co. combined to shut down the Cardinals, Kennedy set the precedent. He
fanned two batters in the first, then did the same in each of the next two innings. Three of his
punchouts arrived via his change-up. Entering the day, opposing batters were hitting just .083
against the pitch this month.
"My fastball command was good," Kennedy said. "I was going off that and mixing my change-up
better. That was really the second-best pitch tonight."
Kennedy finished with six-plus shutout innings, ending a streak of 12 consecutive starts allowing
at least one home run. Over his last 15 starts since the beginning of June, he has gone 6-6 with
a 2.63 ERA, lowering his season ERA from 7.15 to 4.01.
His latest victory during that stretch was made possible by the relief, then secured by a barrage.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Padres' lineup erupted for the second time in as many nights.
Pinch-hitter Alexi Amarista opened with a single. Jankowski, who made his big-league debut
with two hits Friday, showed his speed on a bunt single. A sacrifice and a walk later, Matt Kemp
extended his hititng streak to 14 games with a bases-loaded, two-run single. Justin Upton ripped
a two-run double. After a Cardinals throwing error extended the Padres' turn at the plate, Clint
Barmes drilled a pinch-hit, run-scoring double. Amarista, up again, notched an RBI single.
Jankowski collected his second infield hit of the inning, driving in another run.
"I think the offense has started to realize the value in trusting each other," Murphy said. "You
don’t have to make it happen yourself. ... You just keep turning it over to the guy behind you."
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In all, the Padres sent 12 batters to the plate in the seventh, turning a one-run nailbiter into an
eight-run laugher. Meanwhile, the Cardinals finished with only one hit off the San Diego bullpen.
Padres pitchers combined to record 16 strikeouts in the victory, another single-game season
high. The shutout win was the Padres' fourth this season and their second this homestand.
"I just think we’re clicking as a team," Kelley said. "We’re getting the big hit. We’re making big
pitches. When we get a lead, we’re holding it. It's the little things. Even earlier in the year when
we were playing well, there were times when we would regress almost. And we’re full-throttle
right now. We’re clicking on all cylinders, defense, offense and starters and relief pitching."
The night's only negative came in the top of the eighth, when Derek Norris, expecting a
curveball from Kevin Quackenbush, instead took a fastball off his left wrist. A trainer attended to
Norris for a few minutes before the catcher walked off the field and Austin Hedges replaced him
behind the plate. After the game, Norris was diagnosed with a wrist contusion and described as
day-to-day.
"We're hopeful he won't be out too long," Murphy said.
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Murphy not ruling out SS for Spangenberg Padres interim manager: 'I think Cory's capable of playing there'
By Dennis Lin | 4:59 p.m. Aug. 22, 2015
The Padres, continuing a season-long search for consistency at a premium position, gave
second baseman Jedd Gyorko his second professional start at shortstop Saturday.
Might they someday do the same for Cory Spangenberg?
Sapngenberg, who started at second base Saturday, already has one appearance at short: Aug.
4 for Double-A San Antonio, while on a rehab assignment. And given what the Padres have
resorted to this season between starts for light-hitting shortstops Clint Barmes and Alexi
Amarista, it was a question posed to Pat Murphy, an interim manager who hasn't been afraid to
test unconventional ideas.
"I wouldn't say he's not a shortstop or he's not capable of playing it," Murphy said. "That's not
going to be his primary position, I don't think, but I think Cory's capable of playing there. I think
maybe sometime in his future, after he works out a little bit in the offseason, that that might be
part of who he is and he can help a team out by sometime playing there."
Spangenberg played shortstop in high school at Clarks Summit, Pa., then during his freshman
season at Virginia Military Insitute and the ensuing summer. Until Aug. 4, he hadn't seen time at
the position in roughly five years.
The instance with San Antonio - Spangenberg filled in for the team's only shortstop, Benji
Gonzalez, who'd arrived at the ballpark feeling some soreness - might just lead to another.
Spangenberg himself has said he believes he could handle a trial at short.
"I told him before spring training this year, 'Cory, in my opinion, I think you should take balls at
shortstop, too, because you were always a shortstop and you want something to have in your
pocket, to be able to do it," Murphy said. "It's more of a confidence thing. Sometimes you might
not have to be able do it; the team that you're on, you might have to be able to go out and play
short. But I think it's nice for all infielders to have that practice to be able to do it, especially if
they've done it in the past."
When Spangenberg went to San Antonio for his rehab assignment, Murphy said, he told the
infielder, "Hey, if you get a chance to take balls at short, then do that."
18
Added Murphy: "Then that injury happened at Double-A, and he texted me, 'Should I play
short?' And I said, 'Yeah, ask (San Antonio manager Rod Barajas).' He asked the manager, and
the manager said, 'Yeah, if they'll let you.' I said, 'Absolutely.'"
From an athleticism standpoint, Spangenberg would seem as worthwhile a shortstop experiment
as either Gyorko or third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who made four starts out of position this
season before he was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.
In reality, the Padres' tinkering has only highlighted their most pressing positional need (San
Diego shortstops had compiled a .615 OPS entering Saturday, fifth-lowest in the majors). While
it has been difficult to find an upgrade in-season - and supply will remain scarce - General
Manager A.J. Preller is expected to address that need this winter.
