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Padres Press Clips Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Article Source Author Page

Young Luis Urias slams Arkansas UT San Diego Sanders 2

Weaver solid, but Padres fall to Rockies, 3-2 UT San Diego Lin 4

Luis Perdomo to go on disabled list with shoulder inflammation UT San Diego Lin 6

Jarred Cosart incorporating slider into repertoire UT San Diego Lin 8

According to Forbes, Padres' value jumps to over $1 billion UT San Diego Lin 10

Weaver solid, but Padres fall to Rockies MLB.com Harding/Perkins 11

Perdomo heading to DL with shoulder issue MLB.com Perkins 13

Trio of Rule 5 players finding roles for Padres MLB.com Perkins 15

Lee getting spot start in series finale MLB.com Perkins 17

Arenado homers, Senzatela gets first ML win for Rockies Associated Press AP 18

Padres Drop Tight One in Denver NBC 7 Togerson 20

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Young Luis Urias slams Arkansas Jeff Sanders

The Texas League’s youngest player isn’t scaring off.

Luis Urias, 19, launched a game-winning grand slam to help Double-A San Antonio sweep a double-header over host Arkansas on Tuesday.

Urias committed two errors at shortstop in a 5-1 win and then hit a seventh-inning grand slam that proved the game winner in a later 6-3 victory. He is .190/.320/.571 with two homers, six RBIs and four steals against one strikeout through his first six games with the Missions (4-2).

At 19.8 years old, Urias is the youngest player in the Texas League and the third-youngest in Double-A ball, according to Baseball America. Only the Mississippi Braves’ Kolby Allard (19.6) and Mike Soroka (19.7) are younger than Urias.

Right-hander Kyle McGrath (2-0, 0.00) struck out five and allowed an unearned run in five innings in Game 1. Left-hander Kyle McGrath (0.00) followed with two strikeouts over two scoreless innings.

First baseman Fernando Perez hit his second homer and doubled in that first game and right fielder Franmil Reyes doubled in two runs.

Right-hander Cesar Vargas (7.94) allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings in the later 6-3 win. Right-hander Rafael De Paula (1-0, 0.00) struck out two over 1 2/3 innings to earn the win.

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (3-3)

Tacoma 7, Chihuahuas 2: In his second start, RHP Walker Lockett (1-1, 6.30) allowed seven runs – six earned – on nine hits and a walk in four innings. Two of the hits were home runs. LHP Keith Hessler (0.00) struck out four over two scoreless innings and RHP Kevin Quackenbush (4.50) fanned three over two shutout innings. DH Jose Pirela (.333) went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (3-3)

Storm 2, Visalia 0: RHP Chris Huffman (1-0, 0.00) struck out five over six scoreless innings after RHP Carter Capps struck out a batter and walked a batter in a rehab start. RHP Gerardo Reyes (0.00) saved his first game with two shutout innings. DH Austin Allen (.280) went 2-for-3 with an RBI, C Miguel Del Castillo (.500) went 2-for-2 with a walk and 1B Josh Naylor (.185) went 1-for-2 with two walks and his first steal.

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LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (2-4)

South Bend 7, TinCaps 2: LHP Will Headean (3.00) struck out five and allowed two runs in six innings in a no-decision before RHP Wilmer Torres (0-1, 12.00) allowed four runs in 2/3 of an inning. CF Jack Suwinski (.263) drove in a run on two hits and 2B Reinaldo Ilarraza (.278) singled and stole his third base.

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Weaver solid, but Padres fall to Rockies, 3-2 Dennis Lin

Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela went to the mound Tuesday to make his second start in the majors. Padres right-hander Jered Weaver went to the mound for his 324th.

The 22-year-old and the 34-year-old did share something in common. Neither had pitched at Coors Field, an unforgiving environment for even the most familiar arms, much less the uninitiated.

So it was to some surprise that at the end of six innings, the left-field scoreboard showed a series of low digits, the hits scarce.

Thought it would remain that way, it was the Rockies who made the most of their swings in a 3-2 decision. Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Nolan Arenado demolished a fastball from reliever Miguel Diaz, sending a tie-breaking solo home run, Colorado’s third of the game, over the right-field fence.

The Rockies bullpen, which has been stout under former Padres manager Bud Black, preserved the lead over the next two innings, backing an impressive home debut by Senzatela.

