Padres Press Clips Sunday, June 1, 2014

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Denorfia's acrobatic catch lifts Ross to sixth victory MLB.com Brock 2

Maybin leaves game with right calf tightness MLB.com Brock 5

Padres hold final pre-Draft workouts MLB.com Brock 6

Gyorko gets day off; Amarista starts MLB.com Brock 8

Sale set for battle of lefties with Padres' Stults MLB.com Laws 9

Padres unsuccessful with challenge on steal attempt MLB.com Brock 11

Alonso to host celebrity golf tournament MLB.com Brock 12

Right now, Three Perfectly goes into Two FriarWire Center 13

From the Farm, 5/30/14: Lane Paces El Paso FriarWire Center 15

Venable pulls his weight in Padres' win UT San Diego Sanders 16

Chula Vista's Perez impressing Padres UT San Diego Lin 19

Grandal again tweaking batting stance UT San Diego Sanders 22

On deck: Padres draw Chris Sale in finale UT San Diego Lin 24

Will Venable Leads Padres Past White Sox, 4-2 Associated Press AP 27

Denorfia's acrobatic catch lifts Ross to sixth victory Righty finishes May with a 2.08 ERA, improves to 6-4 on season By Corey Brock / MLB.com | 5/31/2014 7:02 PM ET

CHICAGO -- There were any number of ways to describeChris Denorfia's headfirst, diving grab of a soft liner in the fourth inning Saturday, a catch that saved two runs from scoring.

Denorfia's manager, Bud Black, was the first to give it a shot:

"Really good is an understatement," Black said.

Tyson Ross, the pitcher who allowed the batted ball, admitted to holding his breath as Denorfia, playing in right field, closed fast on the ball.

"That was," Ross said, "a great catch."

As for Denorfia, he had another term, one far less eloquent to describe his catch that proved to be an important turn in the Padres' 4-2 victory over the White Sox before a crowd of 19,025 at U.S. Cellular Field.

"It was awkward," he admitted.

However you want to describe it, whatever you want to call it, Denorfia's catch of Tyler Flowers' ball to end the fourth inning with two runners on, coupled with strong pitching by Ross and a few well- timed hits, were all the Padres (26-30) needed to win for the second time in as many days.

Ross (6-4) didn't always have his best stuff but he still allowed one earned run over six innings with big help again from the bullpen. Ross allowed five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

"It was a battle today. They're a good hitting team. I wasn't very comfortable [facing them]. I just didn't have the sharpest command today," Ross said.

With the Padres leading 3-1 in the fourth inning, the White Sox (28-29) got a one-out single byAlexei Ramirez and, later, a two-out walk from their No. 8 hitter, Alejandro De Aza, to put pressure on Ross.

That's when Ross buckled down and made the pitch he wanted to Flowers, a slider down and away, a pitch that would have been tough for any right-handed hitter to do much with.

"It was the pitch I wanted, but sometimes they reach out and something like that finds a hole," Ross said.

This one nearly did, though Denorfia -- who entered the game in the top of the third inning whenCameron Maybin left with tightness in his right calf -- raced in to make a difficult grab.

"I actually had just scooted in a couple of pitches before when there was two strikes," Denorfia said. "Off the end of the bat, you never know. It's a tough visual, a day game with the crowd."

Given his preference, Denorfia would have slid and played the ball off to one side or the other. This time, though, he didn't have time as his only option was a tumbling, sprawling grab.

"The dismount, if you will, is much harder," he said. "It's a lot easier to get hurt. I usually like to catch it off to one side. It really didn't hurt, other than I smashed my face pretty good when my glasses pressed into my head."

Denorfia's catch, Ross' arm and another strong performance from the bullpen -- Nick Vincent,Joaquin Benoit and closer Huston Street -- were enough to secure the team's first consecutive wins since May 13.

Ross finished May with a 2.08 ERA in six starts, allowing one earned run in five of those six starts. His ERA for the season stands at 2.85.

"I faced him quite a bit when I was with Arizona. He's got kind of a funky, quick delivery. He's got good stuff," White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton said.

The Padres had 10 hits and their hitters took seven walks in the game. Will Venable tied his career- high with four hits and knocked in two runs.

"We're seeing a little bit of an uptick in our offense," Black said. "We're getting closer to where they need to be. The collective at-bats, on balance have been better."

The Padres' two-run margin of victory might have been a whole lot greater had they fared better on the bases in this one.

• In the second inning, Venable was caught in a rundown between third and home that resulted in an out. Rene Rivera later hit an RBI double that could have easily produced two runs.

• One inning later, Carlos Quentin was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second when Venable singled to center field.

• With a runner on first base and no outs in the fifth inning, Chase Headley lined out on a ball that turned into a double play. It happened again in the ninth inning to Everth Cabrera.

