Padres Press Clips Wednesday, September 24, 2014

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1 Padres Press Clips Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Article Source Author Page Padres' five-game win streak halted on late homer MLB.com Brock 2 Free-agent-to-be Stauffer could head elsewhere MLB.com Brock 4 Wieland makes his second '15 Padres audition vs. Rox MLB.com Brock 6 Losing isn t as Bad as it Looks FriarWire Center 8 Padres fall to Rox in 80th home game UT San Diego Lin 10 Despaigne still in play for Giants series UT San Diego Sanders 13 On deck: Another spot start for Wieland UT San Diego Lin 15 Morning links: One more home game UT San Diego Lin 17 Pregame: Is '14 best staff in team history? UT San Diego Lin 18 Rivera robbed of tying homer, Padres lose 3-2 Associated Press AP 19 1

2 Padres' five-game win streak halted on late homer Thayer allows solo shot in eighth; Rockies defense robs Friars By Corey Brock / MLB.com 9/24/2014 2:38 AM ET SAN DIEGO -- You're probably aware by now about the noise and mark the Rockies can make with their bats, but on Tuesday the biggest difference between victory and defeat against the Padres might have actually been because of their defense. Left fielder Brandon Barnes and second baseman DJ LeMahieu each made run-saving defensive plays in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Rockies hung on for a 3-2 win over the Padres in front of a crowd of 33,669 at Petco Park. Drew Stubbs hit an opposite-field home run for Colorado to start the eighth inning, breaking a tie before the Rockies (66-92) got two decisive plays in the field to hold on for the victory in the second game of a threegame set. The series concludes at 6:10 p.m. PT on Wednesday. Barnes saved a home run by making a well-timed leaping grab of Rene Rivera's line drive at the fence in left field to start the eighth inning. "I hit it well, good hard contact," Rivera said. "I hit it fine. He made a great catch. Sometimes you've just got to tip your hat." Barnes admitted to having a little fun with some fans before and after the catch. "One of the guys [in the stands] said, 'He's going to hit a homer right here,' and I said, 'No, I'm going to rob it.' I robbed it and when I got up, I said, 'I told you so,'" Barnes said. "That's fun. We're here for the fans." Later in the inning, with two runners on, LeMahieu robbed Alexi Amarista of an RBI single by smothering a ground ball in the hole between first and second base. He then threw to first base for the final out of the inning, preserving the one-run lead. "That was a big play as well," said Padres manager Bud Black. The Rockies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, getting a run in the third inning as Justin Morneau had a twoout, run-scoring single to score Rafael Ynoa, who doubled with one out. They added a run the following inning on the third of three singles, this one by LeMahieu, as Barnes -- who singled to start the inning -- raced around for a 2-0 lead. San Diego pitcher Robbie Erlin, getting a start for Tyson Ross, allowed two runs on six hits over his four innings of work. Erlin walked two, struck out two and needed 83 pitches to get 12 outs. 2

3 "The fastball into righties, he just couldn't get there," Black said. "He ran some deep counts and just wasn't about to execute the fastball." Erlin was filling in for Ross, who was shut down for the remainder of the season Tuesday after he came down with soreness and fatigue in his right arm that was later diagnosed as a slight strain of his flexor tendon muscles. Colorado pitcher Jorge De La Rosa allowed two runs on seven hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Juan Nicasio (6-6) got the victory by tossing a scoreless seventh inning. The Padres (75-82) got a run back in the sixth inning as they got to De La Rosa for three hits, including an RBI single with two outs by rookie Rymer Liriano that scored Jedd Gyorko. Amarista later singled into left to drive in Tommy Medica with the tying run. 3