The prospect finished with seven innings of two-run ball, limiting the Padres to five hits and a walk. He did not crumble after Manuel Margot opened the game with a 417-foot drive into the left-field seats, the Padres center fielder’s second leadoff home run of the young season.

Nor did he buckle in the sixth, after the Padres strung together a pair of singles and Wil Myers lifted a sacrifice fly to center, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh, with two outs and two on, Black went to the mound. Senzatela did not leave it. Satisfied that the young pitcher was up to the moment, the manager returned to the dugout. Senzatela got Luis Sardinas to ground into a force out.

“It’s a good, live fastball we saw today,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “First time looking at him, you’ve got to be geared up for the heater, and he snuck some past us.”

Sardinas had been pinch-hitting for Weaver, who put forth the type of effort the Padres will take on any night. The veteran minimized the damage against him to solo home runs from Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon.

Unlike in his season debut at Dodger Stadium, when he also surrendered a pair of homers but gave up four runs, Weaver did not walk a batter. He struck out five.

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“Didn’t see the (Coors Field) effect that everybody had been talking about, or it wasn’t as drastic as I thought it was going to be,” said Weaver, who threw 53 of 74 pitches for strikes. “Everything was moving and working like it usually does.

“Off-speed was going good. I was able to get some early strikes and try to get them to chase late. A couple bad pitches cost me, but overall I feel pretty good.”

Margot’s game-opening blast staked Weaver to an early lead. It was the Rookie of the Year candidate’s third home run in nine games, a welcome start for a prospect known more for his non-power elements.

“It’s been quality at-bat after quality at-bat,” Green said. “It’s competitive, he can fly on the bases. He puts pressure on pitchers, puts pressure on defenses.”

Myers, who hit for the Padres’ second cycle Monday, tripled with one out in the fourth. He would be stranded at third. The Padres did not collect another extra-base hit. They finished with four knocks overall.

“(Weaver) was outstanding. Probably could’ve gone longer if we didn’t need a pinch-hitter there to try to get a chance to get ahead,” Green said. “...Couldn’t ask for anything more from him. We just couldn’t scratch too much on our side.”

Diaz took the mound after Weaver, having yet to allow a run in four appearances. The Rule 5 reliever had made a strong first impression, leading Green to insert him in a high-leverage situation Tuesday.

On a 1-1 count, catcher Austin Hedges set his glove low and away. Diaz’s 96 mph fastball arrived on the outer half of the plate but a few inches high. Arenado redirected it 405 feet.

“I think Nolan Arenado has gotten a lot of veteran relievers as well in his time,” Green said. “Stuff-wise, looking down at that bullpen, that’s probably our best matchup with Nolan. … I think we did like that matchup going into that, as much as you can like a matchup against Nolan Arenado.”

The Rockies’ three home runs loomed large on a night the Padres struggled to sustain any sort of offense. The lineup compiled a total of five hits.

In the top of the ninth, Yangervis Solarte represented the tying run after drawing a leadoff walk. Ryan Schimpf flied out. Hunter Renfroe struck out. Hedges did the same, sealing an 0-for-23 start at the plate.

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Luis Perdomo to go on disabled list with shoulder inflammation Dennis Lin

Padres right-hander Luis Perdomo, who had been scheduled to start Wednesday, will go on the 10-day disabled list with posterior shoulder inflammation, manager Andy Green said Tuesday night. Zach Lee will make his second major league start in the series finale at Coors Field.

The move to the DL will become official Wednesday. Right-hander Jake Esch, who will be recalled from Double-A San Antonio, was en route to Denver late Tuesday.

Perdomo, who underwent a “thorough exam” Tuesday, began to feel the inflammation after a bullpen session early this week, Green said. He added: “I think he’d had a little bit of something that he wasn’t talking about after his last outing in spring training, and then kind of made us aware after his bullpen session.

“Our perspective is it’s not severe but more precautionary, but it’s hard to put a timetable on something like this. I’m very hopeful he doesn’t miss many starts.”

Perdomo, 22, made five Cactus League starts and one minor league appearance during spring training. He posted a 2.41 ERA in 18 2/3 Cactus League innings.

A Rule 5 draftee, Perdomo debuted in the majors last season having never pitched above High Single-A. He went 9-10 with a 5.71 ERA but was easily the Padres’ most improved pitcher in the second half. He started San Diego’s home opener Friday, allowing five runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Perdomo threw 146 2/3 innings in 2016. He worked 126 2/3 frames the year before, albeit in the low minors.

