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Padres Press Clips Thursday, July 27, 2017

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Padres beat Mets with early offense, stellar defense UT San Diego Lin 2

Padres' Dusty Coleman relishes first major league hit UT San Diego Lin 4

First pitch: Hunter Renfroe chasing Padres rookie homer record UT San Diego Sanders 6

Padres prospect Adrian Morejon promoted to Fort Wayne UT San Diego Sanders 8

Padres owner on Brad Hand: 'Other things being equal, UT San Diego Lin 11

right now I don't see us moving him'

Leather and pace: Friars set tone with D, homer MLB.com DiComo/Ruiz 13

High fives: Cordoba, Torrens make key plays MLB.com Cassavell 16

Perdomo to face Mets for first time in finale MLB.com Ruiz 18

Myers, Renfroe are Padres' new power couple MLB.com Ruiz 19

Torrens' triple helps lift Padres over Mets 6-3 Associated Press AP 21

Rumor Central: Will Brad Hand remain in San Diego? ESPN.com Mittler 23

This Day in Padres History, 7/27 FriarWire Center 24

Andy’s Address, 7/26 FriarWire Center 25

Padres On Deck: Kennedy Wins 10th Game for Surging FriarWire Center 28

AA-San Antonio

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Padres beat Mets with early offense, stellar defense Dennis Lin

Last week, Manuel Margot became a father. His wife, Rachell, gave birth to the couple’s first child. They named their son Diamond.

On Wednesday at Petco Park, Margot and the Padres had a gem of a game.

In a 6-3 victory over the New York Mets, the rookie center fielder homered in his first at-bat, tripled in his second and contributed to a stellar defensive effort.

Margot’s sliding catch to end of the top of the fifth followed similar interceptions by left fielder Jabari Blash and right fielder Hunter Renfroe.

“I was joking with them a bit,” Margot, who went 2-for-4 in his third consecutive multi-hit game, said through an interpreter. “I was telling them, ‘You guys have to make one, too, and I’ve got to make one.’ Everyone was making plays.”

In the top of the sixth, another rookie upstaged his outfield.

Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin had been lifted with one out and the bases loaded. Buddy Baumann had taken the mound, induced a fly out and issued a run-scoring walk. Craig Stammen, who relieved Baumann, watched as Rene Rivera smoked a grounder past the mound.

Allen Cordoba, who was making his 14th major league start at shortstop, dived to his left, fully extended, and gloved the ball as he landed atop outfield grass. In a blink, he was on his feet again, pivoting and firing a strike to first baseman Wil Myers.

“Wow,” Margot said. “That was impressive. I was really excited because when I first saw the ball it was almost all the way in the outfield. He came out of nowhere to be able to make that play. It was really fun.”

For the Padres, it was arguably the defensive highlight of their season. For Cordoba, a work in progress at the infield’s most demanding position, it was the defensive highlight of his young career.

“I’d have to put it first,” Cordoba said through an interpreter. “I helped the team, I saved some runs, so I’d have to put it No. 1.”

Thanks to a 21-year-old Rule 5 draftee, San Diego still had a four-run lead.

“It was a game-saving-type play,” manager Andy Green said. “…He’s still learning so much at that position, but it breeds confidence when you know you made a play to change the complexion of the game, and he did that today.”

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The home team had built an early cushion. Jose Pirela, the Padres’ first batter, singled. Margot, batting second, drilled his sixth major league home run over the centerfield wall.

In the bottom of the third, he led off with a three-bagger. Myers doubled, scoring Margot. A hit-by-pitch and an infield single loaded the bases. With two outs, yet another rookie delivered.

On a scalded drive to right-center, Rule 5 catcher Luis Torrens missed his first career home run, and a grand slam, by a matter of inches. He settled for his first career triple, a bases-clearer. The Padres led, 6-1.

“I knew I hit it well, but my first instinct was to run,” Torrens said through an interpreter. “After that, whatever happens, happens.”

Added Green: “Credit to Luis Torrens behind the plate, too. Called a good game, caught a good game, was receiving well, blocking well. I know he’s grinded on the offensive end, trying to find hits. It was a huge swing for us today.”

Chacin made good use of his advantage. The right-hander, whose latest start had been delayed a day due to minor back tightness, allowed a run on a walk and two hits in the second. He did not allow another hit until the sixth.

“I really feel fine,” Chacin said. “Didn’t feel anything (with my back). Got a lead in the first inning. I think that makes me more relaxed, and I just tried to make pitches. Give all the credit to the defense, really. They played great defense in the first inning, from the first pitch, actually. I think they won the game, actually.”

A trade candidate, the 29-year-old finished with 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. His home ERA ticked up to 2.05. His overall ERA ticked down to 4.22.

“You really can’t think about that,” Chacin said after making his final start before Monday’s trade deadline. “You have to go out, do your thing, and whatever happens, happens. I just want to give the team a chance to win every time I go out.”

Wilmer Flores homered off Kirby Yates in the eighth, pulling the Mets to within three runs.

In the ninth, top trade target Brad Hand emerged for his second save opportunity in as many appearances. The left-hander converted again, retiring the side.

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Padres' Dusty Coleman relishes first major league hit Dennis Lin

After Oakland drafted him in the 28th round in 2008, Dusty Coleman waited more than seven years for his major league debut.

He waited more than nine for his first major league hit.

In the bottom of the ninth Tuesday at Petco Park, the 30-year-old shortstop saw three pitches from New York Mets closer Addison Reed. He fouled off the first and swung through the second. Coleman was down to his final strike, the Padres down to their final out.

Then he connected with an 0-2 fastball, smoking an RBI double to deep center and pulling San Diego to within a run. The next batter grounded out to end the game.

“I know he’s the type of team guy that wanted to win last night,” manager Andy Green said Wednesday. “I hope he was able to enjoy what he accomplished, because that’s a lifetime worth of dreaming there in that moment.”

Not to mention wondering if he’d ever get another chance.

In July of 2015, Coleman, the 38th South Dakota-born player to reach the majors, appeared in four games for the Kansas City Royals. He went 0-for-5 at the plate before he was optioned back to Triple-A Omaha. He spent all of last season in the minors.