4 Free-agent-to-be Stauffer could head elsewhere By Corey Brock / September 23, 2014 SAN DIEGO -- Pitcher Tim Stauffer, the longest-tenured Padres player, could very well be in his final week with the only organization that he's ever known. Stauffer, who is in his 11th season in the organization, will be a free agent after the season and there's a chance he could end up pitching elsewhere in "I don't think it's quite hit home yet," Stauffer said. "We'll see how things shake out but there's a pretty good chance I may be somewhere else. I'll try to save these last days if they are the last days. Whatever happens, I'll always have good memories of here. "I can only say good things about the Padres. They stuck with me through some tough times." It's certainly been a wild ride for Stauffer, 32, who was the fourth-overall Draft pick in He made it to the big leagues in 2005, starting his first game for the team. He won a big game against the Dodgers in 2006 and counted current bench coach Dave Roberts as a teammate. "I've spent about a third of my life here," Stauffer joked. Stauffer missed 2008 after having shoulder surgery and then in 2012 had elbow surgery, which led to him signing a Minor League deal with the team before the 2013 season. In between, he established himself in 2010, posting a 1.85 ERA in 82 2/3 innings and started Opening Day in Oh, and don't forget the time that Stauffer performed a self-diagnosis of what became an emergency appendectomy with his iphone in Get all that? Because, at times, Stauffer probably isn't quite sure it all really happened. "There were a lot of little things here and there, some ups and downs. Injuries are the tough part of the business. But I've been resilient," Stauffer said. "The 2010 season was pretty memorable for me that group of guys, I felt I had a hand in that, getting to that last game, it wasn't for lack of effort." 4

5 Stauffer, who is 6-2 this season with a 3.66 ERA in 41 relief appearances, has a 3.36 ERA since 2010 over 402 innings in 148 games, including 42 starts. He would like to start again, which is why Stauffer would consider an offer to pitch elsewhere. "I still feel, physically, as good if not better than I did when I was in my mid-20s," he said. "Getting that opportunity [to start] would be nice. I just want to pitch. But I'm pretty open to different roles." San Diego manager Bud Black isn't quite ready to close the door on Stauffer's time with the Padres. "I've seen Tim grow up in a lot of different ways," Black said. "He showed determination through his time here. It's been great to witness him grow up, a guy who fought through shoulder surgery and become a valuable part of our most successful team in 2010 and be unselfish. A great teammate and always could be counted on to do the right thing. "I've told Tim that I'm so happy he's healthy and that he's throwing the ball well. So we'll see what happens, but let's hope that it happens for him here." 5

6 Wieland makes his second '15 Padres audition vs. Rox Righty continues Tommy John comeback in Friars' final home game By Corey Brock / MLB.com 9/24/2014 2:30 AM ET On Tuesday, the Padres gave the ball to pitcher Robbie Erlin as part of his open ongoing audition for a roster spot in On Wednesday, Joe Wieland gets his turn. Wieland makes his second start of the season -- and second against the Rockies -- when he gets the call in the series finale against the Rockies at Petco Park, the Padres' final home game. Oddly enough, Erlin and Wieland both were obtained in the same trade from the Rangers on July 31, 2011, for reliever Mike Adams. Wieland is still trying to round back into form after missing all of last season while recovering and rehabilitating his right elbow after having Tommy John surgery in He started against the Rockies on Sept. 6, allowing four runs in 2 1/3 innings, including two home runs. This will actually be his first start at Petco Park since the last outing before his surgery when he got a no-decision against the Marlins on May 6, Meanwhile, the Rockies' theme could be, "Win one for Flande." Lefty Yohan Flande debuted in June and has pitched well on several occasions this season, both as a starter and a reliever. But no matter how he's pitched, he hasn't been able to break into the win category. Flande had five scoreless relief appearances this month but none of those resulted in a win. He was reinserted into the rotation last Thursday and held the D-backs to two runs and two hits in five innings, but still didn't figure in the decision. In his lone start against the Padres, Flande gve up two runs on four hits in six innings on Aug. 12. Alas, the Rockies gave him one run and lost the game. Flande threw just 59 pitches in his last start because of the time between starting assignments. Manager Walt Weiss said he will be on a slightly higher pitch limit Wednesday night. Padres: Bringing back Burch Pitcher Burch Smith, the team's No. 17 prospect according to MLB.com, will pitch in the Arizona Fall League. Smith was limited to 5 1/3 innings in two starts with Triple-A El Paso in April due to flexor muscle strain in the right forearm. Smith threw a bullpen session in Arizona on Tuesday and has been cleared to pitch in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros. He'll join several of the organization's top prospects there, including outfielder Hunter Renfroe, a first-round Draft pick in 2013, and speedy outfielder Mallex Smith, who stole 88 bases in two Minor League stops this past season. 6