Cashner's new slider grip
Friday's 9-3 victory over the Cardinals marked the first time since May that Andrew Cashner
didn't allow an earned run in a start. According to PITCHf/x data at brooksbaseball.net, the
Padres right-hander threw 32 sliders, inducing six swings-and-misses, more than via any other
pitch.
Cashner said that over the last two weeks, he has been working on throwing his slider with a
four-seam fastball grip.
"My slider's just been inconsistent, so I'm just trying to find something that's consistent," he said.
"I was just messing around with it. But I think it's something that can be consistent every time
out, and I think it's going to be a pitch that can take me to the next level."
Cashner said he felt his slider actually was better in his previous start, Aug. 15 at Colorado; per
PITCHf/x, he threw 21 sliders, getting three whiffs. The start before that, he deployed only seven
sliders.
"If you can throw a breaking ball in Colorado, you can throw a breaking ball anywhere," he said.
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Renfroe could be next in line With Rea and Jankowski, farm system is finally starting to produce some players
By John Maffei | 4 p.m. Aug. 22, 2015
Maybe, just maybe the farm system is starting to produce.
Instead of retreads and journeymen, the Padres are bringing up prospects to fill holes.
Catcher Austin Hedges has proven to be worthy. Pitcher Colin Rea appears to belong. Alex
Dickerson didn't back down in a two-game, fill-in stint.
And Friday night, center fielder Travis Jankowski, the 2012 first-round pick, made his debut with
a pair of hits.
Looming on the horizon is right fielder Hunter Renfroe, the first-round pick in 2013.
"There is a lot of pride in the organization with Jankowski getting to the big leagues," said Sam
Geaney, the Padres director of player development. "Because of the injury (a broken left wrist)
last season was basically a lost cause. But he handled it so well, prepared himself for this
season and fought through another injury (shoulder). And here he is."
Renfroe, it's hoped, isn't far behind.
He started the season with Double-A San Antonio, hitting .259 with 14 homers, 22 doubles and
54 RBIs in 112 games, and was bumped up to Triple-A El Paso to take Jankowski's place.
In three games, he's 4 for 12 with a homer, double and four RBIs.
"Hunter is going to get an opportunity," Geaney said. "He has had a kind of an up-and-down
season, but we're happy with his second half."
Renfore was hitting .228 on June 13, but batted .315 over the next 55 games before being
promoted.
"He has had 700 plate appearances in Double-A, so he's ready for another challenge," Geaney
said.
"He's with a new club, a club that's fighting for a playoff spot. We think he's about ready to take
off."
===
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Around the farm
El Paso (68-58): The Chihuahuas are in the playoff race and former Padres slugger Phil Nevin
will have a lot to say about the club's postseason hopes. El Paso has won nine of the last 11
games and is tied with Las Vegas for first place in the PCL's Pacific South Division. The
Chihuahuas finish the season Sept. 1-2-3 at Las Vegas and with four at Reno, a team managed
by Nevin.
===
San Antonio (56-69): OF Yeison Asencio has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games, batting .445
to raise his average to .308 with 11 homers and 69 RBIs. The last time he went hitless in two
straight games was July 23 and 25, a stretch of 22 games.
===
Lake Elsinore (46-78): LHP Nathan Foriest, a 35th-round draft pick in June out of high school in
Tennessee, was promoted from the Arizona Rookie League where he was 2-0 with three saves
and a 1.56 ERA in 13 relief appearances.
===
Fort Wayne (67-54): RHP Chris Huffman, a 14th-round pick out of James Madison last year, is
5-0 with a 1.25 ERA since giving up seven earned runs in a July`12 start. In six starts since
then, he has worked 36 innings with five walks and 19 strikeouts. He's 8-6 overall with a 3.03
ERA.
===
Tri-City (33-28): In 54 games, RF Jose Carlos Urena has 43 RBIs and is hitting .285 with seven
homers.
===
Arizona Padres (19-29): 1B Brad Zunica, a 15th-round pick in June out of the State College of
Florida, is hitting .279 with five homers, seven doubles and 20 RBIs in 30 games.
21
On deck: Michael Wacha vs. Colin Rea Padres rookie set for third major league start
By Jeff Sanders | 10 a.m. Aug. 23, 2015
THE SERIES
St. Louis Cardinals at Padres
Game 3: 1:10 p.m. Sunday
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Cardinals RHP Michael Wacha (14-4, 2.85)
The 24-year-old Wacha, an NL All-Star, has turned in quality starts in 16 of his 23 starts this
year, including on July 3 in a no-decision against the Padres (7 IP, 1 ER).
Padres RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 4.22)
Through his first two starts (10 2/3 IP), Rea has allowed 12 hits, one homer and two walks while
striking out eight. The Cardinals will be the first winning team that Rea has faced.
UP NEXT
After an off-day Monday, the Padres will start a six-game road trip through Washington and
Philadelphia. RHP Tyson Ross is scheduled to pitch Wednesday but his brother, Nationals
RHP Joe Ross, will not pitch in the series after starting against Milwaukee on Saturday.