In December, he signed a minor league deal with the Padres.

“Especially with the wife and two kids, this can be a difficult journey sometimes,” said Coleman, who has a 2-year-old and a nine-month-old. “You don’t get to plan a lot of things, so you kind of take a leap of faith. The Padres really have been awesome for me, giving me an opportunity.”

On Saturday, a fractured foot landed shortstop Erick Aybar on the disabled list. Two days later, Coleman was officially selected from Triple-A El Paso. He went 0-for-3 in his Padres debut. Tuesday, he entered as a defensive replacement, popped out in his first at-bat and came up again to face the Mets’ best reliever.

What happened next surpassed any previous career highlight, even receiving a World Series ring after the Royals’ 2015 run.

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“I’ll take the first major league hit,” Coleman said with a laugh. “To actually get that first knock is something you’ve dreamed of since being a little kid, playing in the big leagues. It’s a special moment for me.

“Getting a chance to go up there and be a part of that (Royals) team that went on to win the World Series just kind of made me want to fight even harder to get back up and try to stick up here for a while and just enjoy the experience. This is something that not a lot of people in their life get to do, and I just want to enjoy every moment.”

Notable

• Second baseman Yangervis Solarte (left oblique strain) and catcher Austin Hedges(seven-day concussion disabled list) took batting practice Wednesday. The Padres are hopeful Solarte will begin a rehab assignment this week, while they want to see Hedges catch a bullpen session before activating him.

• The Padres are leaning toward adding newcomer Travis Wood to the rotation, Green said, adding that the team had not yet settled on a date for his first start. Wood, who was acquired from Kansas City on Monday, also can pitch in relief. “Throughout the rest of the season, we might end up doing both, frankly,” Green said. “That kind of versatility is what drew us to him in the first place.”

• Left-hander Christian Friedrich (left elbow tenderness) “didn't feel great” throwing his curveball during a two-inning simulated game Tuesday, Green said. “He’s just not getting over the hump. … I’m hopeful (of a return), but at this point it’s hard to be optimistic, with what he’s gone through this year.”

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First pitch: Hunter Renfroe chasing Padres rookie homer record Jeff Sanders

Hunter Renfroe has come as advertised in his first full big league season. In fact, the right fielder’s first season is on pace to become the most powerful ever for a Padres’ rookie.

With three homers in his last two games, the 25-year-old Renfroe is at 20 through 91 games, just two games behind Ryan Schimp’s pace of 20 in 89 games last season. Only two Padres rookies have hit more than those two:

• Nate Colbert with 24 in 1969; • Jedd Gyorko with 23 in 125 games in 2013.

Renfroe, himself, is on pace for 32.

“There's very few in the game who have power like him,” Padres manager Andy Greensaid. “If he keeps this pace it turns into the most prolific power hitting rookie in Padres history.”

In some ways, Renfroe already is.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, he’s the first Padres rookie to ever record 20 homers and 20 doubles in his first 91 games in a season. He’s also the only major league rookie to do so this year, while his 20 homers rank third behind All-Star rookies Aaron Judge (32) and Cody Bellinger (28).

That’s noteworthy for this reason.

The only other MLB season in which three rookies hit 20 homers before Aug. 1, according to Elias, was 1987: Mark McGwire (37), Matt Nokes (22) and Bo Jackson (20).

Health checkups

• LHP Christian Friedrich’s curveball did not feel great in Tuesday’s simulated game at Petco Park. He’s expected to take a look at alternative options in the training room in hopes of returning from the elbow discomfort that’s prevented him from starting his season. “He’s just not getting over the hump,” Green said.

• C Austin Hedges (concussion symptoms) hit on the field after catching a flat-ground bullpen. The Padres would like Hedges to catch a regular bullpen before considering his activation. If that comes soon, Hedges may not require a rehab assignment.

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• INF Yangervis Solarte (oblique) hit from the right side on the field for a second straight day. Assuming he comes out of it well, Solarte could head out on a rehab assignment before the end of the week.

• RHP Craig Stammen (hamstring) is available today.

Notable

• While RHPs Jhoulys Chacin, Luis Perdomo, Dinelson Lamet and LHP Clayton Richard are the listed probables through Saturday, the Padres have not decided which day LHP Travis Wood might slot into the rotation. Green said Wednesday that he the team was leaning toward Wood making his organization debut as a starting pitcher. After pitching Sunday for the Royals, the earliest Wood could go on regular rest is Friday.

• OF Jose Pirela’s 11-game hitting streak came to an end in Tuesday’s 6-5 loss to the Mets. That and 1B Wil Myers’ 11-game streak in April (9-21) are the longest by a Padre this season.

• Also, in Tuesday’s game, INF Allen Cordoba hit his first homer since May 13th and his fourth of the season, SS Dusty Coleman collected his first MLB hit (a runs-scoring double) and CF Manuel Margot collected three hits for his team-leading 22nd multi-hit game.

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ON DECK | Mets (47-51) at Padres (43-57)

Game 3: 7:10 p.m. Wednesday

Mets LHP Steven Matz (2-3, 4.67 ERA)

• The 26-year-old missed the first two months of the season with an elbow injury. He struck out eight over 7 1/3 shutout innings of one-hit ball last year against San Diego.

Padres RHP Jhoulys Chacin (9-7, 4.26 ERA)

• After having his back tighten on him Monday, Chacin was adamant he could make Tuesday’s start. The Padres, instead, opted to give Chacin, a trade candidate, an extra day of rest. Chacin allowed seven runs in 2/3 innings against the Mets in May in New York.

Up next

• Thursday: Mets RHP Chris Flexen (MLB debut) vs. Padres RHP Luis Perdomo (4-5, 4.71), 6:10 p.m.

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Padres prospect Adrian Morejon promoted to Fort Wayne Jeff Sanders

One of the organization’s top pitching prospects is on the move.

Left-hander Adrian Morejon, still just 18, was promoted from short-season Tri-City to low Single-A Fort Wayne on Wednesday and will make his Midwest League debut Saturday at the TinCaps’ Parkview Field.

