Padres Press Clips Friday, August 14, 2015

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Upton’s power indeed plays anywhere UT San Diego Sanders 2

Minors: Spangy fills up El Paso box score UT San Diego Sanders 5

Rockies matters: Ross seeking 1st Coors win UT San Diego Sanders 7

Rea clan comes out in force for prospect’s debut MLB.com Maiman 8

Spangenberg close to returning Padres.com Center 10

Kelich, Herrera turn in strong starts on the farm Padres.com Center 12

Padres-Rockies Friday night preview Stats, Inc. Massoth 14

Upton's power indeed plays anywhere Padres left fielder continuing to slay Petco Park's reputation By Jeff Sanders | noon Aug. 13, 2015 Justin Upton’s reputation as a legit power threat solidified over the first eight years in the majors. Alonzo Powell’s opinion formulated much earlier in the Midwest League, Upton’s first minor league stop as the Diamondbacks’ No. 1 overall pick.

One blast in particular at South Bend that year, a three-run rocket out against the Dayton team that Powell was managing, still resonates with the Padres’ assistant hitting coach.

“You just knew he was going to be good,” Powell recalled.

Good in the upper levels. Good in the majors. Good just about anywhere, including cavernous Petco Park.

HOME AND AWAY Bucking more than a decade of trends at Petco Park, Justin Upton has been much better at home than on the road in 2015. Though he has sustained two injuries while on the road, these splits have perplexed even Upton. “The road can be a grind,” he said, “… but that does surprise me. I usually play a little bit better (than that) when I'm playing on the road. Even though the average is down, I usually hit for some power.” Home : .301 avg., .370 OBP, .581 SLG, 15 HRs, 37 RBIs, 38 runs (186 ABs) Away : .209 avg., .301 OBP, .325 SLG, 5 HRs, 26 RBIs, 22 runs (206 ABs) PETCO PINNACLES A look at where Justin Upton ranks in single seasons in Petco Park history (minimum 200 plate appearances): Batting average .306 | Dave Roberts (2006) .305 | Mark Loretta (2005) .301 | Chris Denorfia (2013) .301 | Justin Upton (2015)

Homers 15 | Justin Upton (2015) 15 | Will Venable (2015) 14 | Adrian Gonzalez (2008) 13 | Jedd Gyorko (2013) 13 | Chase Headley (2013) Acquired over the offseason to inject oomph to a lineup that was historically inept in 2014, Upton has effectively laid waste to the notion that the Padres’ home park was a place where power goes to die. In fact, the 27-year-old outfielder has gotten so comfortable in the Gaslamp district that he might be one of the few hitters ever to sorry to leave Petco Park for a series at Coors Field, where his career OPS (.803) is more than 100 points below the .926 mark he has in 98 career games at the Padres’ downtown locale.

OK, that last part isn’t entirely true.

“I do like playing in this stadium; I see the ball well,” Upton said with a laugh. “But every time you go to Colorado you’re excited about a park that favors hitters.”

Over the years, Petco has invited the exact opposite sentiment from hitters, from visitors to the inhabiting Padres themselves. The picture of Phil Nevin doubling into the deepest corner in right center and gesturing toward the press box during the park’s debut season embodies the sort of frustration that Upton has easily eluded while blasting a franchise-record-tying 15 homers in his first season as a full-time tenant.

More than that, Upton is on pace to become just the fourth Padre to hit better than .300 over 200 plate appearances since the stadium opened in 2004, his slugging percentage is better at Petco (.561) than anywhere else he’s played more than three games and his homer rater (one every 16 plate appearances) bests his showing at any park in which he’s had more than 100 plate appearances.

Yes, even hitter-friendly Chase Field, his home for the first six years of his career.

“I've heard guys say that at some point in the year, the air's going to get thick here,” Upton said with a shrug. “I haven't seen it yet. I like hitting here. I always have, since I was coming as a visitor, too. I don't know what it is.”

Powell’s summation goes beyond studies that have revealed that right-handed power plays at Petco (hence the addition of Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers).

“Here, he's got that line-drive capability that can get through the so-called heavy air here at Petco,” Powell said. “If you look at his track record, he’s got a swing that plays anywhere.”

