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Padres Press Clips Saturday, May 23, 2015

Article Source Author Page

Cashner takes latest injustice in stride MLB.com Bloom 2

Padres' bats cold behind Cashner once again MLB.com Brock & Gurnick 4

Benoit's hiccup a Padres bullpen rarity MLB.com Brock 7

Padres pit Kennedy vs. Dodgers' Bolsinger MLB.com Brock 8

Padres' Renfroe among top performers in Minors Friday MLB.com Smith 9

Padres seek leadoff hitter with Myers out MLB.com Brock 12

Despaigne's rotation spot appears to be safe MLB.com Brock 14

Pitching improves as offense hits the skids MLB.com Center 16

Giron hits 3-run HR in TinCaps' victory MLB.com Center 18

Pederson's 8th-inning homer helps Dodgers beat Padres 2-1 Associated Press AP 20

Q&A: Padres pitcher Ian Kennedy UT San Diego Kenney 22

Pederson's home run beats Padres UT San Diego Lin 23

Padres try Solarte in leadoff spot UT San Diego Lin 26

On deck: Kennedy vs. Dodgers, Part 2 UT San Diego Lin 28

Minors: Rea to DL; Renfroe goes 4-for-4 UT San Diego Sanders 29

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Cashner takes latest injustice in stride By Corey Brock / MLB.com | @FollowThePadres | 3:22 AM ET

LOS ANGELES -- The Padres haven't scored many runs for Andrew Cashner, and they haven't played

sound defense behind him either.

It's been that sort of season for Cashner, who might well be the unluckiest pitcher on the entire planet,

stuck with a 1-7 record despite a sparkling 2.89 ERA, thanks in part to the 12 unearned runs with which

he's been charged.

Despite allowing one unearned run over six innings on Friday night against the Dodgers, Cashner was on

the hook for his eighth loss until the Padres tied the game at 1 on Will Venable's RBI single in the

seventh. Cashner celebrated in the dugout until he saw the Dodgers were challenging the play at the plate.

Of course they were.

"I thought they were going to overturn it with the way my luck has been going," Cashner said,

smiling.

The run was allowed to stand, but the Padres still found themselves saddled with a 2-1 loss, as

the Dodgers got a tiebreaking home run from Joc Pederson off Joaquin Benoit in the eighth

inning.

"I thought I located my fastball better today," Cashner said. "Got my slider going … didn't make

a whole lot of mistakes. I tried to elevate more with my fastball tonight."

This was a far cry from his first start of the season at Dodger Stadium when Cashner allowed

three home runs to Adrian Gonzalez in a loss. Nine starts later, he's convinced he's a better

pitcher for going through that rough outing.

"Over the course of the season, you're going to get [knocked around] a few times," Cashner

said. "I think that first start I left too many fastballs over the middle. ... I think [the Gonzalez

game] made me work harder to get back to locating my fastball."

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Cashner had a season-low three strikeouts on Friday, though some of that was by design, said

pitching coach Darren Balsley.

"The game plan with Cashner was to attack with his fastball and do what he does best -- sink it

down and also try to get as many ground balls as possible," Balsley said. "He's been getting big

strikeouts, but it was not go for the big punchout, but get them to beat it into the ground."

The run Cashner allowed was in the fifth inning when Justin Turner singled and advanced to

second base when the ball kicked away from Venable in center field. Andre Ethier then doubled

into the right-field corner on what the Padres agreed was a good pitch, a slider down and in.

"It was a good outing for Cash. Had to make some pitches along the way in some critical spots,"

said Padres manager Bud Black.

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Padres' bats cold behind Cashner once

again By Corey Brock and Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 4:25 AM ET

LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Joc Pederson hit a tiebreaking homer on an 0-2 pitch from Joaquin Benoit in

the eighth inning and Zack Greinke spun a gem on Friday night as the Dodgers edged the Padres, 2-1. It

was Pederson's 11th home run.

Earlier in the game, the Dodgers finally ended an historic scoring droughtwith a fifth-inning run. Justin

Turner singled off Andrew Cashner, advanced to second on center fielder Will Venable's fielding error

and was doubled home by Andre Ethier to snap a Dodgers scoreless streak of 35 consecutive innings,

matching the record set in 1962 for the longest in Los Angeles history.

"Dre's hit was huge. It broke the ice for us," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

San Diego tied the game in the seventh on a one-out double by Derek Norrisand a single to center by

Venable, Norris ruled safe at the plate by umpire Brian O'Nora, with the call allowed to stand upon

review.

Greinke allowed that run on six hits in 7 2/3 innings. Cashner allowed one run on five hits in six

innings. Chris Hatcher threw one pitch and was credited with his first Major League win, while Kenley

Jansen pitched the ninth inning for the save.

"Both guys pitched great. That was two high-end pitchers, battling," said Padres manager Bud Black of

Greinke and Cashner.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Greinke's dual threat: Greinke won a Gold Glove last season and showed why on former

teammate Kemp's dribbler, backhanding it and throwing out Kemp to strand Solarte at third

base in the sixth inning with the score knotted at 1.

"It was just reaction," said Greinke. "I knew the infield was playing deep and I knew it would be a

hit if I didn't make the play. It wasn't a great play, but a solid play."