Signed to a franchise-record $11 million bonus last July out of Cuba, Morejon made his professional debut for Tri-City in June. In seven starts, Morejon is 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA, 35 strikeouts, three walks and .266 opponent average over 35 1/3 innings.

Morejon is coming off his best start to date on Sunday: six innings, four hits, no runs, no walks and eight strikeouts.

Other recent Cuban signees in Fort Wayne include outfielder Jorge Ona ($7 million) and right-hander Michel Baez ($3 million) and Ronald Bolanos ($2.25 million).

MLB.com ranks Morejon the sixth-best prospect in the Padres organization and No. 81 in all of baseball.

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (52-52)

• Chihuahuas 7, Iowa 6: RHP Carter Capps (3.27) allowed three runs – two earned – in the ninth inning, snapping a streak of 15 innings without allowing an earned run. He struck out one and allowed two hits. RHP Michael Kelly (3-2, 5.86) struck out seven and allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings in the start. RF Nick Buss (.367) went 1-for-3 with his ninth homer, three RBIs and two runs scored and CF Chase d’Arnaud (.370) and 3B Christian Villanueva (.304) each had two hits and a walk. 2B Ryan Schimpf (.233) doubled in two runs and LF Franchy Cordero (.313) went 0-for-2 with his 10th steal.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (20-13, 61-42)

• Corpus Christi 11, Missions 3: LHP Eric Lauer (2-2, 6.75) allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three. RHP Aroni Nina (2.52) allowed four runs – three earned – over the final two innings. 1B Josh Naylor (.283) hit his

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second homer and 3B Ty France (.282) and CF Auston Bousfield (.242) each had three hits.

LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (21-11, 47-55)

• TinCaps 4, West Michigan 3 (11): RHP Wilmer Torres (3-2, 2.81) turned in two scoreless innings for the win after RHP Pedro Avila (3.86) allowed two runs in six innings in the start. Avila struck out five. C Marcus Greene Jr. (.271) went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored and 1B Brad Zunica (.254) went 2-for-3 with an RBI. The go-ahead run scored on an error.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (13-20, 48-55)

• Inland Empire 4, Storm 3: RHP Adrian De Horta (2-1, 4.26) struck out nine and allowed an unearned run on three hits and a walk in five innings in a tough-luck loss. RHP Zech Lemond allowed three runs in the sixth before RHP Jose Ruiz (4.91) turned in two scoreless innings. 1B Fernando Perez (.271) drove in two runs on two hits and CF Michael Gettys (.262) doubled and struck out twice in his return from the DL (shoulder).

SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (22-19)

• Dust Devils 5, Vancouver 0: RHP Henry Henry (2-3, 2.41) struck out one, walked one and scattered four hits over five shutout innings and RHP Dalton Erb (1.57) struck out five over three scoreless frames. 1B Luis Anguizola (.230) drove in three runs on two hits, including a triple, and 2B Justin Lopez went 3-for-4 with a double. SS Luis Almanzar (.228) had two hits and an RBI.

ROOKIE AZL PADRES (13-12)

• Padres 5, Reds 3: RHP Caleb Boushley (7.15) struck out five and allowed an unearned run in five innings and RHP Jonathan Guzman (1-1, 5.09) allowed a run in two innings in the win. New 2B Esteury Ruiz (.383) went 0-for-5 with a strikeout, while 1B Jaquez Williams (.263) drove in three runs on his third and fourth homers.

ROOKIE DSL PADRES (17-28)

• Mariners 2, Padres 0: LHP Aaron Lezama (0-1, 3.38) allowed two unearned runs on three walks in an inning in relief after RHP Ramon Pena (0.00) turned in four scoreless innings, also in relief. 3B Luis Guzman (.232) and CF Danny Tovar (.261) both collected two hits.

• Padres 5, Mariners 4 (7): RHP Moises Lugo (2-2, 2.42) struck out seven and allowed two runs on five hits and a walk in six innings in the start. 1B Blinger Perez (.250) went 2-for-2 with two RBIs on his first homer and a walk and C Miguel Molina (.242) drove in three runs on his first homer.

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Transactions

• To make room for Morejon, RHP Blake Rogers was transferred from Fort Wayne to the Arizona League Padres.

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Padres owner on Brad Hand: 'Other things being equal, right now I don't see us moving him' Dennis Lin

The Padres shipped out two of their most marketable relievers on Monday, including Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter as part of a deal with the Kansas City Royals.

With five days left before the July 31 trade deadline, the possibility looms that San Diego’s best bullpen arm isn’t going anywhere (at least this season). While rival officials continue to describe the asking price for left-hander Brad Hand as prohibitive, the Padres have yet to waver in their demands.

“There’s a lot of interest in Brad, and we think he’s a very valuable commodity,” Executive Chairman Ron Fowler said in a Wednesday morning interview on The Mighty 1090-AM. “Other things being equal, right now I don’t see us moving him, because we value him more than what’s being offered and we think he could be part of the team for the foreseeable future.”

Fowler added a familiar caveat.

“But with (General Manager A.J. Preller), you never quite know,” he said. “There wasn’t much going on, and Sunday afternoon the calls started, and by the close of business on Monday we had something done. It’s a very fluid situation, but we’re not giving Brad Hand away. We want like value, and maybe we perceive him to be more valuable than some other teams. He’s a heck of a player, he’s our All-Star, and he’s done extraordinarily well all season for the Padres.”

With the deadline approaching, things can shift over the course of a few days, or from hour to hour. What doesn’t seem likely to change is the Padres’ request for at least one top prospect in return.

“For each of our players, if somebody calls in and talks about them, I think we’re going to have a level or value point that we feel like we need to get to,” Preller said later Wednesday on The Mighty 1090. “And if we get to that, we’ll consider moving anybody.”

Hand, 27 and two-plus seasons away from free agency, entered Wednesday with a 2.12 ERA. He had not allowed a run in his last 16 appearances.