7 Smith was 1-3 with a 6.44 ERA in 10 games for the Padres in 2013, including a September start in which he tossed seven scoreless innings in Atlanta with a career-best 10 strikeouts. Rockies: Rookie Matzek finishes strong Lefty Tyler Matzek, who took a hard-luck 1-0 loss Monday night despite striking out eight in six innings, finished the year with 117 2/3 innings. Just 11 rookies in the 22-year history of the franchise have reached triple figures in innings. Over his final eight starts, he was 4-3 with a 1.90 ERA, and opponents hit.225 in his final eight starts. Plus, his 3.55 ERA since the All-Star break was fourth-lowest among NL rookie starters, and his 67 strikeouts were second among NL rookies. 7

8 Losing isn t as Bad as it Looks By Bill Center Original Padres pitching coach Roger Craigmade one of the more profound comments I ve heard regarding baseball when he discussed the performance of Clay Kirby near the end of the 1969 season. The right-hander known as The Kid was headed to the first of three 20-loss seasons in Padres history when a member of the media asked Craig why a bad pitcher was still in the rotation with double-digit losses. Craig, who himself had suffered through two 20-loss seasons as a member of the expansion New York Mets in 1962 and 1963, glared at the questioner. Bad pitchers can t lose 20 games, said Craig. They re not around that long. Only good pitchers can lose 20 games. Clay Kirby was 21 years old when he went 7-20 in the Padres inaugural season. His earned run average over 35 starts was a respectable He allowed only 204 hits in 215 2/3 innings. Clay Kirby could pitch. So could the other two pitchers who had 20-loss seasons as a Padre. Randy Jones set the Padres record with 22 losses in He became the first Padre to win 20 games a season later and finished second in the voting for the National League Cy Young award thanks to a 2.24 ERA. And in 1976, Jones won the Cy Young Award with a record with a 2.74 ERA carved out over 40 starts and 315 1/3 innings. Steve Arlin lost 21 games in I am reminded now of Craig s comments back in 1969 when I think about Padres left-hander Eric Stults. Stults is not going to lose 20 games. But he is tied for the Major League lead in losses with Philadelphia s A.J. Burnett with 17 with one start to go Saturday or Sunday in San Francisco. Some of Stults numbers are not good. His 4.42 ERA is above the National League average and he has allowed 26 homers the second-most in the National League. But the biggest number affecting Stults won-loss record this season is one he can t control run support average. Stults has the second-worst run support average in the Major Leagues. The Padres scored him one run Monday night and he turned it into a win thanks to 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Monday marked 12 th time this season that the Padres have scored zero or one run in Stults 31 starts. PADRES PUZZLER: Who leads the Padres in game-winning hits this season? BY THE NUMBERS: Monday s win the Padres second straight 1-0 shutout on a Monday night improved the Padres record at home to 47-32, equaling the club s record for most wins at Petco Park. The Padres are 23-7 at home since the All-Star break and 28-9 over their last 37 home games. The Padres are 7-1 on their current homestand with two to play. Padres starting pitchers have a 1.32 earned run average during the club s five- 8