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Padres can't Cash in: Venable's RBI accounted for only the Padres' third run scored behind

Cashner over his last six starts. That run was a big one, as it tied the game a half-inning after a

dominant Greinke was given a 1-0 lead.

Tough night for Grandal: Former Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal was struck on the face

mask by the bat of Yangervis Solarte on his follow-through when he popped out to end the

third inning. Grandal then took a Matt Kempfoul tip off the mask with one out in the fourth, flied

out to deep center to end the bottom of that inning and was removed with possible concussion

symptoms before the start of the fifth.

Kemp getting it done on D: Kemp has struggled at the plate this month, but his legs -- and

glove -- were in fine form on Friday. The right fielder made a nice running catch of Ethier's drive

to the warning track in right to end the second inning. One inning later, he stole a hit

from Jimmy Rollins with a diving grab in shallow right-center field.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The Los Angeles Dodgers ended a record-tying scoreless streak on Ethier's double on Friday,

but the franchise record is 41 straight scoreless innings by the Brooklyn Dodgers from Aug. 21-

24, 1937.

Cashner has been the Padres' hard-luck pitcher this season. Not just because of a lack of run

support, either. Venable's error led to the 12th unearned run Cashner has been charged with

this season.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Mattingly rolled the dice when Norris was called safe scoring the tying run in the seventh. Norris

beat the throw from Pederson in center field, but it looked as though Norris' lead leg was

elevated as it crossed the plate, allowing a late tag by Ellis to get the out, but the review proved

inconclusive. The Dodgers are 3-for-13 in challenges this season.

"I thought they were going to overturn it with the way my luck has been going," said Cashner,

who has seen the Padres score three runs for him in his last six combined starts.

WHAT'S NEXT

Padres: Ian Kennedy (2-3, 6.75 ERA) gets a chance at redemption on Saturday at Dodger

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Stadium. During an outing against Los Angeles last month, he allowed a season-high eight runs.

But he was able to identify a mechanical flaw after the game.

Dodgers: Mike Bolsinger is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA in three starts for the Dodgers. With the D-backs

last season, he allowed the Padres two runs on three hits in six innings.

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Benoit's hiccup a Padres bullpen rarity By Corey Brock / MLB.com | @FollowThePadres | 3:42 AM ET

LOS ANGELES -- Joaquin Benoit found himself in yet another high-leverage situation at Dodger

Stadium on Friday night, and much like his outing here on April 7, it didn't end well.

Benoit surrendered a home run to Joc Pederson, the deciding run in a 2-1 loss to the Dodgers.

On April 7, Benoit allowed a game-tying home run to Adrian Gonzalez in the eighth inning, in a

game the Padres eventually won, 7-3. He was charged with a blown save in that game.

But Benoit's rough outing on Friday represented one of the few blights in a month of solid

pitching by the Padres' relievers -- especially compared to a disastrous April, when they had a

collective ERA of 5.35.

"I think the bullpen's starting to show signs of life, which is what we need moving forward," said

Padres manager Bud Black. "Joaquin's been a big part of that resurgence. It's a good sign that

our guys are throwing well.

"They're throwing with more confidence. We're getting nicked a little bit, but they are throwing

better. That's a good sign for our 'pen."

Since May 1, Padres relievers have combined for a 3.60 ERA, down nearly two runs from where

it was in the opening month of the season.

Brandon Maurer, who tossed a scoreless inning on Friday, hasn't allowed a run since April 29 --

a string of 11 consecutive scoreless innings in which he's allowed just four hits.

"They're making better pitches as a group. Some guys are pitching in new roles, like Maurer in

the seventh," said Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley. "I think the stabilization has helped

out, these guys knowing when they're going to pitch."

Even Benoit has pitched better. Before the Pederson's home run, on a 0-2 pitch, no less, he had

gone six consecutive outings without a run.

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Padres pit Kennedy vs. Dodgers'

Bolsinger By Corey Brock / MLB.com | @FollowThePadres | 4:34 AM ET

Mike Bolsinger will get a chance to continue his impressive run in the Dodgers' rotation on Saturday

when he faces the Padres for the first time since last season -- when he was with the D-backs. San Diego

counters with Ian Kennedy.

Bolsinger is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA in 17 1/3 innings over his first three starts with the Dodgers, and

opposing batters are hitting just .217 against him.

Kennedy, meanwhile, is still trying to find some measure of consistency after struggling early in the

season. Kennedy has allowed five or more runs in three of his first six starts of 2015. He allowed eight

earned runs against the Dodgers on April 25.

Things to know about the game:

• After Odrisamer Despaigne allowed two runs over six innings Thursday, the Padres now lead the big

leagues in quality starts with 27.

• The Dodgers will be without starting catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was pulled in the fifth inning of

Friday night's series opener with concussion symptoms and manager Don Mattingly said A.J. Ellis would

get the nod.

• Bolsinger, who began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, is unbeaten in his last seven starts --

four in Triple-A and three in the big leagues.

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Padres' Renfroe among top performers

in Minors Friday San Diego's No. 1 prospect notches a career-high four hits,

including two doubles, for Double-A San Antonio

By Alex M. Smith / MLB.com | 3:11 AM ET

Padres No. 1 prospect (No. 44 overall) Hunter Renfroe has more than 200 career Minor League hits, but

the Double-A San Antonio outfielder had never collected four in one game until Friday night against

Frisco.