“Like Ron said, it’s a fluid situation, we’ll see how it plays out,” Preller said. “I think the biggest thing is, we have Brad for the rest of this year and two more years of control, and we’re not

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looking at ‘Hey, we want to be good seven years from now.’ He can be a part of two clubs that are going to get good here, and you always need bullpen pieces like Brad. If somebody puts something in front of us that we can’t turn down, we’ll get to that point, but we’re not going into the deadline saying, ‘Hey, we need to move anybody.’”

Preller added that he expected conversations “on a lot of different scenarios and players” to continue up until the deadline. In the meantime, the Padres’ biggest trade chip will remain a subject of significant interest.

As one rival official said recently, “We could’ve used Brad Hand last night.”

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Leather and pace: Friars set tone with D,

homer By Anthony DiComo and Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com | 2:34 AM ET

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres' outfielders set an early tone Wednesday night at Petco Park, providing first-

inning defense and offense to jump-start San Diego's 6-3 victory over the Mets, as Jhoulys

Chacin improved to 4-0 in July.

The game began with what appeared to be a casual fly ball in foul territory beyond the left-field line.

Padres left fielder Jabari Blash raced to the ball, sliding prematurely before making the catch on his

back. The play prompted applause from Chacin, who benefited again from his outfield defense when right

fielder Hunter Renfroe ended the first with a diving catch.Manuel Margot, the center fielder, hit a two-

run home run off Mets left-hander Steven Matzin the bottom of the inning.

"I was joking with them a bit," Margot said through a team interpreter. "I was telling them, 'You guys

have to make one, too, and I've got to make one.' Everyone was making plays."

Margot led off the Padres' four-run third with a triple, scoring on a Wil Myers' double. The Padres then

loaded the bases against Matz, who served up a bases-clearing triple to rookie catcher Luis Torrens.

Matz allowed six earned runs in three innings and has 14.18 ERA in his last four starts.

"It stinks to put your team in a position like that," Matz said. "I'm going to have to start again in six days,

so I've got to try to figure out how to put my team in a position to win."

Chacin was pushed back from his scheduled Tuesday start after experiencing back tightness Monday, but

continued his run of success, holding the Mets to two runs in 5 1/3 innings after giving up seven runs in

two-thirds of an inning against them in May. His line would have been worse if not for New York leaving

the bases loaded in the sixth, thanks to a stunning diving play by Rule 5 draftee Allen Cordoba.

"The play from Allen Cordoba was as big of a play as we've had all year with the bases loaded in that

situation," Padres manager Andy Green said. "It was a game-saving-type play."

Chacin posted a 2.77 ERA in 10 starts in June and July, establishing himself as a trade candidate.

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"You really can't think about that," Chacin said of Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline. "You have to go

out, do your thing, and whatever happens, happens. I just want to give the team a chance to win every

time I go out."

Wilmer Flores homered off Kirby Yates in the eighth, creating a save situation for All-Star Brad Hand,

who closed the door as he continued to prove himself as one of the top relievers on the trade market.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Rule 5er with the bat: When Torrens, one of San Diego's three Rule 5 draftees, stepped to the plate with

two outs in the third and the Padres ahead 3-1, he had never tripled or homered in a Major League game.

He came inches shy of the latter, settling for the former. He crushed Matz's 1-1 offering a Statcast-

projected 398 feet to right-center, the farthest he's hit a ball in his career, and hustled around the bases for

his first three-bagger after it ricocheted off the wall. All three baserunners scored as the Padres built a

five-run lead.

Rule 5er with the glove: The Mets threatened to erase San Diego's advantage in the sixth, loading the

bases against Chacin before Buddy Baumann walked in a run. Representing the tying run, Rene

Rivera pounded a Craig Stammen two-seamer up the middle, seemingly destined for the outfield grass.

Enter Cordoba, who nabbed the ball with a full-extension dive before getting up and firing to first.

Cordoba considered it the best play of his career at any level.

"I hit it hard," Rivera said. "But that's the game. People are going to make plays. He made a great play. He

robbed a hit and a couple RBIs. But you've got to deal with it. That's why he's here in the big leagues,

because he can play."

Said Cordoba: "I was anticipating something to that side. I knew he was a pull hitter. And then when I

saw it come off the bat, I just went to try to make the play and not let any runs score."

QUOTABLE

"Certainly defense was a huge part of what made them successful tonight. They've got some talented

young players over there." -- Mets manager Terry Collins on the Padres

"Wow. That was impressive. I was really excited because when I first saw the ball, it was almost all the

way in the outfield. He came out of nowhere to be able to make that play." -- Margot on Cordoba's diving

play

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SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Margot and Torrens' third-inning triples marked the second time the Friars have tripled twice in the same

inning. The two most recent times had both been in San Francisco's AT&T Park. It's the first time they've

done it at Petco Park since June 19, 2014, against Seattle, and the third time they've done it at home

overall.

WHAT'S NEXT

Mets: When he takes the mound Thursday at Petco Park with a small army of friends and family in

attendance, rookie Chris Flexen will become the Mets' first starting pitcher to jump from Double-A

straight to the Majors since Mike Pelfrey in 2006. Flexen, the Mets' No. 17 prospect, went 6-1 with a

1.66 ERA in seven starts for Binghamton. He is taking injured pitcher Zack Wheeler's spot in the

rotation. First pitch is at 9:10 p.m. ET.

Padres: Luis Perdomo pitches against the Mets for the first time, as the Padres conclude their four-game

series against New York at 6:10 p.m. PT on Thursday. The second-year right-hander held the Giants to

one earned run in six innings in his last start, but three unearned runs left him with a no-decision.

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High fives: Cordoba, Torrens make key

plays

Rule 5 Draft picks have game to remember vs. Mets

By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | @AJCassavell | 2:22 AM ET

SAN DIEGO -- Precisely a year ago, Allen Cordoba was in Johnson City, Tenn., playing shortstop for

the Rookie-level affiliate in the Cardinals organization. Luis Torrens, meanwhile, was catching for

Staten Island, NY, the Class A short-season club in the Yankees' system.

On Wednesday night, Cordoba and Torrens -- Padres selections in December's Rule 5 Draft -- provided

the decisive moments in a 6-3 victory over the Mets. Not bad for a pair of 21-year-old rookies, who had

never played above Class A before this year.