9 game winning streak. The Padres are 9-1 in their last 10 games decided by one run and have a Major Leaguebest record in one-run decisions this season. GRIN AND THAYER IT: Right-handed reliever Dale Thayer s earned run average dropped under two to 1.98 with a scoreless eighth inning Monday. Thayer has made eight straight scoreless appearances, allowing four hits and no walks over 7 2/3 innings. In three complete seasons with the Padres, Thayer has a 3.26 earned run average in 224 appearances covering 212 1/3 innings. RAGING RIVERA: Catcher Rene Rivera was 2-for-4 Monday night and drove in the game s lone run with a first-inning double. He has hit safely in 29 of his last 39 games with a.299 average (40-for-134). His.291 average since the All-Star break (41-for-141) is the highest second-half batting average among the Padres. Rivera is 7-for-16 with three doubles and five RBIs in a four-game hitting streak. MORE STULTS: Stults is 5-4 with a 2.91 ERA over his 10 starts since Aug. 1. In 17 starts since June 17, Stults is 6-9 with a 3.45 ERA. RISING GYORKO: Second baseman Jedd Gyorko is hitting.283 (13-for-46) in his last 13 games with three doubles, a homer and four RBIs. But he has also drawn seven walks, for a.377 on-base percentage, and scored nine runs. PADRES PUZZLER ANSWER: Shortstop Alexi Amarista has 12 game-winning hits this season. Rivera, Will Venable, Jedd Gyorko and Seth Smith are tied for second with six apiece. 9

10 Padres fall to Rox in 80th home game Drew Stubbs' eighth-inning home run proves the game-winner By Dennis Lin10:30 p.m.sept. 23, 2014Updated11:15 p.m. Tuesday marked the Padres penultimate home game of the season, but in more ways than one, their 3-2 loss to the Rockies contained a sense of finality. Robbie Erlin, in his ongoing audition for 2015, made what might have been his last start of The Padres left-hander may appear again this weekend in San Francisco, though that likely will depend on the health of Odrisamer Despaigne, who has at least one advantage in next spring s competition. Already, the Cuban rookie has shown an ability to eat innings. Given a rotation with durability questions, it certainly is a valuable commodity. Erlin, who missed 75 games this season with elbow soreness, did not venture far in his second start off the disabled list. He had been efficient in his return, throwing six innings of one-run ball against the Phillies, but such economy escaped him Tuesday. The 23-year-old exited after only four innings but 83 pitches, having surrendered two runs on six hits and two walks. "It was probably the fastball into righties. He just didn't get it there," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He let some pitcher's counts fall back into hitter's counts.... His stuff was fine, but he was not really efficient." Erlin threw 24 pitches in the second and 30 in the third, requiring a pair of mound visits from pitching coach Darren Balsley. "He threw a lot of close pitches, and (the Rockies) worked him pretty well," Padres catcher Rene Rivera said of Erlin. "He did the best he could." Erlin was relieved by Tim Stauffer, who made what might have been his final appearance at Petco Park for the Padres. Stauffer, the team s longest-tenured player, will be a free agent at the end of the season. The fourth overall selection in the 2003 draft, Stauffer is now 32. Naturally, still, he would like to start. In all likelihood, there will be no such opportunity in San Diego next season. 10