Renfroe went 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a walk for the Missions, and now has a five-game

hitting streak. Over that time, he's boosted his season line from .205/.248/.315 to .252/.305/.374.

Teammate -- and Padres No. 3 prospect -- Trea Turner also stood out on Friday, extending his

hitting streak to eight games while notching his sixth RBI in six games. The shortstop, baseball's

No. 58 overall prospect, has five homers and 22 RBIs on the year.

More standout performances from Top 100 prospects on Friday

• Cubs No. 4 prospect (No. 45 overall) Kyle Schwarber helped Double-A Tennessee to a 4-1 win

over Montgomery on Friday by hitting a three-run homer. He now has 10 on the year, which is

good for fifth in the Minor Leagues.

• Pirates No. 7 prospect (No. 85 overall) Alen Hanson went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs

for Triple-A Indianapolis, marking his fifth straight game with multiple hits. The 22-year-old is

now hitting above .300 for the first time all season, sporting a .301/.351/.436 line with two home

runs and 18 RBIs.

• Indians No. 3 prospect (No. 100 overall) Bradley Zimmer swatted his eighth home run of the

season for Class A Lynchburg. The blast was his third in six games, and the center fielder is

now hitting .309/.404/.526 with 22 RBIs this year.

Other notable performances from around the Minor Leagues

• Reds No. 25 prospect Junior Arias came through with his fourth walk-off hit in nine games for

Class A Advanced Daytona. The clutch outfielder smacked a double in the bottom of the 12th

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inning, the tiebreaking cherry on top of a 3-for-6 performance. Arias has only played 13 games

for Daytona, but has now ended almost a third of them with a game-winning hit.

• Dodgers No. 6 prospect Jose De Leon was solid in his Double-A debut. The Tulsa pitcher gave

up three runs on three hits in six innings, striking out eight batters in the process. He picked up

the loss, making him a combined 4-2 on the year. De Leon's strikeout-to-walk ratio now stand at

66/10.

• Indians No. 7 prospect Francisco Mejia and Class A Lake County narrowly lost to Great Lakes,

7-6, but the catcher smashed a three-run home run in the game. The blast was his second in

four games, and he's now hitting .224/.323/.388 with four home runs and 16 RBIs on the

season.

• Athletics No. 9 prospect Chad Pinder continues to rake for Double-A Midland, hitting a grand

slam on Friday. The homer was his sixth of the season, and he's 13-for-26 (.500) over his past

six games. In that span, his line has jumped from .242/.338/.417 to .288/.371/.466.

• Phillies No. 5 prospect Zach Eflin was one out away from a complete game, one-hit shutout for

Double-A Reading. The 21-year-old right-hander handled Portland in 8 2/3 innings of work,

giving up four hits and two unearned runs while striking out five. The hurler is now 4-3 with a

2.28 ERA. "I felt like I had everything," Eflin told MiLB.com after Friday's game. "I threw a couple

bad off-speed pitches, but other than that, I was able to command everything and get ahead

with fastballs and get ahead with off-speed. So it was a good day."

• Red Sox No. 13 prospect Michael Kopech picked up his first win since April 25 for Class A

Greenville. The 2014 first-round pick gave up four hits and one run in five innings. He also

struck out six batters, and now boasts a 30-to-9 K/BB ratio.

• Royals No. 9 prospect Jorge Bonifacio hit a three-run home run off Jose De Leon for Double-A

Northwest Arkansas in his squad's 3-0 win against Tulsa. The blast was his seventh of the

season, and the 21-year-old also has 25 RBIs to his name.

• Cubs No. 7 prospect Duane Underwood moved to 5-0 on the season for Class A Advanced

Myrtle Beach, helping the Pelicans to an 8-4 win over Potomac. The righty gave up six hits and

two earned runs in six innings, and now boasts a 1.38 ERA on the year.

• Tigers No. 3 prospect Buck Farmer improved to 5-1 with a strong performance for Triple-A

Toledo. The former fifth-round Draft pick gave up two runs (one earned) in seven innings of

work, outdueling Daniel Norris,baseball's No. 17 overall prospect, in the process. Farmer also cut

his season ERA from 3.25 to 2.98.

• Giants No. 17 prospect Adam Duvall is now second in the Minor Leagues with 12 home runs

this season. The Triple-A Sacramento slugger hit a two-run shot on Friday as part of a 2-for-5

night, and now has 36 RBIs on the year.

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• D-backs No. 7 prospect Peter O'Brien totaled nine bases for Triple-A Reno. On the night, he

was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. The performance continued a season-

long onslaught that now includes 10 homers, 41 RBIs and a .342/.379/.658 line.

• Astros No. 25 prospect Jacob Nottingham went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs for Class A

Quad Cities. Friday marked his first four-hit game of the season, and his first home run since

May 13. On the year, he has seven dingers and 27 RBIs.

• Orioles No. 23 prospect Trey Mancini had his third straight multi-hit game for Class A Advanced

Frederick. The first baseman went 3-for-4 with three runs, a double and an RBI. Over the past

three days, he's gone 8-for-12 with a homer and three RBIs. Teammate and Orioles No. 25

prospect Mitch Horacek chipped in with 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. The southpaw picked up

his first win since April 20, and now sits at 3-4 with a 3.63 ERA.