Torrens missed his first big league home run (and grand slam) by inches, settling for a bases-clearing

triple in the third inning instead. Then, after the Mets loaded the bases in the sixth, Cordoba ranged to his

left and made a brilliant diving stop, arguably the best defensive play by a Padre this season.

"Those two guys had a huge impact on the baseball game," said Padres manager Andy Green. "That's fun

to see from young guys."

To be sure, Torrens and Cordoba have seen their share of growing pains. That was always expected.

In fact, when the Padres selected the duo in December, many questioned whether they'd be able to stick at

the Major League level. (Per Rule 5 Draft stipulations, Torrens and Cordoba must remain on the Padres

roster for the entire season, or be offered back to their original clubs.)

There's little doubt anymore: Torrens and Cordoba are in the Padres organization to stay. The same holds

true for fellow Rule 5er Miguel Diaz, who is battling back from a right forearm strain.

"There are a lot of young guys out there, on this team," said Torrens. "Everybody goes out there to do

their part. Everybody works hard. It's good, there's a lot of energy ... in this clubhouse. Everybody's trying

to contribute."

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Recent injuries to shortstop Erick Aybar and catcher Austin Hedges have cleared the way for Torrens

and Cordoba to receive more playing time.

For Cordoba, it's the first time he's truly gotten consistent reps at shortstop, and he's been shaky. But

Wednesday offered a glimpse into his potential. When asked where the play ranked among the best he's

ever made, Cordoba replied, "I helped the team, I saved some runs, so I'd have to put it No. 1."

Torrens, meanwhile, is no longer a liability behind the dish. He's been thrown into the fire at the sport's

most demanding position. And he's successfully executing game plans with a big league pitching staff.

"I'm always looking for a way to learn," Torrens said. "I'm always looking for something that's going to

help me adapt to the level up here, adapt to the play up here. And I've definitely learned a lot."

In all likelihood, Cordoba and Torrens are destined for a trip to the Minors to start the 2018 season.

There's still growth ahead for both of them. Cordoba's batting average has dipped nearly 100 points since

his hot start to the season. Torrens' average is still hovering below the Mendoza line.

"It's a constant fight," Green said. "You're going to struggle if you want to be great at this game. They've

been through some struggles."

Nights like Wednesday serve to reinforce the bigger picture behind those struggles. And the Padres

believe more nights like these are on the horizon.

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Perdomo to face Mets for first time in finale By Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com | July 26th, 2017

Petco Park hosts its second Major League debut in three games Thursday, when Chris Flexen starts for

the Mets against Luis Perdomo and the Padres.

Flexen, New York's 14th-round pick in the 2012 Draft, will have "everyone who's watched me grow up

since I was little" in attendance, including his parents and grandparents.

"This is a dream come true," the 23-year-old said. "It's something you work your whole life for. It's

overwhelming. It's exciting. It's nerve-wracking. It's all of the above. But most of all, I'm excited."

Perdomo has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his past five starts, but at least four scored

against him in the other two. He gave up one earned run in six innings against the Giants in his previous

start, but three unearned runs left him with a no-decision. Thursday will be his first appearance against the

Mets.

Things to know for this game

• Flexen will be the first Mets starting pitcher to debut straight from Double-A since Mike Pelfrey in

2006. In 10 starts at Double-A Binghamton, he threw two complete games and had a 6-1 record with a

1.76 ERA.

• Hunter Renfroe has landed baseballs onto the Western Metal Supply Co. Building twice this week, with

one of those going to the roof. The Padres' young slugger loves to pull the ball for power to the left side,

and few right-handed hitters in baseball get more on the ball when they're able to square it up and pull it.

Among right-handers who have hit at least 25 fly balls to the "dead pull" area of the field, as defined by

Statcast, Renfroe's 362-feet average distance ties the Orioles' Manny Machado for third place behind the

D-backs' Paul Goldschmidt (368 feet) and the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton (367 feet).

• Perdomo succeeds by maximizing ground balls and minimizing liners. Thanks to a heavy slider, he has a

74.7 ground-ball rate with two strikes, while only 9.9 percent of the balls right-handed batters put in play

against him are line drives. Both marks are the best in the Majors among starters.

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Myers, Renfroe are Padres' new power

couple

First baseman, rookie outfielder in friendly home run

competition

By Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com | 3:32 AM ET

SAN DIEGO -- With two of his young Padres sitting on 20 home runs, manager Andy Green won't

handicap the race between Wil Myers and Hunter Renfroe for the team lead.

"That's like asking me to pick between my kids," Green said.

One member of the Padres' power couple has homered in each of the San Diego's past six games, entering

Wednesday's matchup with the Mets. The hot stretch made Myers and Renfroe only the second pair of

Padres with 20 home runs each through 100 games.

After Myers homered in three straight games last weekend to reach 20, the pair was more than two home

runs apart for the first time since May 24. Renfroe quickly answered, homering in three consecutive at-

bats across the team's next two games, on Monday and Tuesday.

"He can heat up like that at any time," Myers said.

The first of Renfroe's three straight blasts landed on top of Petco Park's Western Metal Supply Co.

Building, traveling a Statcast-projected 462 feet. Among right-handers who have hit at least 25 fly balls to

the "dead pull" area of the field, Renfroe's average distance of 362 ties Manny Machado for third in

baseball behind All-Stars Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton.

"It's no secret to anybody: Hunter's got a ton of pop," Green said. "... There's very few in the game that

have power like him."

Myers' 13th and Renfroe's 15th both came June 16. When Myers broke a tie with his 16th on June 29,

Renfroe again brought them even with a 444-foot shot two innings later. They stayed deadlocked before

Myers went yard July 18 while Renfroe was on the disabled list with a stiff neck, but in his first game

back, Renfroe tied it up.

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Myers, the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year, is still only 26. Renfroe, 25, seems a certainty to

set San Diego's rookie home run record. Their battle could become one of the most exciting parts of 2017

for the franchise, which has seen only three duos record 30 homers each in a season. Better yet, Myers

and Renfroe are under team control through 2022.