Minors: Spangy fills up El Paso box score Recapping the latest action from around the Padres' farm system By Jeff Sanders | 8 a.m. Aug. 14, 2015 Cory Spangenberg's rehab assignment might be coming to an end.

Playing his second game at Triple-A El Paso, Spangenberg homered, walked twice, stole two bases and scored two runs, including the game-winner on Hector Gomez's ninth-inning single in a 5-4 win over Las Vegas on Thursday. Spangenberg also played all nine innings at second base. He is on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his left knee.

Gomez's hit was one of three in the game.

Right-hander Chris Smith (3.64) allowed four runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision, while right-hander Jay Jackson (2-3, 2.03) struck out two in the ninth for the win.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (51-66)

• NW Arkansas 3, Missions 1: RHP Casey Kelly (1-7, 3.97) struck out five but allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits and five walks. CF Alberth Martinez (.291) went 2-for-3 with his 10th homer. HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (43-73)

• Bakersfield 11, Storm 5: 3B Chase Jensen (.282) drove in three runs on a triple. RHP Kyle Lloyd (5-9, 4.84) allowed eight runs (five earned) on six hits in two innings in 5 1/3 innings. LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (61-53)

• TinCaps 3, Quad Cities 0: CF Michael Gettys (.228) hit his second homer during a 2-for-4 day. RHP Dinelson Lamet (4-6, 3.18) struck out seven and scattered six hits and three walks over five shutout innings.

SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (29-24)

• Boise 4, Dust Devils 0: RHP Angel Mejia (2-3, 6.02) allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings. LF Jose Carlos Urena (.292) and C A.J. Kennedy (.279) each had a single and a double. ROOKIE AZL PADRES (17-25)

• Padres 4, Rangers 2: 2B Tyler Moore (.195) doubled in two run and DH Jonas Lantigua (.247), SS Daniel Bravo (.295) and 3B Carlos Sosa (.190) each had two hits. RHP Austin Smith (6.55) struck out two over two scoreless innings.

Rockies matters: Ross seeking 1st Coors win Padres right-hander has a 3.75 ERA in six career appearances in Colorado By Jeff Sanders | 5 a.m. Aug. 14, 2015 Though Tyson Ross arrives at Coors Field looking for his first win in Colorado, he hasn't exactly been torched by the Rockies in six appearances (four starts). Though he has allowed three homers in 24 innings -- an expected boost of more than tewice his career 0.5 homer/nine-inning rate -- opposing hitters have a .250/.349/.359 batting line in 108 plate appearances against Ross.

To date, that has equaled a 3.35 career earned-run average at Coors Field … with Troy Tulowitzki on the roster. The Rockies remaining, however, have a .265/.324/.368 career batting line against Ross, with outfielder Charlie Blackmon (.308/.357/.615) accounting for the lone home he has surrendered to that bunch.

All told, the remaining Rockies have accounted for five RBIs, 17 strikeouts and five walks in 74 plate appearances against Ross. New shortstop Jose Reyes, as well as Kyle Parker and Michael McKenry, have yet to face Ross.

TRENDING

• Good thing Ross has a decent history against OF Carlos Gonzalez, over of 13 homers and 29 RBIs over his last 24 games. The Padres right-hander has held him in check, limiting him to a double, an RBI and a walk in eight plate appearances. He has struck out three times. • 2B D.J. LeMahieu is batting .348/.420/.449 with seven steals in his last 24 games entering Thursday, while Blackmon has six steals and a .266/.314/.436 batting line over that stretch. Ross allowed three steals in the first three innings in his last start. KEY INJURIES

• OF Corey Dickerson is on the 15-day disabled list with a right rib fracture. He could returned later this month. • 1B Justin Morneau is on the 60-day disabled list with concussion symptoms. He is questionable to return this season. • RHP Kyle Kendrick could return to the rotation later this month. He is on the 15- dayDL with right shoulder inflammation.

Rea clan comes out in force for prospect's debut By Beth Maiman / MLB.com | August 13th, 2015 SAN DIEGO -- It's not a simple trip to get to Petco Park from Cascade, Iowa.