• Rays No. 23 prospect German Marquez tossed his longest Minor League start for Class A

Advanced Charlotte. He threw seven shutout innings, giving up just two hits. Marquez has a

0.64 ERA in May after he posted a 4.74 ERA in April. "Last year, he got off to a slow start, too,"

manager Michael Johns told MiLB.com. "It just seems that he gets better with each outing. He

learns, he improves. There was a time last season when he was one of the best pitchers in

baseball."

• Nationals No. 26 prospect Christopher Bostick hit his first homer of the season for Class A

Advanced Potomac. The second baseman went 2-for-5 with a solo shot on Friday, and now has

seven RBIs on the year.

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Padres seek leadoff hitter with Myers

out By Corey Brock / MLB.com | @FollowThePadres | May 22nd, 2015

LOS ANGELES -- The Padres continue to audition leadoff hitters as they attempt to fill the void left

when Wil Myers landed on the disabled list last week with tendinitis in his left wrist.

On Friday, the first game of a three-game series against the Dodgers, first baseman Yangervis Solarte got

his first start of the season atop the lineup.

Solarte is hitting .273 this season with a .328 on-base percentage and has two home runs and 22 RBIs.

Since Myers last played -- March 10 against the D-backs -- the Padres are 3-6 and have averaged 3.1 runs

per game in that stretch.

More notably, the leadoff hitters they've used in Myers' absence, Abraham Almonte and Cory

Spangenberg, have gone a combined 4-for-35 with 14 strikeouts.

"These are lesser service time players and it's a hard transition from the Minor Leagues to the big leagues.

We don't expect them to do Rickey Henderson-type leadoff work," manager Bud Black said. "But they're

capable of getting on base.

"The last couple of games, Spangy has had a couple of day has had a couple of tough games and Almonte

has had some tough games."

his isn't the first time Solarte has hit leadoff. He did so last season after he was acquired from the Yankees

in the July trade that sent Chase Headley to New York.

"We're taking a guy [Solarte] who has proven it at the big league level, even if it's only one-year plus. The

on-base skills, his at-bats have been great, he's been as consistent as anyone through the year," Black said.

"We'll see what he can do, to give the lineup a little different look since we're scuffling."

The Padres averaged 4.6 runs per game with Myers atop the order. Myers began the season in center field

but had moved to first base when Yonder Alonso went on the DL.

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But the overall offensive production is down in May, as the team is averaging four runs a game, compared

to 4.57 runs per game in April.

Myers was leading the team in hits and runs at the time he was injured, as he used his left hand to plant

against the ground while running the bases in a game against the D-backs on May 10. Overall, Myers is

hitting .291 with five home runs and 19 RBIs.

"He was doing a good job the last couple of weeks before the injury," Black said of Myers, who is still at

the point where he's resting and doing therapy on his wrist. "He was embracing it [batting leadoff] and

doing a nice job."

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Despaigne's rotation spot appears to be

safe By Corey Brock / MLB.com | @FollowThePadres | May 22nd, 2015

LOS ANGELES -- Before Thursday's game against the Cubs, Padres manager Bud Black said

pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne "needs a good one."

Black intended for the comment to be more about Despaigne's confidence level, although his standing in

the team's rotation was probably tenuous after two rough outings.

Despaigne responded by allowing two runs over six innings in a loss to the Cubs, a performance that all

but ensured him of another start on Tuesday against the Angels, Black said.

Despaigne, who had allowed a combined 15 earned runs in his previous two starts, allowed a two-run

home run to Kris Bryant in the first inning but little else afterward.

"He certainly made better pitches as the game went on," Black said. "After the first inning, it wasn't quite

what we have seen when he's at his best, but I thought he really started mixing pitches. Two runs, six

innings, you'll take that every night. He did his part."

Despaigne, saw his ERA drop from 6.75 to 6.11, was happy that the work he did between his last start and

Thursday's outing paid some dividends.

"The last couple results didn't necessarily go my way, but I worked hard," Despaigne said through an

interpreter. "I had one pitch [the Bryant home run] that caused all the damage."

If the Padres had opted to go in a different direction from Despaigne -- who is filling in for an

injured Brandon Morrow -- they would have had to dip into the Minor Leagues for an arm.

The hot candidate in the system is 24-year-old right-hander Colin Rea, who might be next in line to join

the big league team. Rea has a 1.38 ERA in eight starts. But Rea went on the seven-day disabled list on

Friday with back spasms.

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As for Morrow -- on the disabled list with inflammation of the right shoulder -- he's scheduled to throw a

bullpen session Saturday or Sunday with a likely simulated game next week while the team is in Anaheim

for an Interleague series.

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Pitching improves as offense hits the

skids Padres had three quality starts this week against Cubs

By Bill Center / San Diego Padres | May 22nd, 2015

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

A step forward, a step back.

The Padres have had a tough time getting on a roll.

The pitching -- both the rotation and the bullpen -- seems to be coming around. But the offense that

carried the club early has hit a rough spot.

The Padres were shut out for the fifth time this month -- and the seventh time this season -- on Thursday,

wasting what turned out to be a quality start from right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne.

Not that it mattered in his previous two outings, when he allowed 15 runs on 20 hits in a total of eight

innings, but Thursday marked the third straight time that the Padres were shut out in a game started by

Despaigne.

"We have a number of guys collectively who are not swinging well," said Black. "The Cubs shut us

down."