• On separate occasions, Cabrera and Seth Smith were thrown out trying to steal second by Flowers, the White Sox catcher.

Aside from Denorfia's catch, there was little drama to be had. Ross retired the last four hitters that he faced. Vincent struck out the side in the seventh and Benoit went 1-2-3 in the eighth.

Street got two outs and then walked De Aza before getting Flowers on a grounder to end the game, securing his 17th save of the season.

"All in all, it was a well-pitched game from the 'pen," Black said.

Maybin leaves game with right calf tightness

By Corey Brock / MLB.com | 5/31/2014 8:12 P.M. ET

CHICAGO -- Cameron Maybin left the Padres' 4-2 win Saturday against the White Sox in the second inning with right calf tightness, the team announced.

Maybin, who started in center field, reached on a fielder's choice in the second inning and advanced to second base when teammate Will Venable was caught in a rundown.

"We just felt it was a little bothersome early in the game and felt we needed to remove him and not take any chances," Padres manager Bud Black said of Maybin, who has had soreness in the calf in recent days. "This doesn't look to be a disabled-list thing."

Maybin was replaced on the basepaths by Chris Denorfia, who stayed in the game as Venable moved from right field to center field.

Maybin missed the first 25 games of the season while recovering from a ruptured left biceps he suffered in Spring Training.

Last season, Maybin appeared in only 14 games due to injuries to his left knee and right wrist. He later had surgery on the right wrist in September.

Maybin entered Saturday's game hitting .307. He had a double and his first home run of the season in Friday's 4-1 victory over the White Sox.

Padres hold final pre-Draft workouts

By Corey Brock / MLB.com | 5/31/2014 8:12 P.M. ET

CHICAGO -- On Thursday, the Padres held the fifth and final private pre-Draft workout at Petco Park, a last look of sorts at players they are considering for Thursday's First-Year Player Draft.

Ever wonder what goes on during these workouts? It's not the cattle call you might expect or simply a mundane session of batting practice, bullpen work and infield and outfield drills.

"I think the workouts give you a chance to get some questions answered both on and off the field," said Chad MacDonald, the team's assistant general manager of player personnel. "You get a chance to talk more in a comfortable setting with the player and get to know them."

But there's more to it than that, MacDonald said.

The Padres, who have assembled their scouting department in San Diego for meetings that will lead up to the Draft, have tailored their workouts to not only get a look at players at their natural position but, occasionally, ask them to try a different position or show a different facet of their game.

"Maybe you try to see if the shortstop that doesn't have enough range can catch or maybe the second baseman with plus-plus speed, can he go out to the outfield?" MacDonald said. "You're able to do a lot of that."

The Padres have held five workouts in the last few weeks, all organized by their area scouts. There were workouts in Houston, Atlanta, Orlando, Cincinnati and, finally, San Diego. The workouts are attended by MacDonald, scouting director Billy Gasparino, national crosscheckers Sean Campbell, Kurt Kemp and the team's four regional crosscheckers.

"I think we do that more [ask players to move around] with the college guys more than high school guys. Maybe it's the college pitcher who doesn't have the velocity, you ask him to throw sidearm. If a guy is a dead-pull hitter, you ask him to hit the ball the other way. Or if he hits lines drives, ask him if in batting practice if he can put more loft on the ball," MacDonald said.

"You're not trying to change them but trying to see the things they can or can't do. I think all the kids who show up to the workouts are receptive to it. It's another chapter in their book, if you will."

Last year, during one pre-Draft workout, the Padres asked speedy outfielder Mallex Smith, a left fielder in junior college, to give center field a try.

"He was a guy we deemed as an 80 [on scouting scale] runner so it was good to see him take some fly balls in center field and also get to know him and his personality," MacDonald said.

The Padres selected Smith in the fifth round and he's currently hitting .301 with a .401 on-base percentage with 40 stolen bases in 51 games for Class A Fort Wayne of the Midwest League.

Gyorko gets day off; Amarista starts

By Corey Brock / MLB.com | 5/31/2014 8:12 P.M. ET

CHICAGO -- The Padres gave struggling second baseman Jedd Gyorko the day off on Saturday, asAlexi Amarista got the start.

Gyorko is hitting .169 and went 0-for-4 in Friday's 4-1 victory over the White Sox. Entering Saturday, he had started all but three games this season and ranks second on the team in at-bats (195).

"It's a combination of a number of things," said Padres manager Bud Black. "You have got to use your roster and this was a good day to give him. He's been going at it hard and we've been playing him a lot. Last night, there were couple at-bats that didn't go his way."

Gyorko is hitting .231 since May 20, but he's had trouble bunching together good at-bats with a good outcome.

"It's definitely not ideal but I feel it's starting to come around a little for me," Gyorko said. "I think that my at- bats have gotten better.