11 Long relief has been Stauffer s vocation the last two years. Tuesday, he once again, perhaps for the final time, showed why the Padres have valued him in that role. Stauffer struck out three batters in two perfect innings. He needed just 20 pitches, keeping the Rockies within reach. The Padres offense bridged the gap in the bottom of the sixth. Jedd Gyorko, playing on his 26th birthday, led off with a single. Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa struck out the next two batters. Then came a trio of two-out singles. The second, which cut a 2-0 lead in half, was struck by Rymer Liriano. The rookie outfielder recently had looked lost at the plate. Tuesday, he finished 2-for-3 with a walk. The third, which tied the score, was lined by Alexi Amarista. With that, Amarista collected his 14th RBI of September, most among major league shortstops. September call-up R.J. Alvarez pitched the seventh for the Padres, offering a look at a potential late-inning option for The hard-throwing right-hander struck out the side, flashing a mid- 90s fastball and a mid-80s slider. "That may be the best he's thrown -- the combination of the fastball and slider collectively," Black said. "Tonight I think you saw what our scouts saw -- the velocity and the really consistent, tight slider." Veteran righty Dale Thayer was not quite as sharp in the top of the eighth. He hung his very first pitch, a slider, to Drew Stubbs, who crushed it. The ball bounced on top of the right-field wall, which is eight feet tall, for a home run. It would prove the game-winner. Liriano, who had collided with the wall attempting a game-saver, was shaken up. The trainer ran out. After several tense moments on the ground, he stood, made a few test throws and stayed in the game. Afterward, Black said Liriano was fine, adding that he would be back in the lineup Wednesday. In the bottom of the eighth, Rene Rivera blasted a slider to left. The drive had enough to clear the fence, but Brandon Barnes came up with a leaping catch, preventing a home run. The outfielder gestured emphatically to the crowd, which booed lustily in reply. "I got hard contact," Rivera said, "but we're playing at Petco and sometimes you've got to hit it a little harder. You have to tip your cap. (Barnes) made a great catch." Four batters later, Amarista scorched a grounder to the right side, but second baseman D.J. LeMahieu made an acrobatic stop, ending the inning and preventing at least one run. Pinch-hitter Will Venable led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and a steal, but he became the latest victim of a season-long shortcoming. Rockies closer LaTroy Hawkins retired the next three batters, stranding Venable. 11

12 The Padres, too, were stranded at 47 wins at home. With one game left against Colorado, they need a victory to set a Petco Park record. It is a pursuit mitigated by their record on the road. Tuesday s defeat clinched their fifth consecutive losing season. 12

13 Despaigne still in play for Giants series Cuban rookie did not feel pain in Tuesday's side session By Jeff Sanders6:11 p.m.sept. 23, 2014 The Dodgers, and more importantly, the teams jockeying for wild-card positioning with the Giants the Pirates and the Brewers, for now will be pleased to know that the Padres have quite a weekend planned for their final trip to San Francisco. However, whether or not Odrisamer Despaigne will follow Andrew Cashner (Thursday) and Ian Kennedy (Friday) in the rotation remains to be seen. The 27-year-old Cuban rookie threw pain-free in Tuesday s side session and remains a possibility to start Saturday or Sunday despite leaving Friday s start with discomfort in his right latissimus dorsi muscle after throwing seven shutout innings at the Giants. Although an MRI has shown some action in that region, according to Padres manager Bud Black, the Padres have not ruled out allowing Despaigne to make one last start. For him, it s I don t want to miss a start, Black said. It s a pride thing. Left-handers Eric Stults and Robbie Erlin would likely get starts on Saturday and Sunday if the Padres opt to shut down Despaigne. Which wouldn t upset the Giants in the least. In three starts against San Francisco including Friday s gem Despaigne is 2-0 with one run allowed in 20 innings. Cashner took a two-hit shutout into the ninth inning in his first appearance against the Giants this year and Kennedy completed a three-game sweep with 6 2/3 quality innings against San Francisco on Sunday. Spangy getting comfy As this month wears on, rookie Cory Spangenberg continues to see more and more time at third base (45 innings) than his natural position second (15). Nonetheless, the rookie s comfort level continues to improve in left field, where the bulk of his playing experience has come at the major league level on the fly. 13

14 The outfield, just from center field to left field, the ball does so many different things, said Spangenberg, who has played 25 1/3 innings in left, but none since committing an error in Arizona on Sept. 14. In center field, the ball stays pretty true. I think it s easiest of the outfield positions. In left field, you have balls slicing, you have balls hooking, line drives that you don t know where they going to go. It s just about repetitions. Notable After a day off Monday following his return to the bullpen, RHP Joaquin Benoit (shoulder) was active in the Padres bullpen Tuesday. Black, however, was non-committal on whether or not he was ready to return Benoit to the closer s role over RHP Kevin Quackenbush, who is 6-for-7 in save opportunities this year. OF Abraham Almonte (ankle) continues to improve, but may not start a game again this season. Black, however, said he hoped to use Almonte from the right side as a pinch-hitter again at some point before the season ends Sunday. The Padres pitching staff entered Tuesday s game with 3.54 runs allowed per game, the lowest mark in franchise history. They are on pace for a franchise-low 570 runs allowed over 162 games, besting the 581 allowed by the 2010 staff. 14