First, you have to make a three-hour car ride just to get to Chicago before you hop on a four-hour flight to San Diego. But that's the journey more than 70 people made to watch pitcher Colin Rea beat the Reds, 11-6, in his Major League debut on Tuesday.

Rea's parents, siblings, friends and his former host family in Lake Elsinore, Calif., were all there to watch the Padres' No. 2-ranked prospect take the mound. The ages ranged from 3 months old to a vibrant 82.

They were spread across Sections 115 and 111, some wearing brand-new No. 29 Rea jerseys. As it turned out, the Padres' team store at Petco could only make so many, running out of the letters R, E and A.

"It's crazy to think all of us had that moment -- our first big league game," said Padres pitcher Tyson Ross, who in June watched his younger brother, Joe, make his big league debut for the Nationals in Washington.

"It takes a village to raise you, so it's pretty cool when you have that many people pulling for you. To have 75 people physically here at Petco or even just tuning in, it's pretty cool."

Before the game even started, the Rea crew already faced a challenge. It wasn't someone being too nervous (although Rea's mother, Bridget, and his wife, Megan, may have been the exception) or a member of the party getting lost in a new city.

The issue was taking the group photo, which required an usher of their section to call in extra help. After about 10 minutes of organization, the photo was eventually snapped.

As Rea ran out on the field for the first time, the Rea faithful let out a big cheer. The pitcher turned around and gave his support system a wave, then went back to focusing on the task ahead.

"It doesn't seem real," younger sister Claire said as she watched her brother playing catch.

Right before the game started, Claire checked her phone. She had a text from a friend in Ireland trying to watch the game at 3 a.m. their time, and she opened Snapchats from people back home in Cascade, just 20 miles south from the "Field of Dreams" movie set.

In Cascade, the main street of the town has a sign that reads "Home of Red Faber," for the Hall of Fame pitcher.

"People are now saying it should say 'Home of Red Faber and Colin Rea,'" Claire said.

"I don't know if we're to that point yet," a humble Rea said a day after his debut.

Back home, the four restaurants in the 2,207-person town were packed, and the bar in the next town over was standing-room only.

The shed located on the Rea family farm is the usual spot where they watch Colin's games. It's the same shed where Rea would practice pitching at a target "X" on the wall.

On Tuesday night, Petco Park had to do.

As Rea's name was announced as the starting pitcher and his face appeared on the big screen, cheers erupted from Section 115.

"Home-field advantage," older brother Calvin joked. "It's just like he is playing at our home diamond."

Except there were 26,588 in the ballpark on Tuesday.

Rea allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base, but he recovered with a double play.

In addition to throwing five innings of three-hit ball while fanning four, the 25-year-old recorded his first big league hit his first time up -- a single to left field in the second inning.

As the game went on, the energy did not die. The Rea clan continued to cheer, whether it was a simple strike by Rea or a two-run homer by Jedd Gyorko. By the end of four innings, the family's spirit was infectious, as random fans in the crowd would scream, "We love Colin."

"Something like this just doesn't happen in our small town," a family friend said.

Spangenberg close to returning But where will he play? By Bill Center / San Diego Padres | August 13th, 2015

Infielder Cory Spangenberg says he is ready to rejoin the Padres.

"He says he feels fine," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday. "He says the knee is ready. He stole a base. He's running."

Spangenberg has been on the Padres' disabled list since June 28, the day after he bruised a bone in his left knee during a collision at second while turning a double play.

At the time of his injury, the 24-year-old left-handed hitter was coming into his own. He was hitting .254 with eight doubles, two triples and two homers with 11 RBIs in 177 at-bats. He had seven steals and a .304 on-base percentage.

He was also seeing some time at the top of the Padres' order as the leadoff hitter, and there were plans to use Spangenberg more in that role. Spangenberg has spent eight games on his rehab assignment thus far -- six at Double-A San Antonio and two with Triple-A El Paso. Overall, he is 7-for-35 on his rehab with a triple, two steals, two RBIs and two runs scored.

While at San Antonio, Spangenberg hit in the leadoff spot. But at El Paso, he has hit second in the order behind center fielder Travis Jankowski, who is being groomed as the potential leadoff hitter of the Padres' future.