"There's still lot of the season left and we're only about one-third of the way through it. I'm going to keep working at it and keep driving in runs. You know you're not going to get it all back in one game."

Black said Gyorko is putting in all the necessary work to spin out of this season-long funk and that his effort and conviction is right.

"He's having such a great attitude but I know it's eating at him. Right now, he's not squaring up enough fastballs. But it will come."

Sale set for battle of lefties with Padres' Stults White Sox southpaw has start moved up, missing duel with Kershaw By Will Laws / MLB.com | 5/31/2014 8:49 PM ET

Chris Sale originally was in line for a classic battle of aces Monday night at Dodger Stadium, with Clayton Kershaw getting the start for the Dodgers. But on Friday afternoon, the White Sox announced they were moving up Sale to Sunday's series finale against the Padres, and he'll instead face another southpaw in San Diego's Eric Stults.

So no hitting against Kershaw and no start at all against the Dodgers for Sale, who will still be getting a regular four days' rest since the team had an off-day on Thursday.

"I was expecting to throw on Monday with an extra day," Sale said. "But it's not like they are moving me up a day or anything like that. So, it just kind of makes sense with throwing three innings and being fresh and going back out there on Sunday."

After throwing three hitless innings and 40 pitches before a nearly two-hour rain delay Tuesday against the Indians, Sale (4-0, 1.73 ERA) gets another start at home. He'll get five days' rest before his next start on Saturday, June 7, with Thursday standing as another scheduled off-day sandwiched between two three-game road series against the Dodgers and the Angels.

Even without the move to Sunday, Sale would have pitched against the Angels in Anaheim. But he would have gone Sunday, June 8, and been the one starter of the White Sox five to miss the ensuing four-game home set against the Tigers. Sale has a career 2-0 record with a 0.60 ERA over four games at Angel Stadium, and a 4-4 mark and 3.00 ERA lifetime against the Tigers.

Stults (2-5, 4.92 ERA) allowed three runs in six innings in his last start against Arizona, and has won just once since April 20, going 1-3 with two no-decisions. His season, to date, has been a little uneven, as the left-hander has allowed three or more earned runs in a start six times. But he's also pitched very well at times, allowing two earned runs or fewer in five starts.

The southpaw has proven to be a good strike-thrower, having issued two or fewer walks in 18 of his last 19 starts dating back to Aug. 18 of last season.

San Diego will try to capture just its second road series win (or first road sweep) of the season. The Padres have won just one of their previous nine road series this year, having lost seven and tied one.

Padres: Street continues to shine Padres closer Huston Street notched his 17th save of the season Saturday, needing just 13 pitches

9 to shut down the White Sox in the ninth inning. He's tied for the most saves in baseball with Francisco Rodriguez of the Brewers and Sergio Romo of the Giants.

Street has converted each of his 17 save opportunities this season, the longest active streak in the Major Leagues. Going back to May 14 of last season, he has converted 42 of his last 43 save opportunities (97.7 percent), the best mark in baseball during that stretch.

White Sox: Abreu's return imminent after simulated game First baseman Jose Abreu appears ready to come off the disabled list on Monday, the first day he'll be eligible to do so. The rookie faced a pair of Minor League relievers Saturday morning in a simulated game at U.S. Cellular Field.

Abreu led the Majors in home runs (15) when he went on the disabled list on May 18 with left ankle inflammation, and is hoping to return in the opener of the White Sox three-game set against the Dodgers.

The 27-year-old first baseman looked a bit rusty, as it took him several at-bats before he put the ball in play for the first time. But he eventually settled into a groove, lining a single to left, sneaking a ground-ball single down the left-field line, lining a ball to straightaway center and hitting a ground- rule double off the warning track in left-center. All in all, Abreu put six balls in play over about 10 at- bats.

"It's hard to simulate Major League pitching, but this is about as close as you can get as far as a guy coming out there live, and it's not just coming in straight," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "So he'll have to take pitches and I think that's going to be the biggest thing is just reaction-wise and him seeing pitches and not having to send him out on a rehab assignment."

Abreu was also hit by a pitch just above his left elbow by reliever Brad Salgado, but it didn't appear to affect him.

Worth noting • Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin left Saturday's game due to right calf tightness. His status for Sunday is unknown. The injury comes just one day after Maybin collected his first home run and RBI of 2014 by hitting a solo home run off of John Danks in San Diego's 4-1 win over Chicago on Friday.

• Paul Konerko, who returned to the lineup as designated hitter on Saturday for Chicago after missing three games with back tightness, ranks second all-time in homers (59) and RBIs (176) during Interleague Play.

Padres unsuccessful with challenge on steal attempt

By Corey Brock / MLB.com | 5/31/2014 4:16 P.M. ET

CHICAGO -- The Padres unsuccessfully tried to get a call overturned in the fourth inning of Saturday's game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

With runners on first and third base, Everth Cabrera attempted to steal second base to give his team a second runner in scoring position.