"There's definitely a lot of power potential here," Myers said. "Guys like me and him can really hit the

ball out of the ballpark, so it's pretty cool to have a guy like that in the lineup as well."

Both said they don't put much thought into the competition, with what Green called "friendly banter"

providing the only indication of the title's importance. But on the field, Myers and Renfroe certainly seem

to feed off each other's power.

Renfroe declined to pin his recent surge on Myers' three-game streak, adding he looks forward to sharing

a lineup with the 2016 All-Star for the foreseeable future.

"We want to stick around," Renfroe said. "We have good faith in each other."

With Myers and Renfroe set to be Padres for at least the following five seasons, the race isn't likely to end

after 2017.

"You've got pop in the middle of your batting order," Green said. "Those guys could very easily be our

guys for a long time. Wouldn't have any complaints from me."

Hedges progressing

Catcher Austin Hedges is progressing toward a return from the seven-day concussion disabled list.

Hedges took batting practice on the field and caught a flat-ground throwing session Wednesday. He will

not be activated until he catches a bullpen session, but will not require a rehab assignment, Green said.

Solarte set for rehab

Padres second baseman Yangervis Solarte is headed to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, where he'll begin

a rehab stint. Solarte, a switch-hitter, sustained a strained left oblique a month ago, but has been cleared to

swing from both sides of the plate. He'd previously had trouble hitting right-handed.

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Torrens' triple helps lift Padres over Mets 6-3 Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- The Mets' Rene Rivera sent a shot up the middle, a certain two-run single that would close the gap with the Padres. But Allen Cordoba had other ideas and his diving stab help preserve a 6-3 win for the Padres on Wednesday night.

"I saw the ball come off the bat and I just wanted to try and make the play and not let any runs score," he said through a translator.

Cordoba stretched to field the ball, bounced to his feet and fired to first to retire Rivera.

"That was as big of a play as we have had all year," Padres manager Andy Greensaid. They were other standouts as Luis Torrens had three RBI, Manuel Margothomered and Jhoulys

Chacin was effective through 5 1/3 innings. But it was Cordoba's web gem which was likely the difference.

"That was a game-changing play," Green said.

Torrens' first career triple came with the bases loaded in the Padres' four-run third inning. Margot's first-inning homer set the tone as the Mets lost for just the second time in their last eight games.

Chacin (10-7), who had lost five of six decisions to the Mets, flipped that script with a solid outing. He reached the double-digit victory mark for the first time since 2013 by allowing two runs and four hits. The right-hander walked three and struck out five in lifting his home mark to 6-2.

Brad Hand worked the ninth, earning his fourth save and pushing his scoreless string to 17 1/3 innings. Steven Matz (2-4) lasted only three innings as he lost his third straight decision and extended his streak to five outings without a win. He surrendered six runs and nine hits, with four strikeouts. "If you don't locate, you're going to get knocked around in this league," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "You gotta get the ball off the middle of the plate."

In his last three starts Matz has pitched a total of nine innings, charged with 16 runs and 27 hits.

"I don't feel fatigued," Matz said. "I feel good and healthy out there. There's really no excuses to how I'm pitching."

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Wilmer Flores' homer in the eighth sliced the Mets' deficit to 6-3. The Mets crawled within 6-2 in the sixth when Jose Reyes drew a bases-loaded walk after they chased Chacin. Rene Rivera followed with a sharp grounder up the middle, but shortstop Allen Cordoba made a diving stab and he was able to throw out Rivera to quell the rally. San Diego pulled away in the third inning. The big blow was Torrens' triple, which was nearly a grand slam. The ball smacked the top of the right-center field wall, scoring all three baserunners.

Before Torrens' two-out, bases-clearing hit, Margot and Wil Myers' delivered consecutive doubles, with Myers' chasing in Margot after his second extra-base hit.

Margot has five hits in the past two games and a team-high 23 multi-hit games.

The Padres struck quickly when Margot stroked a two-run homer for a 2-0 lead. Margot's first-inning homer, his sixth of the year, was hit 419 feet over the center-field fence.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Manager Terry Collins said INF Neil Walker (torn left hamstring) could rejoin the club for this weekend's series in Seattle. When Walker returns, he could see time at third base. His 58 starts this year have been at second base. Padres: INF Yangervis Solarte(strained left oblique) is being sent out to a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Chris Flexen makes his major league debut as he maneuvers the jump from Double-A Binghamton. He's the first Mets starting pitcher since Mike Pelfrey in 2006 to skip Triple-A. Flexen was 6-1 in the minors, which included a stint with Single-A St. Lucie. Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (9-7, 4.26 ERA), whose 10 quality starts are second on the Padres, has never faced the Mets but he is 4-1 lifetime against NL East teams. His three triples are the most by a pitcher since Dontrelle Willis matched that number in 2007.

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Rumor Central: Will Brad Hand remain in San Diego? ESPN.com

It might merely be posturing, but the San Diego Padres are dropping hints they might not deal reliever Brad Hand after all. The Padres traded away relievers Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter to the Kansas City

Royals earlier this week, fueling speculation that the 27-year-old Hand would be the next to go. Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler then offered a caveat Wednesday that Hand will not just be given away.

“Other things being equal, right now I don’t see us moving him, because we value him more than what’s being offered and we think he could be part of the team for the foreseeable future,” Fowler said in a radio interview on The Mighty 1090 AM, as reported by Dennis Lin of the Union-

Tribune.

Fowler acknowledged “there’s a lot of interest” in the 2017 All-Star and the situation is “very fluid.”

Read between the lines and Fowler is telling interested teams to sweeten their offers for Hand, who owns a 2.08 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 47 games. The left-hander earned his fourth save Wednesday against the Mets.

Hand is under control for two more seasons, which makes him attractive to other clubs but is also an incentive for the Padres to keep him around.

- Doug Mittler

24

This Day in Padres History, 7/27

1993: Gwynn has 5 hits, passes Winfield as Padres’

all-time RBI leader

By Bill Center

July 27, 1977 — Third baseman Tucker Ashford hit a two-run, walk-off homer in the 10th at San Diego Stadium to give the Padres a 7–5 win over Montreal. Earlier in the game, right-fielder George Hendrick had driven in four runs with a pair of home runs.