Lee, 25, was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday when right-hander Trevor Cahill went on the DL with a lower back strain. An offseason waiver claim from Seattle, the former top Dodgers prospect has one career big-league appearance, a 2015 spot start in which he allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Esch, 27, was claimed off waivers from the Marlins on March 31. Like Perdomo, he made his major league debut last season, posting a 5.54 ERA in three starts. Esch is expected to provide length out of the Padres bullpen.

With Cahill and Perdomo sidelined, the Padres already have suffered injuries to two members of their opening-day rotation. Left-hander Christian Friedrich, who had been a starting candidate, began the season on the DL because of a lat strain and has since been slowed by a tender elbow.

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The Padres are hopeful Cahill can return to start Sunday at Atlanta.

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Jarred Cosart incorporating slider into repertoire Dennis Lin

Through two appearances this season, Jarred Cosart has checked off a couple of firsts.

Last Thursday, the Padres right-hander made what was essentially his first career relief appearance. He had come out of the bullpen once before, in 2015 with the Marlins, but he pitched four innings that day and was being eased back into the rotation after a bout with vertigo.

In two-thirds of an inning at Dodger Stadium, Cosart struggled to find the strike zone, allowing two runs on a hit and three walks.

“There was so much adrenaline coming out of the ‘pen my first time in the bullpen,” Cosart said. “I was all over the place, my mechanics were off, fastball was everywhere, curveball was off. I didn’t put myself in good situations.”

In Monday’s 5-3 victory, Cosart returned to the role he is most accustomed to, starting in place of an injured Trevor Cahill. Some early jitters produced a 25-pitch first, but he settled down to finish with four scoreless innings, a strong effort anywhere but especially at Coors Field. Along the way, he debuted a pitch he began tinkering with the final week of spring training.

According to data at brooksbaseball.net, 11 of Cosart’s 70 pitches were sliders. Only four went for strikes and just one induced a swing-and-miss, but the fact that he threw more than a handful while collecting seven groundouts counted as a good sign.

“I just felt like I had a lot more command of it than I did my curveball,” Cosart said. “For it being new, it’s exciting. This next bullpen, I can play with it, what I do with two strikes.”

The Padres moved Cosart to the bullpen to open the season but still see long-term starting potential. The club has sought ways to improve his ability to finish at-bats. Cosart’s pure stuff is above-average, but he has shown a pedestrian strikeout rate throughout his career. The slider is a possible solution.

“It’s just natural for me, because it’s the same arm slot as my fastball, it has the same action,” Cosart said. “My fastball cuts. My slider has the same spin. I just noticed right away, in the first bullpen and talking with the pitching coaches, that it was probably going to be comfortable. I’ve spun quite a few for strikes and some that missed pretty close. It’s exciting going forward.”

Where and in what capacity Cosart pitches next remains to be determined. Cahill, who has been sidelined by a lower back strain, threw out to 90 feet Tuesday and could return to start Sunday, in which case Cosart likely would return to the bullpen for the time being.

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“He’s a viable option (to start) at any point in time,” manager Andy Green said Tuesday. “For me, that was one of the bigger steps forward that I’ve seen a pitcher take yesterday. It was a guy who never threw a slider, and he was throwing sliders yesterday for the first time, he’s navigating out of a few dicey situations. He was really good yesterday, and I think it’s a big confidence boost for him, too.”

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According to Forbes, Padres' value jumps to over $1 billion Dennis Lin

The Padres’ recent string of losing seasons has not kept the franchise’s value from rising.

According to Forbes’ annual financial report on Major League Baseball, San Diego’s lone major sports team is worth $1.125 billion. The valuation, which ranks 21st out of 30 clubs, represents a 26 percent increase from the previous year. The Padres’ ownership group purchased the franchise for $800 million in 2012.

MLB and its clubs have long disputed the accuracy of Forbes’ findings, which nevertheless are widely referenced as a basis of comparison.

While Forbes estimated that the Padres’ revenue increased 6.1 percent last year to $259 million, the magazine also says operating income declined 30.7 percent to $22.8 million, a range last seen in 2011. Additionally, player expenses over the same period rose 17.2 percent to $143 million.