But the throw from White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers was strong with shortstop Alexei Ramirezapplying the tag. Cabrera was ruled out on a close play.

San Diego's Bud Black issued his manager's challenge but the call eventually stood.

The White Sox, trailing 3-1 at the time, wouldn't allow a run to score in the inning.

Alonso to host celebrity golf tournament

By Corey Brock / MLB.com | 5/31/2014 8:12 P.M. ET

CHICAGO -- If you ask Padres' first baseman Yonder Alonso about his golf game, don't expect him to brag or boast of a better game than he actually has.

"It's terrible," he said, flatly.

So in that sense, Alonso's inaugural Celebrity Golf Classic at the Barona Creek Golf Course might be very interesting to watch, as Alonso and several of his Padres teammate putt and chip for a good cause.

Benefits from the event will support the Ramona branch of the Boys & Girls Club of San Diego. Alonso will also hold the Boys and Girls Club close to his heart, as he essentially grew up playing sports at the Boys & Girls Club of Dade County in Miami.

"I grew up at the boys and girls club so it's easy for me to hang out for a few hours with the kids," Alonso said.

Several current Padres and a handful of former players and other local celebrities will participate in the event, including Rene Rivera, Joaquin Benoit, Donn Roach and Nick Vincent.

For more information on the event, see http://www.sdyouth.org/Playgolfwithyonder.aspx.

Right now, Three Perfectly goes into Two

By Bill Center

Right now, it’s a nice problem to have.

The Padres three hottest hitters are limited to two positions – first base and left field. But with the Padres playing an interleague series in Chicago, the Padres can deploy all three: Carlos Quentin as the designated hitter, Tommy Medicain left and Yonder Alonso at first. How it will shake out Monday when the Padres open a six-game homestand against Pittsburgh and Washington is something manager Bud Black doesn’t have to worry about until Monday.

But here’s a recent look at Quentin, Medica and Alonso:

Quentin: He is hitting .370 (10-for-27) with a double, two homers, six RBIs and three runs scored since coming off the disabled list May 13 after missing the season’s first 39 games with a bone bruise in his left knee. He did miss six starts since his return with a minor groin injury. He has a 10-game hitting streak active and is 3-for-3 as a pinch-hitter with two, two-run homers, an RBI single and a hit-by-pitch.

Medica: He went hitless Friday night for the first time since being recalled from Triple-A El Paso last Sunday. Since his return, Medica has gone 8-for-15 with two doubles, two homers (in back-to-back games), five RBIs and four runs scored. He had three hits in the back-to-games in which he also homered.

Alonso: The first baseman was 3-for-4 Friday night with a two-run homer. Since May 9, Alonso has gone 21-for-64 (.328) with five doubles and all four of this season’s homers for 11 RBIs and nine runs scored in 19 games. The spurt has raised his batting average from .157 to .218. His slugging percentage since May 9 is .594 and his on-base percentage is .394 for a OPS of .988.

PADRES PUZZLER: Who holds the Padres record for highest slugging percentage in a season? RE-CYCLED: As much as I’d love to see any Padre have a cycle, I don’t want to see it come via the overturning of Wednesday’s scoring decision of an error on Medica’s first at-bat. Sorry. I just want it to be pure. It will happen. And Medica is as deserving as anyone to be the first. I just don’t want an asterisk by it. Although I’m all for Major League Baseball correcting bad scorers’ decisions – and there are a lot of them – I’m not for rewriting history. And the first cycle in Padres history – given the time it has taken to happen – will be a historic event. Honestly, we don’t know what would have happened if Medica went up there the last two times needing a homer for the cycle. Games and performances change with circumstances. He didn’t get the single in the ninth when he needed the single. KENNEDY’S KORNER: Right-hander Ian Kennedy became the fourth Padres starter to win back-to- back starts this season in his victory Friday night against the White Sox in Chicago. Both his wins have come against Chicago’s teams. He defeated the Cubs last Sunday at Petco Park. In his last two starts, Kennedy has allowed two runs on six hits and five walks with 15 strikeouts over 12 innings. His earned run average has fallen to 3.42 from 3.79.

QUICK WORK: Padres relievers Nick Vincent, Joaquin Benoit and Huston Streetneeded only 33 pitches to work three hitless innings in relief of Kennedy Friday night. And four of the nine outs were strikeouts. Vincent threw 15 pitches in the seventh and had a walk and two strikeouts. Benoit needed only eight pitches to navigate the eighth with a strikeout. Street used 10 pitches in the ninth with a strikeout. STREET SCENE: Street has made 21, one-inning appearances this season. He is 1-0 with 16 saves and has worked in two other games won by the Padres – meaning he has pitched in 19 – or 76 percent – of the Padres 25 wins. He has pitched in two, extra-inning losses. Friday marked the 10th time in 21 appearances that Street retired the side in order. He has allowed 11 hits, but never more than one hit in an inning. He has issued six walks with 24 strikeouts. PUZZLER ANSWER: Ken Caminiti with a .621 mark in 1996. Second on the list is Greg Vaughn with a .597 figure during his 50-home run campaign of 1998.