15 On deck: Another spot start for Wieland Padres right-hander to make second start since return from Tommy John surgery By Dennis Lin9 a.m.sept. 24, 2014 Rockies at Padres Today: 6:10 p.m. Game 3 of 3 On the air: FSSD; 1090-AM, 860-AM (Spanish) Probable pitchers Rockies LHP Yohan Flande (0-5, 4.91 ERA) Flande has had limited success as a starter and ultimately may be better suited as a long reliever. Yet the 28-year-old rookie has shown a few glimpses, such as when he threw six innings of two-run ball Aug. 12 at Petco Park. Like the majority of Rockies pitchers, Flande has found refuge away from Coors Field; he has a 2.86 ERA in 22 innings on the road, compared to a 6.27 ERA in 33 innings at home. Padres RHP Joe Wieland (0-0, 9.00 ERA) Wieland, who missed all of 2012 and much of this year working back from Tommy John surgery, will make his second big-league start of the season. His first came against these same Rockies on Sept. 6, when he allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings at Coors Field. Wieland has appeared twice since, both times in relief. He threw a bullpen session at Petco Park on Monday. The Padres likely will be targeting at least five innings for the 24-year-old. Looking ahead Thursday: 7:15 p.m. TV: FSSD Padres RHP Andrew Cashner (5-7, 2.21) at Giants RHP Yusmeiro Petit (5-5, 3.63) Friday: 7:15 p.m. TV: FSSD 15

16 Padres RHP Ian Kennedy (12-13, 3.76) at Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong (8-12, 3.96) Saturday: 1:05 p.m. TV: FSSD Padres TBA at Giants RHP Jake Peavy (7-13, 3.79) Sunday: 1:05 p.m. TV: FSSD Padres TBA at Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (18-9, 2.91) 16

17 Morning links: One more home game Padres suffered a one-run loss in their 80th game at Petco Park By Dennis Lin7 a.m.sept. 24, 2014 The Padres' best chance to win the rest of the way is Wednesday. It is their final home game of the year. With Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Rockies, the Padres fell to at Petco Park. Forty-eight wins would be their best-ever at the downtown ballpark. After Tuesday, the Padres will finish with four games in San Francisco. On the road, they are More notes from Tuesday The Padres are in one-run games this season, including 24-9 at home. They are 8-11 in one-run games on the road. Jedd Gyorko (1-for-3, 2 BB) is.588 (10-for-17) lifetime against Jorge De La Rosa. The 10 hits are his most against any pitcher. Alexi Amarista, who hit an RBI single in the sixth and nearly came up with another in the eighth, has 14 RBIs in September, the most by any major league shortstop this month. In today's U-T Odrisamer Despaigne is still a possibility to start this weekend in San Francisco. 17

18 Pregame: Is '14 best staff in team history? Early notes, tidbits and lineups for today's game at Petco Park By Jeff Sanders4:18 P.M.SEPT. 23, 2014 For all of the Padres problems at the plate this year, their pitching lived up to preseason billing. In fact, the Padres arms collectively may have even topped the team s wildest expectations. That s because historically speaking, this may go down as the best pitching campaign that the franchise has ever penned. With 549 runs allowed through 156 games, the team is on pace to allow 570, a new franchise-low for a 162-game season. On a per-game basis, 3.54 runs allowed per game entering Tuesday was the lowest mark in franchise history, slightly ahead of the 3.58 allowed per game in That 2010 team fronted by Mat Latos (14-10, 2.92) and Clayton Richard (14-9, 3.75) allowed 581 runs over a 162-game season. If these Padres best that number, they ll have the likes of Odrisamer Despaigne (4-7, 3.36) and Jesse Hahn (7-4, 3.07) to thank as fill-in options for losing Andrew Cashner (5-7, 2.21) and Robbie Erlin (4-4, 4.53) for long stretches. Tyson Ross (13-14, 2.81) and Ian Kennedy (12-13, 3.76) have been the epitome of consistency, while Eric Stults (8-17, 4.42) rallied over the second half of the season to lower his ERA well below 5.00 Out of the bullpen, Joaquin Benoit (1.55) and Dale Thayer (1.98) enter Tuesday s game with an ERA under Huston Street (1.09) was well below that mark in 33 appearances before he was traded to the Angels. 18