That would indicate that the Padres have increased their overall investment in the organization, even as opening-day payroll has dipped from $108 million in 2015 to $68.5 million this year. Under Managing Partner Peter Seidler and Executive Chairman Ron Fowler, the Padres have committed nearly $100 million to signing amateur players since last summer.

As one team official said recently, “We’re spending more now than we ever have, just allocating it differently.”

The Padres rank fourth in franchise valuation in the National League West, with the Dodgers worth $2.75 billion — second in MLB behind the Yankees ($3.7 billion) — followed by the Giants ($2.65 billion) and the Diamondbacks ($1.15 billion). The Rockies are last in the division, at $1 billion.

As a whole, the industry continues to grow. Forbes calculated the average team’s value to be $1.54 billion, 19 percent more than a year ago. The Padres are one of 23 clubs worth at least $1 billion.

“Values were driven higher by new local television deals that are increasing at roughly a two-fold rate, surging profitability, and the escalating value of Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the Internet and technology arm of MLB,” the magazine writes.

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Weaver solid, but Padres fall to Rockies By Thomas Harding and Owen Perkins / MLB.com | 1:08 AM ET

DENVER -- Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado showed Tuesday night that he can push the ball as well as he can pull it. Arenado broke a seventh-inning tie with a rare opposite-field home run to right -- just his third of the Statcast™ era (since 2015) -- as the Rockies gave rookie starter Antonio Senzatelahis first Major League win in a 3-2 victory over the Padres at Coors Field. "It hasn't happened a lot at all," Arenado said. "[Injured outfielder] David Dahl, I was actually thinking about him when I hit it. He always dogs me because I never go oppo. I wish he was here to see it." Arenado's homer, his third this season, came off Padres reliever Miguel Diaz, a Rule 5 Draft pick who had not yielded a baserunner in his four previous Major League appearances.

"Nolan Arenado has gotten a lot of veteran relievers, too, in his time," Padres manager Andy Green said of the matchup. "Stuff-wise, looking down at that bullpen, leadoff batter, it was probably our best matchup with Nolan. Was a pretty good pitch, fastball down and away. He got out there and hit it out. You can always look back in hindsight and say you didn't like the matchup, but I think we did like that matchup going into that -- as much as you can like a matchup against Nolan Arenado."

It was Arenado's second game-winning homer this season. He went deep in the ninth inning at Milwaukee on Thursday for a 2-1 victory.

"This is the type of player that he is -- he does these types of things," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "We need the rest of our group to get on board, too, which they will." Senzatela made his Coors Field debut, allowing two runs on five hits -- including Manuel Margot's leadoff homer -- over seven innings, while striking out five and earning his first big league win in his second start. Padres veteran Jered Weaver made his 324th career start, but his first at Coors Field. He pitched solidly, allowing two runs -- homers by Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon -- on three hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

"I didn't see the effect that everybody has been talking about," Weaver said regarding Coors Field. "It wasn't as drastic as I thought it was going to be. Everything was moving and working like it usually does, and I felt good." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Welcome home: Margot made a statement in the first at-bat against Senzatela, as Margot blasted his second leadoff homer of the season into the left-field seats. Senzatela didn't give up a run in his six-inning big league debut in Milwaukee on Thursday, but how he handled hitter-

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friendly Coors Field would be key. Senzatela responded by retiring the next 10 and 16 of the next 17 Padres he faced.

"I gave up a home run and said, 'OK, that's a home run. … Let's throw seven innings against them,'" Senzatela said.

"I think in that first at-bat, it was just a mistake by him," Margot said through an interpreter. "He was up in the count, and he left that pitch up, but I think from there on out he was just really able to establish and attack that outer third of the plate, and do that well."

The pitch that counted: The last of Senzatela's 94 pitches was his biggest. He opened the seventh with his only walk, to Ryan Schimpf, and gave up a two-out single to Erick Aybar. Rockies manager Bud Black visited the mound before Senzatela faced Padres pinch-hitter Luis Sardinas. Senzatela then fired two fastballs, the second being a 94.8-mph fastball that resulted in a soft grounder to second.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS • Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino struck out the side in the eighth and Greg Holland added a spotless ninth for his fifth save. When pitching with a lead, the Rockies have a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings during their 6-3 start.