From the Farm, 5/30/14: Lane Paces El Paso

By Bill Center

Former Major League outfielder Jason Lane has converted to pitching late in his career. But the 37-year-old, who played for the Padres briefly in 2007, hasn’t forgotten how to hit.

Lane used both his arm and bat to help Triple-A El Paso to a 4-3 win over Las Vegas Friday night in Texas. Lane the pitcher allowed two runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts to improve to 5-4 on the season and lower his earned run average to 4.36. Lane the hitter went 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored to raise his batting average to.407.

Right-hander Brandon Kloess (5.83 ERA) allowed a hit in two scoreless innings. Right-hander Blaine Boyer (3.42) allowed a run on two hits in an inning to pick up his fifth save. Right fielder Jeff Francoeur (.279) was 2-for-4 with a run scored as El Paso improved to 26-30. ON THE MOVE: There were no moves in the Padres farm system Friday. Around the Farm: DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (27-27): Arkansas 8, MISSIONS 4 – RF Yeison Asencio(.262) was 2- for-4 with a double to stretch his hitting streak to seven straight games. CJason Hagerty (.255) was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Starting RHP John Hussey (4.54 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts in five innings. LHP Frank Garces (2.36) allowed a run on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings and RHP Jerry Sullivan (1.77 ERA) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in an inning. RHP Johnny Barbato (2-2, 2.57 ERA) blew the save and suffered the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two- thirds of an inning. SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (32-24): VISALIA 4, Storm 3 – Lake Elsinore opened a road trip with a loss. SS Diego Goris (.327) was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. 3BGabriel Quintana (.258) was 2- for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Starting RHP Bryce Morrow (3.05 ERA) allowed two runs on five hits with a strikeout in 5 1/3 innings. LHPBrandon Alger (2.93 ERA) allowed a run on a hit with a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings. RHPCody Hebner (2-3, 4.50) allowed a run on two hits and a walk in one- third of an inning to suffer the loss. SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (24-23): BOWLING GREEN 9, TinCaps 6 – Starting RHPRonald Herrera experienced Fort Wayne’s biggest problem in his first start for the TinCaps in his first start since being acquired from Oakland as the player-to-be-named-later in the Kyle Blanks trade. Fort Wayne’s defense made three errors, resulting in the loss. Herrera (3.30 ERA), 19, allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts in six innings. RHP Wilson Santos (0-3, 5.52) suffered the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk with a strikeout in one inning. DH Dane Phillips (.295) was 2-for-4 with his 12th double and second homer for two RBIs. C Ryan Miller (.275) was 2-for-4 with a double. LF Henry Charles (.255) was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. SS River Stevens (.250) was 2-for-4 with a RBI. CFMallex Smith (.301) had a single and a walk, stole his 40th base and was caught stealing for the 15th time.

Venable pulls his weight in Padres' win Four-hit day raises batting average 19 points as Padres down White Sox

By Jeff Sanders2:27 p.m.May 31, 2014Updated4:14 p.m.

CHICAGO — For years, Will Venable has searched for ways to pull himself out of the slow starts that have weighed on him like an anchor in the early months of a season. One truth learned along the way stands above others.

“You can’t force it,” Venable said after collecting his first four-hit game of the year Saturday in a 4-2 win over the White Sox. “We all have the things that we know in the past has put us in good positions to be successful. You just do them over and over again.

“For me, sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. Without overanalyzing the past too much, I think it’s just important to know who you are and trust it.”

He did that on Saturday, filling up the box score with two doubles, two singles, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base, that latter coming after his fourth hit raised his average to .213.

Some three hours earlier, that number stood at .194, where it had hovered for well over a month before Venable checked in with his first three-plus-hit effort of the season. He accomplished that feat nine times last year en route to a second-half surge that ended with Venable sitting on a career-high 22 homers.

“Everybody works so hard to help the team win that you feel sometimes like you’re not pulling your weight, so to speak,” Venable said. “ … It’s nice to have a good game and nice to get a win. We’ll go for the series sweep tomorrow.”

Astonishingly, it would be their first of the season.

To get it, they’ll have to go through White Sox ace Chris Sale (4-0, 1.73 ERA), although the Padres have some momentum on their side after moving to 20-4 when scoring at least four runs in a game, which they’ve done their first two games here at U.S. Cellular Field.