July 27, 1993 — Tony Gwynn goes 5-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs in an 8–0 win over the Cubs in Wrigley Field. Gwynn also moves past Dave Winfield to become the Padres’ all-time leader in RBIs. Right-hander Andy Benes allows five hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in a complete-game shutout.

July 27, 1996 — The Padres score a franchise-record 20 runs in a 20–12 win over the Marlins in Miami. First baseman Wally Joyner drives in four runs while center fielder Steve Finley and catcher John Flaherty each has four RBIs in what is then the longest nine-inning game in National League history (four hours, 10 minutes).

July 27, 2005 — Right-handers Jake Peavy (one run allowed on two hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in eight innings) and closer Trevor Hoffmancombined on a three-hitter as the Padres defeat St. Louis 2–1 in a match of division leaders at Petco Park.

July 27, 2016 — The Padres tie a National League record when they hit a homer in a 25th straight game. They become one of five Major League teams ever to homer in 25 straight games. The Padres hit a total of 42 homers during the run.

25

Andy’s Address, 7/26

Andy Addresses bullpen, Chacin, injuries and

Renfroe/Myers power connection

By Bill Center

Andy Green admitted there is no real order to the roles in the Padres bullpen right not following Monday’s trade of Ryan Buchter and closer Brandon Maurer to the Kansas City Royals.

“We’re not built at this point in time where you can put down an ironclad, seventh-inning, eighth-inning, ninth-inning guy,” Green said during his daily pre-game media session Wednesday.

“At this point in time, I’d say Brad Hand is pitching from the seventh inning on. Phil Maton and Kirby Yates will pitch anywhere from the sixth to the ninth. (Pitching coach) Darren Balsley has walked them through the situation.”

“It will settle. It always does. At this point in time though, we’ll read the situation and have guys ready. Up to now Yates and Maton been ready to pitch in the fifth and sixth because you had Buchter and Maurer at the back end along with Hand. It hasn’t drastically changed for them, just opened up chances to pitch in higher leverage situations.”

“Yesterday where we lined up, Brad was going to close but I was also willing to bring Brad in the seventh inning and pitch through the eighth if the situation called for it. We were looking to stretch four guys through five innings yesterday. When we got behind, we went a different route.”

Green discussed Wednesday starter Jhoulys Chacin, Dusty Coleman’s first Major League hit and offered updates on the injured Padres.

“He’s been really good,” Green said of Chacin. “The last game in particular, he commanded his fastball well early in the game. Sometimes it takes him a while. I think a lot of that had to do with him going to his slider early. There’s something with slider dominant guys that if they start throwing that pitch early they get a better feel for their fastball quicker.”

“Sometimes he likes to hold that slider back for later in the game. We’ve encouraged him to use it when he needs it early. The good thing was that he had his fastball command early the last time out. He continues to build strong start after strong start.”

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The 30-year-old Coleman was promoted from Triple-A El Paso Monday after it was discovered that Erick Aybar’s left foot contusion was actually a fracture that could sideline him for the rest of the season. Coleman’s first Major League hit was a ninth-inning RBI on his 10th at-bat spread over three years.

“Yes, it was extra special to see his first Major League hit,” Green said of Coleman. “He’s 30 years old. He got up a couple years ago with Kansas City for five at-bats. There has to be those moments when you think, ‘Am I ever going to get a chance? If I do ever get back to the big leagues, will I get any at-bats?’”

“He might pretend he didn’t have those thoughts or concerns over the past couple of years. Most guys might pretend that way, but the reality is he probably did. So it’s exciting for him to smoke that double in the gap and drive in a run and feel what it feels like to be on the field after getting a hit in the big leagues. I know he’s the type of team guy who wanted to win last night. I hope he had a chance to enjoy what he accomplished. That’s a lifetime worth of dreaming in that moment.”

Green then turned to the injured players.

Catcher Austin Hedges remains on the concussion disabled list 12 days after the Padres labeled his injury “sub-concussive.”

“Hedges is going to take batting practice today,” said Green. “He will do some catching on flat ground because no one is throwing a bullpen. We definitely want to get him catching the ball in a bullpen before we talk about activating him. We want to make sure he’s seeing the ball and everything is going right. It’s probably a few days off from activating him. At this point in time, we’re not looking at a rehab assignment for him. If it carries on much further, we might look at it a different way. He hit in cage yesterday. He’s a few days out.”

Green on infielder Yangervis Solarte (left oblique strain): “He will be taking right-handed batting practice for the second day today. Assuming that goes well, I’m hoping the next couple of days he starts a rehab assignment.”

Green on right-handed reliever Craig Stammen (hamstring soreness): “Stammen is ready and available. This is the first day he’s really been available. He said he was available in extra innings last night and I probably would have used him.”

Green on left-handed starter Christian Friedrich a day after his two-inning simulated game: “He felt fine throwing his fastball yesterday. His curve ball didn’t feel great. He’s just not getting over the hump. We’re going to look at trying a couple different methods in the training room with him to see if we can do anything. Like I’ve said before, I’m hopeful but I’m not optimistic about the rest of this year. At this point, we’re not any farther than talking about continuing to rehab and to continue to throw him out there and see if he can pitch.”

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Green said the Padres are leaning to using left-hander Travis Wood, who was acquired from Kansas City in Monday’s trade, in the rotation right now . . . possibly as soon as this weekend.

“That’s where his desire is,” said Green. “Throughout the rest of the season, he might wind up doing both. That kind of versatility is what drew us to him in the first place. We’re going to have some potential holes in the next week or so. He’s the type of guy who can fill a lot of holes.”

Green finished by discussing Hunter Renfroe and the middle of the lineup power combination of Renfroe and Wil Myers, both of who now have 30 homers.

“Everyone knows Hunter is strong,” said Green. “He’s the only one ever to reach the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. building and he’s done it twice. To me, the one I liked most was the homer in the middle ballpark. That is repeatable.”