• It was the first time in Rockies history they won a game with exactly three solo home runs and no other run production. However, it wasn't history, as they won a game on a Major League-record five solo shots at Miami on June 20, 2016. HE SWEARS HE WASN'T TRYING Blackmon's 458-foot home run to center in the sixth was his longest of the Statcast™ era. He hit it hard, but he had to take a different approach against Weaver's low-velocity style.

"I tried to take away some aggressiveness," Blackmon said. "I didn't want to go up there and try to hit the ball 400 feet just because he wasn't throwing hard. I was more concerned about staying relaxed and swinging at good pitches."

KNOCKING THE COVER OFF Rockies catcher Tony Wolters knocked the cover off the baseball, literally, in the seventh. But it wasn't like the scene in "The Natural." Wolters hit one off the end of the bat, which Diaz fielded. The ball was coming apart on the way to first base, however, and it bounced for an error.

WHAT'S NEXT Padres: Zach Lee takes the mound for Wednesday's 12:10 p.m. PT series finale against the Rockies. Lee is starting after Luis Perdomo, who was originally scheduled to pitch, went on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. It will be Lee's second big league appearance, having made one start in 2015 for the Dodgers. Rockies: Left-handed starter Kyle Freeland, a Denver native, threw six solid innings against the Dodgers to win the home opener Friday. The atmosphere may not be as electric, but he'll look for the same execution Wednesday against the Padres at Coors Field at 1:10 p.m. MT.

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Perdomo heading to DL with shoulder issue

Lee to start Wednesday against Rockies

By Owen Perkins / Special to MLB.com | 12:47 AM ET

DENVER -- Padres starter Luis Perdomo was scratched from Wednesday's start due to right shoulder inflammation, and he will go on the disabled list, according to manager Andy Green. Zach Lee will start in Perdomo's place in the rubber match with the Rockies.

"He's got posterior shoulder inflammation," Green said. "Our perspective is it's not severe, but [the move is] more precautionary. It's hard to put a timetable on something like this. We're very hopeful he doesn't miss many starts." Right-hander Jake Esch will be recalled from Double-A San Antonio on Wednesday, and he will presumably take Lee's role as the long man in the bullpen.

Perdomo had experienced discomfort for more than a week, but he just brought it to the Padres' attention a few days after his first start of the season -- a 5 1/3-inning outing against the Giants in which he allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk in Friday's home opener.

"He started to feel it in his bullpen session, and he had a thorough exam [Tuesday]," Green said. "We thought this was the best course of action. He had a little bit of something that he wasn't talking about after his last outing in Spring Training. He made us aware after his bullpen session two days ago."

Perdomo spent three full seasons in rookie ball and Class A before moving to the Padres' pitching staff at the start of 2016. He ended up leading San Diego starters in wins (nine) and innings (146 2/3) last year. Lee was initially called up with the possibility of starting Monday in place of Trevor Cahill, who went on the DL with a lower-back strain. He will be making his second big league appearance after having one start with the Dodgers in 2015.

"It's exciting," Lee said upon hearing the news Tuesday night. "I kind of knew that was a possibility when I got called up, to an extent. Really, I was just preparing for whatever role they had me in. Just the way it got planned out, I'd be the long guy for a couple days. I got prepared mentally for that, and now I've got to prepare for the first start."

Lee, 25, was the Dodgers' 2013 and 2015 Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and he earned several call-ups in '15, when he went 11-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City in the offensive-oriented parks of the Pacific Coast League.

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Lee's lone appearance in the Majors was a July 25, 2015, start against the Mets. He gave up seven earned runs on 11 hits and a walk over 4 2/3 innings in a loss.

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Trio of Rule 5 players finding roles for

Padres

Diaz earned first win against Rockies on Monday

By Owen Perkins / Special to MLB.com | April 11th, 2017

DENVER -- Nearly lost in the shadow of Wil Myers' cycle Monday night was Miguel Diaz's first Major League win. The Padres' rookie right-hander relieved starter Jarred Cosart after four scoreless innings, pitching a perfect fifth to earn the win over the Rockies.

Diaz has not yielded a hit or a walk through the first four appearances of his career, spanning 3 1/3 innings. "He's been in a lot of leverage situations," manager Andy Green said. "He's pitched in big, pivotal situations, and he's thrown the ball really well." Monday's fifth inning was unusual because of the production from San Diego's unprecedented three Rule 5 players. As Diaz, 22, earned his first win, he was throwing to catcher Luis Torrens, 20, who made his first Major League start and caught the first seven innings. Allen Cordoba, 21, got an infield single in the top of the frame when he pinch-hit for Cosart.