The Padres scored six runs on 16 hits while losing two of three games to the Cubs.

Despaigne's effort was the third straight quality start by the Padres against the Cubs. The Cuban allowed

two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. Unfortunately, he was down 2-0 before he recorded

an out, thanks to a leadoff walk to Dexter Fowler followed by Kris Bryant's two-run homer.

What the Padres might be seeing is the importance of Wil Myers. Since Myers was lost on May 10 with

tendinitis in his left wrist, the Padres have gone 3-6 while averaging 3.2 runs per game. At the time of his

injury, Myers led the National League in runs and had accounted for 42 runs in 32 games.

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From the scorebook

• Left fielder Justin Upton was 1-for-3 with a steal Thursday. His nine steals on the season are his most

since he stole 18 bases in 2012. He is also the first player in the Major Leagues this season with 10 or

more homers and nine steals. Upton is hitting .349 (29-for-83) in 23 home games at Petco Park this

season with nine home runs, 22 RBIs and 23 runs. The nine homers equal the Padres record for home runs

at Petco Park before the All-Star break.

• Padres starting pitchers allowed seven runs on 16 hits over 20 innings in the three games against the

Cubs with 23 strikeouts against six walks. That's a 3.15 ERA, below the season ERA of 4.22 for Padres

starting pitchers. The Padres lead the Major Leagues in quality starts (27).

• Despaigne is 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 14 career games at Petco Park.

• Center fielder Will Venable was 1-for-3 Thursday and is hitting .367 (11-for-30) in his last10 games.

Third baseman Will Middlebrooks had two of the Padres' five hits Thursday and is hitting .333 (9-for-

27) with a double and a homer over his last five games.

• Infielder Cory Spangenberg is in a 0-for-19 drought with seven strikeouts that has plunged his batting

average from .293 to .221. And right fielder Matt Kemp is 3-for-22 over his last six games with seven

strikeouts.

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Giron hits 3-run HR in TinCaps'

victory De Paula K's 8 in 5 innings in start for Lake Elsinore

By Bill Center / San Diego Padres | May 22nd, 2015

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

Shortstop Ruddy Giron continued his dramatic first week with a full-season team in the Padres' farm

system Thursday, hitting a three-run homer in the top of the 14th inning to cap Class A Fort Wayne's 9-5

Midwest League win at Lake County.

Giron was 2-for-7 in the game and is now 11-for-20 (.550) with the TinCaps, with two homers, four RBIs

and six runs in four games.

The 18-year-old from the Dominican Republic joined Fort Wayne on Monday after being promoted from

extended spring training. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Giron hits from the right side. He won't turn 19 until

next January.

Infielders Duanel Jones and Chase Jensen also homered in the 13-25 TinCaps' win. Third baseman Jones

(.295) tied the game with a two-run homer as a pinch-hitter in the ninth.

Catcher Miguel Del Castillo (.268) was 3-for-5.

Left-handed starter Thomas Dorminy (5.09 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with three

strikeouts in five innings. Right-hander Seth Lucio allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk with a

strikeout in two innings. Right-hander Colby Blueberg (0.75 ERA) allowed two walks with two strikeouts

over three hitless innings.

Left-hander Brandon Fry, in his first appearance since being promoted from extended spring training,

allowed a hit and two walks with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings to get the win. Right-hander

Yimmi Brasoban (3.28 ERA) walked one in a hitless 14th to close out the win.

Right-hander Aaron Cressley was transferred to short-season Class A Tri-City to open the roster spot for

Fry.

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Around the farm

Triple-A El Paso (20-19): The Chihuahuas were rained out in New Orleans. The game will be made up

as part of a doubleheader Friday night.

Double-A San Antonio (17-22): The Missions were rained out in Corpus Christi. The game will be made

up next month.

Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore (17-23): Storm 7, Visalia 5. RHP Rafael De Paula (3-2, 4.38 ERA)

allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in five innings. RHP Eric Yardley

(2.76 ERA) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to get his eighth save. SS Jose Rondon (.272) was 2-for-4

and scored in the Storm's six-run first. DH Marcus Davis (.252) and C Jeremy Rodriguez (.190) each had

a two-run double in four at-bats. LF Nick Schulz (.225) had a two-run single.

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Pederson's 8th-inning homer helps Dodgers beat Padres 2-1

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- It took nearly a week, but the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to score again. Joc Pederson homered on an 0-2 pitch in the eighth inning and their anemic offense mustered just enough to beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Friday night. Pederson's 11th home run -- tops on the team -- landed in the right-field pavilion off Joaquin

Benoit (4-2) with one out.

"We've had runners in scoring position the last few days and no one really came through," Pederson said. "Just trying to get a good pitch and put a good swing on it."

Chris Hatcher (1-0) threw one pitch to earn his first major league win in his fifth season in the big leagues, all as a reliever. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth to earn his second save.

It was the Dodgers' eighth one-run victory over the Padres at home since June 3, 2013.

The Padres tied the game 1-all in the seventh on Will Venable's RBI single that scored Derek

Norris, who had a ground-rule double. The Dodgers unsuccessfully challenged after Norris was called safe sliding home when it appeared his right leg went over the top of the plate without touching it. Andre Ethier's RBI double gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the fifth and snapped their streak of 35 consecutive scoreless innings, which tied a Los Angeles record set from Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 1962, and was the third-longest in franchise history. The Dodgers were coming off getting swept in three shutout games at San Francisco and had not scored since the fourth inning last Sunday. "We've been hitting so good all year and you're not going to do it all year," Dodgers starter Zack

Greinke said.