“Being too pull conscious and hitting the ball on the top of that building is not going to be good for the overall numbers. There are very few in the game who have power like him. If he keeps this pace, he’ll be the most prolific power-hitting rookie in Padres history.”

“We’ve spoken a lot about having a little more control. There’s a ton I like about Hunter and there are moments in time you’d like to bridle him a bit and harness what he is in certain moments of the game. I think as he gets through the league time and time again, things will come. Every manager wants his players to learn things quick. He’s competitive. He’s confident. He’s not afraid of any situation whatsoever.”

“One nice component of the game is to have pop in the middle of your batting order with Myers and Renfroe. Solarte had double digits before he got hurt and that lengthened out the middle of the order. Every lineup in the big leagues have a couple of guys if not more like that. Those guys could easily be our guys for a long time. There’s some friendly banter and that’s good. Austin Hedges wanted to get in that mix before he got hurt.”

28

Padres On Deck: Kennedy Wins

10th Game for Surging AA-

San Antonio

Bethancourt has strange night for Triple-A El Paso

By Bill Center

Right-handed starter Brett Kennedy became the first pitcher in the Padres organization to win 10 games this season in Double-A San Antonio’s 6–5 win at Corpus Christi Tuesday night.

Kennedy allowed three runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings to improve to 10–5 on the season with a 3.62 earned run average for the Missions, who improved to 61–41 overall and 20–12 in the second half of the Texas League season.

Meanwhile, right-hander Christian Bethancourt had an unusual game with Triple-A El Paso.

Getting a spot start because scheduled starter Kyle Lloyd was recalled by the Padres to start against the Mets, Bethancourt (2–1, 9.11 ERA) came out on the short end of an exchange of homers in the Chihuahuas’ 2–1 loss to Iowa in El Paso.

Bethancourt homered in the bottom of the third . . . but only after giving up a decisive two-run homer in the top of the inning. Overall, the converted catcher allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts in three innings.

When Lloyd was promoted by the Padres, El Paso activated right-handed reliever Rafael De Paula from the disabled list.

Around the Farm:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (51–52) — Iowa 2, CHIHUAHUAS 1: CF Travis Jankowski(.211) was 2-for-4 with a double in his continuing rehab assignment. PH Nick Buss (.367) doubled. De Paula (5.03) followed Bethancourt and allowed a walk with two strikeouts in two otherwise perfect innings. RHP Logan Bawcom (2.63) issued two walks with five strikeouts in three hitless, scoreless innings. RHP Adam Cimber (3.64) issued a walk with a strikeout in an otherwise scoreless inning.

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DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (20–12, 61–41) — Missions 6, CORPUS CHRISTI 5: SS Javier Guerra (.231) was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and a run scored. C Stephen McGee (.271) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. 3B Ty France(.275) was 1-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch and two runs scored. DH Franmil Reyes(.264) had a double in four at-bats with a RBI and two runs scored. 1B Josh Naylor (.286) was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. RHP Yimmi Brasoban (3.77 ERA) followed Kennedy and allowed a hit and two walks in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. RHP Eric Yardley (1.70) allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. LHP Kyle McGrath (2.66) issued a walk before getting the out that ended the eighth. RHP Trey Wingenter (2.02) picked up his 14th save despite allowed two runs on two hits with two strikeouts in the ninth.

ADVANCED SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (13–19, 48–54) — Inland Empire 8, STORM 3: 2B Chris Baker (.239) hit a two-run homer in four at-bats. 1B Fernando Perez (.250) homered in four at-bats. 3B Carlos Belen (.243) was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. LF Tyler Selesky (.214) doubled in three at-bats. CF Rod Boykin (.364) was 1-for-3 with a walk. Starting LHP Jerry Keel (0–2, 6.35 ERA) allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk with a strikeout in two innings. LHP Thomas Dorminy (3.33) allowed two hits and a walk with four strikeouts in four scoreless innings. RHP Trevor Frank (3.86) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. LHP Jose Castillo (3.07) struck out two in 1 2/3 perfect inning.

SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (20–11, 46–55) — The TinCaps were off Tuesday.

SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI CITY (2–1, 21–19) — Vancouver 2, DUST DEVILS 0: LHP Ben Sheckler (1–2, 3.48 ERA) suffered the loss, although he allowed only two unearned runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. RHP Andres Munoz (5.68) struck out three in 1 1/3 perfect innings. RHP Jose Galindo (0.00) allowed a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in a scoreless inning. DH Chris Mattison (.225) was 2-for-3 with a hit-by-pitcher. RF Aldemar Burgos (.230) was 1-for-3. LF Robbie Podorsky (.353) was 0-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitcher.

ARIZONA ROOKIE LEAGUE PADRES-1 (12–12) — The Padres-1 were off Tuesday.

ARIZONA ROOKIE LEAGUE PADRES-2 (14–11) — Padres-2 2, ATHLETICS 0: Starting LHP Ramon Perez (2–0, 1.96) allowed two hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over five innings as four Padres pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout. RHP Elliott Ashbeck (0.00) allowed a hit with two strikeouts in two innings. RHP Jeremy Smith (0.00) issued a walk in an otherwise perfect inning. RHP Nick Kuzia (3.86) allowed a hit with three strikeouts to complete the shutout and record his third save. SS Gabriel Arias (.291) was 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. 3B Eguy Rosario (.337) had a RBI double in four at-bats. CF Tirso Ornelas (.264) was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. 1B Jamie Paulsen (.266) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. 2B Olivier Basabe (.229) was 1-for-3.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (16–27) — WHITE SOX 6, Padres 5 (10 innings): RF Yordi Francisco (.303) was 3-for-5. 1B Elvis Sabala (.182) hit a three-run homer in four at-bats. 2B Tucupita Marcano (.204) had a double in four at-bats with a walk, a RBI and a run scored. 3B Luis Guzman (.213) was 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Starting

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RHP Martin Carrasco (1.47 ERA) allowed a run on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts in four innings. LHP Jose Garcia (2.40) allowed three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 4 1/3 scoreless innings.