None of the three Rule 5 players had played above Class A before this season, and Cordoba is making the jump from playing in the rookie league in 2016.

"I'm not the encyclopedia on that, somebody might know more than me, but I've never seen that leap take place before," Green said. "[Cordoba's] going to continue to get opportunities. He's doing a nice job."

Cosart gave Torrens credit for guiding him through four scoreless innings.

"Torrens called a good game," Cosart said. "Any time you hold this team to three runs in their ballpark, it's a good day."

Green took pride in the output of all three Rule 5 players finding their roles on a young roster.

"Our scouts are going out and finding guys they think can contribute," Green said. "All three of those guys, they're contributing. They've made positive contributions in a two-week-old baseball season right now, which is really, really impressive." Cahill on track

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Trevor Cahill, who went on the 10-day disabled list Sunday (retroactive to Thursday) with a lower-back strain, threw from 90 feet Tuesday and is on track to return to the rotation Sunday in Atlanta.

"He had no issues in his mind," Green said. "He was glad to have done some baseball activity for the first time in a few days. Assuming he keeps feeling better, we'll keep ratcheting up the pace for him. If he's ready to go, he'll take his start, and if not, we'll probably use Cosart again in that capacity."

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Lee getting spot start in series finale By Owen Perkins / Special to MLB.com | 1:45 AM ET

Both starters in Wednesday's Padres-Rockies series finale -- San Diego's Zach Lee and Colorado's Kyle Freeland -- have just one game of Major League experience. Freeland is coming off an impressive debut, while Lee hasn't pitched in the big leagues in nearly two years.

Freeland spent three years across four Minor League levels before opening 2017 in the Rockies' rotation. His big league debut Friday was spectacular, pitching six innings and allowing just one run on four hits and two walks, while striking out six, in a win over the Dodgers in Colorado's home opener. "[Wednesday] definitely will be more calm, but I've still got to attack the day, and the team, the same way," Freeland said.

Lee's only career big league start came on July 25, 2015, for the Dodgers, when he allowed seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Mets. He is getting the start after Luis Perdomo went to the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Three things to know about this game

• In his impressive MLB debut against the Dodgers, Freeland got a modest seven swinging strikes, but 22 called strikes. The latter accounted for 23.2 percent of his total, which entering Tuesday was tied for the fourth-highest rate by a pitcher in a game this season (minimum 90 pitches). Catcher Dustin Garneau did his part as a framer, as Statcast judged nine of those 22 pitches to be out of the strike zone.

• Pitching in the Pacific Coast League while in the Dodgers' organization taught Lee the importance of pitching low in the zone -- a practice he plans to apply to his Padres debut in Denver. "Ground balls don't go out; fly balls do," Lee said. "A lot like here at Coors Field."

• Freeland was the first pitcher to start a home opener in his hometown since Kansas City's Chuck Dobson in 1966.

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Arenado homers, Senzatela gets first ML win for Rockies Associated Press

DENVER -- Antonio Senzatela knows exactly what he's going to do with the baseball from his first major league win -- place it on his mother's grave in Venezuela.

"A gift to my mom," said Senzatela, who lost his mother to cancer last July.

Senzatela allowed a leadoff homer and then settled down to throw seven sharp innings and help the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Tuesday night.

"He's got a good heartbeat. His pulse is good. He competes," manager Bud Black said. "He's focused and always in a pretty good space."

The 22-year-old who missed a majority of last season in the minor leagues with shoulder issues relied on a blazing fastball that made things difficult for the Padres. He allowed five hits and two runs while striking out five. The Rockies' reliable bullpen took it from there, with Adam

Ottavino striking out the side in the eighth and Greg Holland working his way around a leadoff walk in the ninth to earn his fifth save. Just like they drew it up.

"Senza did a heck of a job today. Very impressive," Holland said. "He seems a lot older than he actually is when it comes to maturity level. I'm glad we held that down for him."

Senzatela found some trouble in the seventh, putting two runners on with two outs. Black paid a quick visit to him, but showed faith by leaving him in the game. Senzatela got pinch-hitter Luis

Sardinas to ground out.