Greinke allowed six hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one. The right-hander has given up three earned runs in his last four starts.

"Zack pretty much dominated that game," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "He was outstanding."

Andrew Cashner gave up five hits and one unearned run in six innings, struck out three and walked one. His 12 unearned runs lead the majors.

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"My thought was don't give up any runs," Cashner said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: OF Wil Myers is doing therapy for the left wrist tendinitis that landed him on the DL. Dodgers: C Yasmani Grandal left in the fourth after being struck in the mask with both a bat and a foul ball. He was replaced by A.J. Ellis. Grandal took a foul ball by Matt Kemp off his mask and was struck by Yangervis Solarte's backswing. Grandal was already scheduled to get the day off Saturday. ... OF Carl Crawfordhas increased his workouts but is still feeling discomfort from an oblique injury he sustained on April 28. ... OF Yasiel Puig continues to feel tightness in his left hamstring, which he hurt for a third time in a rehab game on May 8.

RYU'S SHOULDER

Hyun-Jin Ryu said he knew two years ago there was a torn labrum in his left shoulder, but he thought he could pitch through it. The initial MRI he had upon signing with the Dodgers showed the tear. "I knew that as time was passing by, there wasn't any better solutions," Ryu said through a translator. "The earlier decision was better. It was my choice." Mattingly said Ryu had started throwing bullpen sessions and his velocity was improving before he suddenly took a turn for the worse. Ryu had surgery this week and is expected to be back for spring training next year.

MINOR DEAL

The Dodgers completed a minor league trade with the White Sox on Friday, acquiring left-handed pitcher Eric Surkamp in exchange for right-handed pitcher Blake Smith. Surkamp has appeared in 42 games (seven starts) in three big-league seasons with the Giants and White Sox, going 4-3 with a 6.20 ERA. He is 3-0 with one save and a 2.81 ERA in 11 games with Triple-A Charlotte. Smith converted to pitching before the 2013 season after originally being selected by the Dodgers as an outfielder in the second round of the 2009 first-year player draft. He has appeared in 16 games with Double-A Tulsa, going 0-3 with three saves and a 1.62 ERA.

UP NEXT

Padres: RH Ian Kennedy (2-3, 6.75 ERA) starts the middle game of the series. He allowed eight runs in 4 1/3 innings with three home runs in an 11-8 loss to the Dodgers at Petco Park on April 25. He has given up 11 runs in 9 2/3 innings over his previous two starts, which he lost to Seattle and Washington. Dodgers: RH Mike Bolsinger (2-0, 1.04) will face the Padres for the first time as a Dodger starter. He is seeking a career-best third straight win against them.

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Q&A: Padres pitcher Ian Kennedy Right-hander is a standout in the community as well as on the mound By Kirk Kenney8 a.m.May 23, 2015

Padres right-hander Ian Kennedy shares a bit about himself:

Q. You were the Padres nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for community service, which

this year includes your Serving From Home program. What does that involve?

A. It’s become a pretty good thing to host Navy families (while spouses are on deployment), put

them up in a suite, bring them out to batting practice. The kids have fun in center field at the

Park in the Park. They have the Friar come up, enjoy the baseball game. A lot of the kids it’s the

first time they’ve ever been to a big-league baseball stadium. It’s pretty cool. ... It’s our way to

say thank you to the moms and thank some of the kids who are older and thank some of the

people who serve our country.

Q. What veteran advice do you have for a young player?

A. When guys are struggling, I let them know that everyone has done it. I’ve seen a lot of guys

get discouraged. Derek Jeter told me, ‘I’ve been sent down before. Just know that you belong

here in the big leagues. Just don’t get down on yourself. You’re talented enough that you can

stay here.’ I tell them this isn’t coming from me, it’s coming from a future Hall of Famer.

Q. How much of a setback was going on the disabled list after suffering a hamstring injury in the

home opener?

A. You just have to trust that it’s OK (when you return), but there’s a little hump to get over,

especially pitching in a big-league game. You kind of focus on your hamstring and not really pay

attention to what your mechanics are and get thrown off. It took about two starts to get back on

that. Hamstring’s fine now. I just need to figure out how to pitch a little better.

Q. You have three daughters — Nora (4), Renee (2) and Lydia (1) — with another daughter on

the way in July. Do any of them realize yet what Daddy is doing out there on the field?

A. Nora definitely gets it. When I tweaked the hamstring, she ran up to my wife and said,

‘Mommy, what’s wrong with Daddy? Something’s wrong.’ She got that. That was the first time I

ever got pulled off the field like that. She didn’t really know. I sent my wife a text and she told

Nora. It was pretty cute. She’s starting to get it.

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Pederson's home run beats Padres Joaquin Benoit gives up a solo shot to rookie outfielder in the eighth By Dennis Lin9:49 p.m.May 22, 2015Updated10:56 p.m.

LOS ANGELES — When Andre Ethier lashed a double down the right-field line in the bottom of

the fifth on Friday, Justin Turner ran approximately 180 feet and did something no Dodgers

baserunner had done in four days, or, more specifically, 35 innings.