In the field, Spangenberg has played second and third, with one start at shortstop at San Antonio as a way of giving Benji Gonzalez, the Missions' only shortstop, a day off.

"He told me his swing is close," Murphy said of a conversation he had with Spangenberg several days ago. The question now is where does Spangenberg play when the Padres activate him? Two of their hottest hitters recently are third baseman Yangervis Solarte and second baseman Jedd Gyorko.

Since the day Spangenberg was injured, Solarte has hit .308 (44-for-143) with 10 doubles, three triples and five homers for 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored. He has a .361 on-base percentage during Spangenberg's absence, with a .524 slugging percentage for a .885 OPS. He has started 35 of the past 38 games at third base.

Gyorko returned to the Major Leagues from El Paso on the same day Spangenberg was placed on the DL. He has hit .254 in Spangenberg's absence, with three doubles, five home runs, 17 RBIs and seven runs scored. And Gyorko has been hotter recently, going 18-for-57 (.316) over his last 14 games with two home runs and 10 RBIs.

From the scorecard • Catcher Derek Norris doubled in the first inning Wednesday afternoon. It was his 22nd double as a catcher this season, the most by a catcher in the Major Leagues in 2015. He has a total of 24 doubles on the season, but only four since June 26. He is hitting .349 (15-for-43) with three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs over his last 12 games.

• Right fielder Matt Kemp's three-run homer Wednesday gave him 12 homers and 63 RBIs on the season. That puts him on a pace for 17 homers and 89 RBIs. Since June 25, Kemp has hit .287 (43-for-150) with eight doubles, eight homers and 27 RBIs. Kemp is hitting .328 (21-for-64) with runners in scoring position since May 24.

• Right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley has allowed one run on nine hits and two walks with 21 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings (0.54 ERA) over his last 15 appearances since June 30.

• Right-handed starter James Shields is 1-5 since starting the season 7-0, and the Padres are 2-10 in the last 12 games started by Shields. The righty has a 4.20 ERA over those 12 starts.

Kelich, Herrera turn in strong starts on the farm

20-year-old right-hander leads Double-A San Antonio to 8-1 win

By Bill Center / San Diego Padres | August 13th, 2015

Right-handed starter Pete Kelich and three relievers combined for a four-hit shutout for Class A Fort Wayne on Wednesday night, and 20-year-old right-hander Ronald Herrera allowed one run on four hits over eight innings for Double-A San Antonio.

Herrera, a native of Venezuela, is 2-0 with a 5.32 ERA in four starts with the Missions since being promoted from Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore. He issued two walks and struck out eight in the Missions (51-65) 8-1 win at Northwest Arkansas.

Right-hander Cody Hebner (2.08 ERA) allowed a walk with a strikeout in a hitless ninth to close out the win.

Left fielder Yeison Asencio (.306), the hottest hitter in the Padres' farm system, was 3-for-5 for San Antonio with two RBIs and a run scored. Asencio is hitting .500 (22-for-44) over the last 10 games with 12 RBIs.

At Fort Wayne, Kelich, who was transferred to the TinCaps earlier this week from a rehab assignment with the Arizona Rookie Padres, allowed three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in five innings in his first start of the season in Fort Wayne.

Left-hander Taylor Cox (4.01) followed Kelich and allowed a hit and a walk in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Right-hander T.J. Weir (3.55) struck out one in a perfect 1 1/3 innings. Right-hander Yimmi Brasoban (2.40) struck out one in a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

Second baseman Josh Van Meter (.250) was 1-for-3 with walk and a run scored. Designated hitter Ruddy Giron (.298) was 1-for-4 with a RBI. Luis Urias (.336) was 0-for-4 at shortstop instead of second. It appears the TinCaps are going to rotate 18-year-olds Giron and Urias and Van Meter -- who has returned less than four months after suffering a broken leg -- between short, second and the designated-hitter slots.

The win was Fort Wayne's fourth straight overall and ninth straight at home.

There were three moves in the Padres' system Wednesday. Infielder Casey McElroy was transferred from Triple-A El Paso to San Antonio. And the Chihuahuas signed infielder Hector Gomez as a free agent and added catcher Tim Federowicz to their roster after he was outrighted by the Padres. Around the farm

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (60-57): Las Vegas 7, CHIHAUHUAS 1. Pinch-hitter Jake Goebbert homered in the ninth to break up a shutout. Starting LHP Jason Lane (8-8, 5.80 ERA) allowed four runs on four hits and a walk with four strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings.

CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (43-72): Bakersfield 8, STORM 3. DH Marcus Davis (.249) was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. RF Nick Torres (.303) had a double and triple in four at-bats with a RBI and two runs scored. RHP Rafael De Paula (4.85) allowed a walk with three strikeouts in two innings.

SHORT-SEASON CLASS A TRI-CITY (29-23): DUST DEVILS 4, Boise 3 (10 innings). CF Justin Pacchioli (.254) drove in the decisive run in the walk-off win and finished 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, a RBI and a run scored. Starting LHP Jose Castillo (3.18 ERA) allowed an unearned run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings.

ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (16-25): 1B Brad Zunica (.284) hit his fifth homer, a two-run shot, in three at-bats. RHP Joel Linares (3-3, 4.03) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts in five innings.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (28-35): PADRES 4, Orioles 1. 1B Leudy Molina (.242) was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. RF Jose Sotillo (.296) was 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. 3B Felix Suarez (.233) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Starting RHP Dari Lopez (2.76 ERA) gave up a hit and a walk with six strikeouts in three scoreless innings. RHP Juan Arias (3.22) issued a walk with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings for his fifth save.

Padres-Rockies Friday night preview KEVIN MASSOTH STATS, INC. AUG 14, 2015 at 11:46a ET

Tyson Ross is cemented among the list of pitchers with no luck at Coors Field.

Unlike others who have struggled in the hitter-friendly ballpark, Ross has pitched well but hasn't received much help from his own offense.

The San Diego Padres right-hander looks for some rare run support in Friday night's series opener with the Colorado Rockies.

Since joining the Padres (54-61) in 2013, Ross has an 0-4 record in four starts in Denver. Ross pitched to a 3.92 ERA in those four outings - much better than the MLB average of 5.22 since the start of the 2013 season - but his offense provided him with just three combined runs at the offense-friendly field. It's the fewest runs of support among the 27 pitchers who have made at least four starts at Coors since 2013.

Colorado's lineup hasn't quite been there for Ross this season, either. Ross (8-9, 3.39 ERA) has won all six starts that he received more than three runs, compared to a 2-9 mark at three runs or less.

His last two outings have seen both sides with a 13-5 win over Milwaukee on Aug. 3 and a 4-2 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. Ross started shaky in both, allowing two first-inning runs before settling down.

He retired the final 14 batters he faced against the Phillies.

"Sometimes you start off rough, sometimes you finish rough," said Ross to MLB's official website. "It's all about making adjustments, coming out the next inning and settling down and finding ways to get outs."

San Diego snapped a six-game losing streak with two home wins over Cincinnati to start the week, but they were denied a sweep with Wednesday's 7-3 loss. The Padres, who have

14 totaled 12 runs in their last five losses, have won seven of nine games against the Rockies this year.

Colorado (47-66) will look to Yohan Flande (2-1, 3.86) to snap its own four-game skid. Flande has jumped up and down from the minors throughout the last two seasons, and he spent stints in May and July out of the Rockies' bullpen.

He was inserted into Colorado's rotation in late July, though, and he has a 3.68 ERA three starts - all on the road. The left-hander picked up his first career win July 28 and then added another in an emergency extra-inning relief appearance on Aug. 5.

Due to that bullpen outing, Flande lasted just 4 2-3 innings on Sunday against Washington. He served up three home runs, surpassing the two he had surrendered over 28 innings in 10 previous outings this year.

"He's a strike-thrower - that's what he does," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "He sinks the ball and he's got a good changeup."

Flande went 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against San Diego in his 2014 rookie season.

Colorado left fielder Corey Dickerson has four hits in 11 at-bats against Ross in his career, including a home run and double.

Carlos Gonzalez, who is 1 for 7 with three strikeouts lifetime versus Ross, is mired in an 0-for- 12 slump. He is also 0 for 12 at home against the Padres this season, but is batting .412 with six homers and 14 RBIs in eight games at Coors since the All-Star break.