"He told me, `Hey, let's go. Ground ball right here," Senzatela recounted.

He did just that.

"We had a lot of trouble laying off the high fastball," Padres manager Andy Green explained. "Swung through quite a few of those." As for the offense, the Rockies were bolstered by three solo homers -- with Nolan Arenado's shot to right off reliever Miguel Diaz (1-1) in the seventh putting them ahead for good. Carlos

Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon also hit solo shots to help Colorado knot the three-game series with San Diego at a game apiece. The Rockies have a chance to win their third straight series to start the season, a feat only accomplished in team history by the 1995 squad.

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A night after hitting for the cycle, Wil Myers finished 1 for 3 with a triple and an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Manuel Margot led off the game with a homer. Jered Weaver started at Coors Field for the first time in his career, allowing two runs over six innings during the no-decision. He kept the Rockies off balance by mixing 77-mph sliders with 82-mph changeups and the occasional fastball that hit around 85 mph. His only mistakes came on a fastball that Gonzalez hit out in the fourth and a hanging slider to Blackmon in the sixth. "Obviously, a couple of bad pitches cost me," Weaver said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: Green said RHP Trevor Cahill (back) threw from 90 feet. "Assuming he keeps feeling better, we'll keep ratcheting up the pace for him" Green said. Cahill, who was put on the DL retroactive to April 6, could make his next scheduled start. Rockies: C Tom Murphy had a scan on his broken right forearm Tuesday. The Rockies are still waiting for the results. ... OF David Dahl (ribs) is playing catch, throwing and running. "Anything rotational is not happening. So swinging, not happening," Black said.

AZTEC PRIDE

Black applauded the career of basketball coach Steve Fisher, who retired from San Diego State this week after going 386-209 with the Aztecs. Black pitched for the Aztecs and was inducted into the San Diego State Hall of Fame in 1992.

"What a bonanza for our university to have Steve," Black said.

A CUT ABOVE

Right-hander Jon Gray trimmed eight inches off his flowing locks and donated them to a charity Tuesday.

"It will be back before we know it," Gray said. "We'll find another way to be intimidating."

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Luis Perdomo (0-0, 8.44 ERA) is dealing with shoulder inflammation and could go on the disabled list Wednesday. The Padres may either start righty Zach Lee or possibly call up righty Jake Esch Double-A San Antonio. Rockies: Denver native Kyle Freeland (1-0, 1.50 ERA) makes his second start at Coors Field. The lefty pitched six innings and allowed one run in the home opener last Friday.

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Padres Drop Tight One in Denver Three solo home runs enough to give Rockies a win at Coors Field

By Derek Togerson

Three times this year the Padres have had a chance to have a winning record. Three times they

have come up short.

The Friars fell to Colorado 3-2 at Coors Field on Tuesday night to drop to 4-5 on the season

despite what seemed like a promising start.

Rookie centerfielder Manuel Margot let off the game with a home run, the 2nd time in five

games he’s gone deep to start a game. Margot has hit three home runs in nine games this year

after hitting a total of six in 124 games with Triple-A El Paso last year.

The Padres got their other run in the 6th inning when Wil Myers hit a sacrifice fly to bring in

Margot. Myers also tripled for the second straight game and has driven in eight runs in nine

games.

On the mound Padres starter Jered Weaver was pretty good in the mile-high air. Weaver went

6.0 innings, struck out five and did not walk anyone. He allowed three hits but two of them

were solo home runs to Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon. He left with the score tied 2-

2.

The Padres bullpen had one little hiccup. In the 7th inning Miguel Diaz, who earned his first

career big league win on Monday night, gave up an opposite field home run to All-Star 3rd

baseman Nolan Arenado. It was the first MLB run Diaz has allowed and it saddled him with

his first MLB loss.

San Diego put the tying run at 2nd base in the 9th inning against Colorado closer Greg

Holland but Hunter Renfroe and Austin Hedges both struck out to end the game. Hedges is 0-

for-23 at the plate to start the season.

The Padres are going to place right-handed pitcher Luis Perdomo on the disabled list with

shoulder inflammation. Zach Lee will start in Perdomo’s place in Wednesday afternoon’s

series finale in Denver against Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland. Jake Esch, who the Padres

claimed off waivers from the Marlins at the end of March, will be recalled from Double-A

San Antonio to fill Perdomo’s roster spot.