They got there on Saturday with a 10-hit showing, led by four from Venable, a pair of doubles from Rene Rivera and two hits from Everth Cabrera to back another blue-collar effort from Tyson Ross (6-4) on the mound.

Battling his command throughout the day, Ross survived three walks and five hits – and two Cabrera errors – while allowing one earned run for the fifth time in his last six starts. He struck out five and got some help from his defense on two double-play balls and Chris Denorfia’s sprawling, diving catch to save a run in the fourth.

In fact, the only runs Ross allowed crossed the plate on a double-play ball in the second and a double off Dayan Viciedo's bat in the fifth after Cabrera booted a grounder to open the fifth.

But Ross rebounded with a one-two-three sixth, Nick Vincent struck out the side in the seventh, Joaquin Benoit turned in a scoreless eighth and Huston Street pitched around a two-out walk to convert his 17th straight save.

“They are a good hitting team,” Ross said after watching that trio of relievers shut down the White Sox for the second straight day. “Anytime you can find a way to get outs when you don’t have your best stuff, that’s what pitching is all about.”

White Sox starter Andre Rienzo (4-2) allowed three runs on seven hits and two strikes in 3 1/3 innings before giving way to right-hander Scott Carroll, who stranded both of his inherited runners in the fourth and kept the Padres off the board outside of a manufactured run in the sixth.

The Padres’ small-ball offense went off without a hitch, too, after Venable’s leadoff double that frame.

Venable moved to third on Rivera’s bunt and scored under catcher Tyler Flowers’ tag on Alexi Amarista’s sacrifice fly for a 4-2 lead.

Four innings earlier, the Padres looked poised to open up a much bigger advantage when Venable got his day started with a bases-loaded single.

After one run scored on the hit, center fielder Adam Eaton’s wayward throw pulled Flowers off the plate and into Carlos Quentin’s path as he pulled up for an awkward collision with the White Sox catcher.

Yet no harm, no foul – on Quentin or the sort of controversial play at the plate under the microscope since home plate collisions had been banned this year.

“I think we all knew that was going to be the tricky one going into the season – the throw that takes the catcher up the line to where there’s unavoidable contact,” Black said of his discussion following “That’s the way the (plate umpire Hal Gibson) saw it. … It was

17 explained to me that the throw took Flowers up the line. Q had nowhere to go. Flowers had nowhere to go.

“As the new protocol states, whatever happens, happens.”

Chula Vista's Perez impressing Padres Third-round pick from 2012 playing three positions for Fort Wayne

By Dennis Lin2 p.m.May 31, 2014

Warm weather has arrived in the Midwest and, with it, rising averages. Seven batters entered the weekend hitting .275 or better for low Single-A Fort Wayne, including Otay Ranch High product Fernando Perez. The third-round selection from the 2012 draft went into Saturday batting .304 with 13 doubles, six home runs and 38 RBIs.

What Perez has done in the field has been equally impressive to the Padres. The 20- year-old is playing three positions - first, second and third - a feat he pulled off so well in April that the Padres' front office and roving instructors voted him the organization's minor league defensive player of the month.

"It was the fact that he played three positions and made only three errors," said Randy Smith, the Padres' vice president of player development. "And it was in tough conditions because the weather was so cold in April."

Originally drafted as a shortstop, Perez is unlikely to repeat as defensive player of the month, having committed eight errors in May. All of them came at third, where he's faced his steepest learning curve.

Entering Saturday, Perez had recorded 26 appearances at second, 12 at third and nine at first. For the foreseeable future, he'll continue playing all three positions.

"With young players," Smith said, "it's good to have versatility."

"I've been seeing the ball better, taking a lot of grounders," Perez said. "I never thought it was something bad. Just thinking every single thing would help me."

As well, Perez has been adjusting to uninterrupted playing time. Largely owing to a trio of surgeries on his right thumb, he made just 300 plate appearances over his first two years of professional baseball. Through two months in 2014, he's already come to the plate more than 200 times.

A slimmed-down frame has helped. At 204 pounds, the 6-foot Perez is noticeably trimmer than he was last year, when he hit .213 in 59 games for short-season Eugene. He spent the offseason working out at the Off-Season Training Facility in National City.

"He lost over 20 pounds," Smith said. "In our opinion, he was not in real good physical shape and his stamina wasn't good and that affects everything else. He showed up in spring training, and we were really very complimentary of what he did. His feet are better and he's quicker. He's able to play every day. ... I'm very happy with where he is."

Herrera debuts

Right-hander Ronald Herrera made his Padres farm-system debut Friday, striking out five over 6 2/3 innings for Fort Wayne. He allowed five runs - only two were earned, as the TinCaps committed three errors - on seven hits and a walk. At one point, Herrera retired eight consecutive batters over the third and fourth innings.