He touched home plate.

Before that opening run, the Padres had watched the Dodgers tie their Los Angeles-franchise

record, originally set between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2 ... of 1962. Then they ended their own streak

of futility.

In the end, a familiar nemesis beat them. After a memorable pitching duel, Joaquin Benoit

missed his intended target on a two-strike fastball and Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson did what

so many hitters have done to the Padres, crushing a bad pitch for a home run. The eighth-inning

solo shot proved the final word in the Dodgers' 2-1, series-opening win.

The Padres (20-23) lost their third consecutive game. The Dodgers (25-16) celebrated the end

of a three-game skid.

A year ago, Benoit allowed three home runs in 54 1/3 innings. This season, he's allowed three

in only 18 innings. A propensity for surrendering deep flies has been endemic to much of the

pitching staff.

"Definitely on an 0-2 pitch, he didn't mean to throw it where he threw it," Padres manager Bud

Black said of Benoit. "He tried to get the ball elevated, and it just didn't get there. It was a

mistake."

The Padres' first pitcher of the night didn't make many. Right-hander Andrew Cashner allowed

neither a home run nor much else over six strong innings. He continued the Padres' recent run

of quality starting pitching, yielding an unearned run on five hits and a walk.

In what has been a frustrating theme, he received next to no support. After Cashner departed,

Will Venable's RBI single in the seventh ended a 20-inning scoreless streak for the Padres.

Venable's tying knock atoned for a critical error in the previous half-inning. Turner had led off the

bottom of the fifth with a single into center. The ball had skittered toward Venable, and the

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Padres center fielder had lowered his glove to the turf. But it glanced off his mitt, and as it rolled

away, Turner had moved into scoring position with no outs.

"Will's a great defender," Black said. "It goes back to the human element. ... It's just sort of

unexplainable, really."

Ethier immediately followed with his double, driving in the Dodgers' first run since a 1-0 victory

over the Rockies on Sunday. In between, the Dodgers had been swept in three games in San

Francisco, failing to score a single run. Then they had flown back to Los Angeles, scoreless

over their last 31 innings.

They met a team in a similar predicament. The Padres had lost, 3-0, to the visiting Cubs on

Thursday, suffering their seventh shutout loss of the season, including their fifth this month.

Then they had driven up to Los Angeles, without a run in their last 14 innings.

Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke, who has dominated San Diego throughout his career,

maintained the upper hand through four innings. He zipped through an eight-pitch first, negated

a single by Venable in the second, retired the Padres on seven pitches in the third and needed

only eight more pitches to get through the fourth.

He resumed in the fifth, retiring the Padres on 13 pitches, undeterred by the exit of catcher

Yasmani Grandal; the former Padres backstop left the game after being struck in the mask by a

foul and, later, a backswing. Greinke finished with 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball, lowering his

earned-run average to 1.48.

"He's got a lot of weapons, a lot of different types of pitches to different areas," Black said. "We

were aggressive, we knew you can't get behind on him. We squared some balls up, some balls

were hit right at their defenders.

"Both guys pitched great. That was two high-end pitchers battling."

Indeed, Cashner kept pace. He went largely unchallenged through the Dodgers' first four

innings at bat. In the second, he pitched around a leadoff walk to Gonzalez and an ensuing

single by Grandal. Joc Pederson's two-out single in the bottom of the third went to waste.

"He had to make some pitches along the way in some critical spots," Black said.

Ethier's breakthrough in the fifth represented what the Padres too often have failed to do for

Cashner. In his last six starts, a span of 39 innings, the offense has scored only three runs. The

Padres were nearly denied on Friday; Venable's seventh-inning scored Derek Norris from

second, but the run became official only after a review of Norris' slide into the plate.

"I thought they were going to overturn it with the way my luck has been going," Cashner said,

smiling.

Friday, nevertheless, he pitched on. After Ethier's double, he retired three consecutive batters.

In the sixth, his pitch count was extended by a two-out single that dropped in left field, the result

of a miscommunication between third baseman Will Middlebrooks and left fielder Justin Upton.

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Cashner received a no-decision, meaning that his record remained at 1-7. His ERA is 2.89.

"I thought I located my fastball better today," he said. "I got my slider going, didn't make a whole

lot of mistakes."

Two innings after he departed, the bullpen made one, and Pederson crushed it. The Padres fell

to six games behind the Dodgers in the National League West. They are one game behind the

third-place D-backs.

Notable

The 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers did not score from the eighth inning of Sept. 28 to the fifth

inning of Oct. 2. This season's scoreless streak tied the the third-longest in franchise history,

behind two streaks in Brooklyn -- 1937 (36 innings) and 1908 (41 innings).

Cashner is winless in three starts against the Dodgers this season (0-2) and only 1-4 in 20

career games (nine starts) against them despite a 2.03 ERA (16 ER, 71 IP).

26

Padres try Solarte in leadoff spot With Wil Myers out, production from top of lineup has been scarce By Dennis Lin6:48 p.m.May 22, 2015

LOS ANGELES — The Nos. 3 and 4 hitters in the Padres' lineup remained unchanged for

Friday's series opener at Dodger Stadium, with Matt Kemp and Justin Upton continuing in their

typical spots. It was up top where manager Bud Black, seeking a spark, introduced a new

wrinkle.