19 Rivera robbed of tying homer, Padres lose 3-2 AP3:12 a.m. EDT September 24, 2014 SAN DIEGO (AP) Rene Rivera lifted a shot toward the left-field wall and then watched as Brandon Barnes timed his leap perfectly to rob him of a tying homer. Barnes' catch and Drew Stubbs' tiebreaking home run leading off the eighth led the Colorado Rockies to a 3-2 victory against the Padres on Tuesday night. "He made a great catch, so you have to tip your hat. That's baseball," Rivera said. "I hit it well. I saw it off the bat, it went up and I had good, hard contact. But in Petco sometimes you still have to run hard. He made a great catch." Padres manager Bud Black said Rivera "really didn't click it. But left field here at Petco is doable smallest part of the park. You don't have to hit it well to get it out of there in that area. He made a good play. Off the bat, I thought it had a chance just because it's Petco in left field." The Padres, who were trying to extend their winning streak to a season-high six games, were assured of their fourth straight losing season. San Diego (75-82) can still finish with its best record in three seasons. The team went in 2012 and Stubbs homered on the first pitch from Dale Thayer (4-4) into the Jack Daniel's party deck atop the right-field wall, his 15th. It was the first run Thayer allowed in nine outings. Rymer Liriano was shaken up after slamming into the wall trying to make the catch but remained in the game. Rivera sent a high drive to left opening the Padres eighth, but Barnes leaped to make the catch. With the potential tying run on second base and two outs in the eighth, Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu made a nice, diving stab of Alexi Amarista's grounder and threw him out to end the inning. "Sometimes you have a game you hit 10 bloopers into base hits, sometimes you hit 15 balls hard and they are all outs," Rivera said. NL batting leader Justin Morneau went 1 for 4 with an RBI single to drop to.319, two percentage points ahead of Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison, who also went 1 for 4. Juan Nicasio (6-6) allowed one hit in a scoreless inning for the win. LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth for his 23rd save in 26 chances. 19

20 Rockies lefty Jorge De La Rosa had allowed only three hits through five scoreless innings when the Padres tied it at 2 in the sixth with three straight two-out hits. De La Rosa allowed a leadoff single to Jedd Gyorko before striking out Rivera and Yasmani Grandal. Tommy Medica singled before Liriano and Amarista each had an RBI base hit. Padres lefty Robbie Erlin lasted four innings, allowing two runs and six hits. He was making his second start since missing four months with a sore elbow. He allowed RBI singles by Morneau in the third and LeMahieu in the fourth. BACK IN TOWN Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, who started his career with the Padres, chatted with players from both teams before the game. Winfield once struck fear in Rockies manager Walt Weiss. "His groundballs had teeth," said Weiss, a former infielder. "It was not fun playing infield when Dave Winfield came to the plate." TRAINER'S ROOM Padres: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne threw in the bullpen as the team contemplates whether to give him another start. Despaigne complained of pain on his right side after his last start Friday against the Giants. Black said an MRI didn't show any structural damage, just irritation.... OF Carlos Quentin (knees) is going to try and play next year, Black said. Quentin was restricted to 50 games this year. UP NEXT Rockies: LHP Yohan Flande (0-5, 4.91 ERA) will make his second start and third appearance against Padres. Flande was a hard-luck, 4-1 loser to San Diego on Aug. 12. Padres: RHP Joe Wieland (0-0, 4.55) will make his second start of 2014 in San Diego's home finale. 20