Recently acquired from the Athletics as the player-to-be-named-later in the Kyle Blanks trade, the 19-year-old Herrera is the youngest player in low Single-A. With Oakland's affiliate this season, the Venezuelan teenager had gone 3-4 with a 3.38 ERA in nine starts, with 35 strikeouts and 10 walks over 50 2/3 innings.

At 5-feet-11 and 185 pounds, Herrera throws a fastball that sits around 90 mph, a low- to-mid 70s curveball and a low-80s change-up. The repertoire plays up due to his advanced command.

"The secondary pitches need to come on a little bit, but he's been good for his age," Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes said.

Perez, whom the Athletics signed for a $20,000 bonus in 2011, projects as a No. 4 or 5 starter.

"The thing that stands out is he's athletic, can repeat his delivery," Smith said. "At 19 years of age, he's throwing three pitches for strikes."

Fried slowed

Max Fried, one of baseball's top left-handed pitching prospects, continues to have his season delayed by forearm soreness. The 20-year-old has not thrown in extended spring training since May 21. He likely will not retake the mound until sometime this week.

"He's checked out clean," Smith said. "He just doesn't feel 100 percent."

It's now possible that when Fried does begin his season it could be with Eugene, as a way to build up his pitch count. The short-season Emeralds will play their opener June

13 at Tacoma. Ultimately, Fried is still expected to join high Single-A Lake Elsinore this year.

Grandal again tweaking batting stance Padres catcher looking to stand taller in box after right knee soreness cropped up.

By Jeff Sanders12:06 p.m.May 31, 2014Updated3:04 p.m.

CHICAGO — Yasmani Grandal’s right knee gets healthier by the day. His left hand wasn’t an issue beyond the day Paul Goldschmidt connected with it his bat.

His swing? That’s a work in progress, as is a new stance – yes, another one – that the 25-year-old catcher expects to roll out soon.

“When the season started I was hitting a little more, so the swing felt better,” Grandal said after he was out of the starting lineup a second day in a row on Saturday “Right now, we’re trying to get that back again. It’s one of those things where it’s been such a long time since (the knee injury) that you don’t know how to actually get it back. At some point it will click.”

Of course, little has clicked for Grandal as of late as a 2-for-36 slide dropped his average to a season-low .189 entering Saturday’s game. The issues he’s contending with, Grandal said, is both the stamina in his legs now that he’s catching more often and the pressure that he’s putting on that surgically-repaired right knee.

The latter led to extra torque that he was putting on that right knee while swinging through pitches from the left side of the plate. From the right side, Grandal caught himself jumping at pitches as transferred weight off that right knee.

His stance already overhauled from the ground up, most notably replacing a leg kick with a toe tap, Grandal is taking a page out Carlos Quentin’s book with an upright stance.

“We have to figure out where we want to be hitting wise, and Quentin has had success getting up there so that’s the route we’re going,” Grandal said. “One thing we’re trying to do is take the pressure off. The more pressure we take off the better.”

Day off for Gyorko

Jedd Gyorko’s average still sitting well below his playing weight, Padres manager Bud Black gave his slumping second baseman a mental break Saturday. Gyorko had started 15 straight games, a stretch in which he hit .190 (11-for58) with four doubles, four RBIs and a 16-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio.

Among the majors’ qualified hitters, Gyorko’s .169 batting average topped only the Mariners’ Brad Miller (.158) and the Indians’ Carlos Santana.

“He’s keeping such a great attitude about this,” Black said of Gyorko. “He’s not getting down about this, but I’m sure it’s eating at him. I know he, Phil (Plantier) and Alonzo (Powell) are exhausting a lot of different ideas, but it will come.”

One idea, Black said, is that Gyorko’s conscious effort to lay off the low-and-away breaking ball is delaying his ability to catch up to fastballs. He is hitting .200 on fastballs in the middle of the plate, according to ESPN Stats & Information’s hot zones. Last year he hit .367 on fastballs there.

“He’s trying to lay off the breaking ball,” Black said. “If they throw him a fastball, he’s just a tick behind. He’s not getting to the fastball.” Notable

 CF Cameron Maybin left in the second inning with tightness in his right calf, which Black said had been an issue for the last four to five days. Maybin is considered day-today.  With a win Friday night, RHP Ian Kennedy is only the third pitcher in major league history to win back-to-back starts against Chicago’s two clubs. The Twins’ Joe Mays and the Indians' Charles Nagy both did it in 1999.