For the first time this season, Yangervis Solarte was given leadoff duties. With Wil Myers

sidelined by left wrist tendinitis, Abraham Almonte and Cory Spangenberg had provided scarce

production out of the top spot, combining to go 4-for-35 with 14 strikeouts.

Solarte, who'd spent most of the season hitting either second or fifth, entered Friday batting .273

with seven doubles, two home runs, 10 walks and 15 strikeouts. Last season, his first in the

majors, he hit .267 (31-for-116) with four doubles, a homer, 10 walks and 10 strikeouts when

batting first.

The 27-year-old may not be an ideal option, but in the short term, he could turn out to be the

best available. The Padres were 3-6 since Myers last played on May 10. In that span, they were

averaging 3.1 runs per game, and that included an eight-run performance after a rain delay.

"These are lesser-service time players that you put that on," Black said of Almonte, 25, and

Spangenberg, 24. "It’s a hard transition from the minor leagues to the big leagues."

Of Solarte, Black said: "We’ll take more of a guy that’s proven at the big-league level, even

though it’s only a year-plus. His on-base skills, his at-bats have been great, as consistent as

anybody throughout the course of the year. We’ll see what he can do for a few games, just to

give a lineup a little different look since we’re scuffling a bit."

The Padres' recent struggles, of course, have not been limited to the top of the order. For

instance, Alexi Amarista was hitting .186 before Friday's game, with Black shifting out of his

shortstop platoon to start the right-handed-hitting Clint Barmes against Dodgers righty Zack

Greinke. (Barmes was 7-for-16 lifetime off Greinke.)

"It’s about a little bit of success against Greinke, and Lexi -- some of his at-bats the last couple

nights -- we’ve got to get him back to doing the things he does well," Black said.

Notable

27

Padres right-hander Brandon Morrow (shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to throw another

bullpen session either Saturday or Sunday, Black said. In all likelihood, the ensuing step would

be a simulated game next week when the Padres visit Anaheim. "Brandon is doing very well.

He’s progressing," Black said.

Black confirmed that right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne "more than likely" will start again

Tuesday. Despaigne had been in danger of being optioned to the minors before Thursday's six-

inning, two-run performance. Even if Despaigne had turned in another poor start, the Padres'

options in the minors are limited; Double-A El Paso right-hander Colin Rea, perhaps the

organization's hottest pitching prospect, has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with

lower back spasms.

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On deck: Kennedy vs. Dodgers, Part 2 Right-hander's worst start of season came against L.A. By Dennis Lin10 a.m.May 23, 2015

THE SERIES

Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers

Game 2: Today at 7:10 p.m.

PROBABLE PITCHERS

Padres RHP Ian Kennedy (2-3, 6.75 ERA)

Kennedy has been shellacked in three starts this season, including his last one (against the

Nationals) and April 25 (the Dodgers scored eight runs off him).

Dodgers RHP Mike Bolsinger (2-0, 1.04 ERA)

With injuries in L.A.'s rotation, Bolsinger has been a welcome surprise. He threw six shutout

innings against Colorado in his last start.

GAME 3

Sunday, 1:10 p.m.: Padres RHP James Shields (5-0, 3.74) vs. Dodgers RHP Carlos Frias (3-1,

2.55)

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Minors: Rea to DL; Renfroe goes 4-for-4 Recapping Friday's Padres minor league games By Jeff Sanders6 a.m.May 23, 2015

Colin Rea will have to take a step back from his breakthrough season.

The 24-year-old right-hander was placed on the seven-day disabled list with lower back spasms

before Double-A San Antonio's 4-3 loss to Frisco in 11 innings Friday night. The move is

retroactive to May 19, a day after Rea allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings, his

shortest start of the year.

Rea, a 12th-round pick in 2011, is 1-2 with a 1.38 ERA, 45 strikeouts and nine walks in 52

innings with the Missions (17-23).

In the game, right fielder Hunter Renfroe raised his average to .252 with a 4-for-4 day that

included two doubles and two RBIs.

Right-hander Elliot Morris (3.32) allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings and right-hander Tayron

Guerrero (3.18) struck out four in two innings. Right-hander Dennis O'Grady (0-2, 6.46) allowed

a run in the 11th.

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (22-19)

Chihuahuas 4, New Orleans 1 (7):LF Alex Dickerson (.325) doubled in a pair of runs and CF

Melvin Upton Jr. (.333) went 1-for-3 with a double and two runs. RHP Zack Segovia (1-0, 1.8)

allowed on run in five innings, while RHP Jay Jackson saved the game with three strikeouts

over two perfect innings.

Chihuahuas 4, New Orleans 1 (7):SS Ramiro Pena (.290) drove in three runs on two hits,

including a double, and 3B Brett Wallace (.298) hit his fifth homer. RHP Nick Vincent (2-1, 2.25)

pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the win.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (17-23)

Stockton 8, Storm 0: RHP Kyle Lloyd (4.50) struck out six and allowed two runs in seven

innings. DH Marcus Davis (.253) doubled in three at-bats.

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LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (14-25)

TinCaps 5, Lansing 4: SS Ruddy Giron (.520) went 2-for-5 with a triple and RF Franmil Reyes

(.220) hit his second homer. RHP Ernesto Montas (3-3, 3.86) struck out four over five scoreless

innings.