On deck: Padres draw Chris Sale in finale White Sox to start ace lefty opposite Eric Stults

By Dennis Lin7 a.m.June 1, 2014 Padres at White Sox

Time: 11:10 a.m. | Game 3 of 3

TV: FSSD

Radio: 1090-AM; 860-AM (Spanish) Probable pitchers

Padres LHP Eric Stults (2-5, 4.92 ERA)

Stults issued a season-high four walks in his last start, but he limited the damage to three runs over six innings at Chase Field. It was the left-hander's third quality start in his last four outings, including his second straight on the road. Stults is still looking for his first win away from Petco Park this season; in six starts, he's 0-4 with a 5.04 ERA. He has never pitched at U.S. Cellular Field in his career, though he has faced the White Sox once, pitching for the Dodgers in 2008 and spinning a complete-game shutout. The only current White Sox player who participated in that game is Alexei Ramirez, who went 2-for-3 with two singles.

White Sox LHP Chris Sale (4-0, 1.73 ERA)

Originally scheduled to take the mound Monday against the Dodgers, Sale had his start moved to the series finale with the Padres. Against the Indians, the White Sox ace threw three hitless innings and 40 pitches in his last start, which was shortened by rain. He'll be starting on a full complement of four days' rest because of Thursday's off-day. Sale recently missed five weeks with a flexor muscle strain; in two outings since his return, he's allowed one hit and no runs over nine innings. This season, left-handed hitters have been absolutely helpless against Sale, going 0-for-27 with 12 strikeouts.

Right-handers, meanwhile, haven't fared much better (17-for-96). This will be Sale's first career start against the Padres. Looking Ahead

Monday: 7:10 p.m. | TV: FSSD

Pirates RHP Charlie Morton (1-7, 3.29) at Padres TBA

Tuesday: 7:10 p.m. | TV: FSSD

Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (5-3, 3.80) at Padres TBA

Wednesday: 3:40 p.m. | TV: FSSD

Pirates RHP Francisco Liriano (1-5, 4.62) at Padres RHP Ian Kennedy (4-6, 3.42)

Will Venable Leads Padres Past White Sox, 4-2 CHICAGO May 31, 2014 (AP) By MEGHAN MONTEMURRO Associated Press

Will Venable had a season-high four hits and drove in two runs to help the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Saturday.

Tyson Ross (6-4) limited the White Sox to two runs — one earned — on five hits in six innings, and Huston Street remained perfect in 17 save chances this season.

San Diego improved to 20-4 this season when scoring four or more runs.

In the third series between the two teams — and the first since 2005 — the Padres had the leadoff hitter reach base in seven of the nine innings. The White Sox managed only one base runner in the final four innings.

White Sox starting pitcher Andre Rienzo (4-2) struggled to keep the Padres off base and consistently ran into trouble. Rienzo lasted only 3 1-3 innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits.

Twice the White Sox cut the Padres' lead to one run, but they could never pull closer.

Dayan Viciedo's two-out double to right-center field scored Adam Eaton, who reached on an error by shortstop Everth Cabrera to start the fifth, to cut the Padres' lead to 3-2. San Diego answered in the top of the sixth, extending its lead, 4-2. Alexi Amarista's sacrifice fly scored Venable, who reached on a double and advanced on a sacrifice bunt.

Paul Konerko's single in the second snapped an 0 for 12 stretch and put runners on the corners for the White Sox after Alexei Ramirez led off the inning with a single. The White Sox cut San Diego's lead to 2-1 on the next play, though Alejandro De Aza's double play ball, which scored Ramirez, killed Chicago's rally.

San Diego had chances to put Chicago away. Despite loading the bases with nobody out against Rienzo, the Padres only managed to score one run in the third. Center fielder Eaton delivered a perfect throw home on Venable's RBI single to nail Carlos Quentin at the plate, keeping San Diego's lead to 3-1.

The Padres took a 2-0 lead in the second scoring on RBI doubles from Venable and Rene Rivera. Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin left the game with right calf tightness after reaching second base on a fielder's choice in the Padres' two-run second inning.

A diving catch by right fielder Chris Denorfia to end the fourth on Tyler Flowers' line drive saved at least one Chicago run from scoring, stranding runners on first and second to maintain a 3-1 Padres lead.

NOTES: White Sox 1B Jose Abreu took approximately 10 at-bats during a hitting simulation before Saturday's game. Abreu was hit above his left elbow but finished the simulation. Abreu (osterior tibia tendonitis in his left ankle) will go through another simulation game Sunday. He can be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday. "(Abreu) will have to take pitches and I think that's going to be the biggest thing is just reaction-wise," manager Robin Ventura said. "Him seeing pitches and not having send him out on a rehab assignment." ... DH Konerko (back) returned to the White Sox's lineup Saturday after missing the last two games. ... Padres manager Bud Black decided to give struggling 2B Jedd Gyorko the day off, inserting Amarista in the lineup. Gyorko is 3 for 17 on San Diego's road trip and is batting .169 this season. "You've got to use your roster and I think today is a good day to give Jedd off from a start," Black said. "He's been going at it hard and we've been playing him a lot. Jedd will be in there tomorrow."