Padres Press Clips Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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Two five- frames lead Padres over D-backs MLB.com Bloom/Gilbert 2

Norris, Shields OK after injury scares MLB.com Bloom 4

Cashner nominated for Roberto Clemente Award MLB.com Bloom 6

Padres promote four players to big leagues MLB.com Bloom 7

Ross hopes to shut down D-backs in the desert MLB.com Bloom 9

Padres searching for silver linings Padres.com Center 10

Decker’s big-league dream finally a reality UT San Diego Lin 12

Padres recall Kelly, Erlin; select Jackson UT San Diego Lin 15

Friar talk: joins 200k club UT San Diego Sanders 18

Myers’ homer kicks off Padres’ 10-3 rout over D-backs Associated Press AP 19

Padres promote infield prospect Cody Decker, also add 3 Associated Press AP 21

Padres offense reappears in Arizona NBCSanDiego.com Rosehart 22

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\Two five-run frames lead Padres over D-backs By Barry M. Bloom and Steve Gilbert / MLB.com | 3:15 AM ET PHOENIX -- The Padres scored five runs in the first and never looked back as they walloped the D-backs, 10-3, on Monday night in the opening game of a three-game set at Chase Field.

Wil Myers opened the game with a as the Padres sent nine men to the plate against , who was pitching for the first time after a month-long stint on the disabled list.

"Wil's just getting his timing back," said Padres Pat Murphy about the who just returned from wrist surgery. "It's pretty cool to with a homer and then come back and get that big double." The Padres put the game away in the fifth when they once again sent nine men to the plate and scored five runs. Myers, who finished with four RBIs, capped the inning with a three-run double that put the Padres up, 10-1, and made a winner of James Shields (12-6).

"They're embarrassed by the performance as a team and as a group and I'm sure they'll bounce back," D- backs manager Chip Hale said. "We always have."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED A more than Wil-ing start: Myers opened the game with a homer on the the fifth pitch thrown by Hellickson. It was the second leadoff homer for Myers of the season and second of his career. In the fifth, he added a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double. The four RBIs tied a career high, but it was the first time he's done that as a Padre.

Rough start: The D-backs were hoping that Hellickson would pick up where he left off before his stint on the DL when he allowed just one earned run over 13 1/3 , but he barely survived the first and did not come back out for the second.

"He threw a lot of pitches in the first inning," Hale said. "I felt like that was about all he had. Just not a good night for him."

Norris nicked: Padres Derek Norris took a ball foul tipped by off his bare right hand and had to leave the game. Replays showed that the ball deflected off the edge of Norris' glove before it clipped his hand. Norris suffered a bruised hand.

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"How's my hand? It's been better. We'll see how it feels tomorrow," Norris said after an initial X- ray of the area proved to be negative. "They had a pretty clear view of it and right now it appears to be fine." More >

UPON FURTHER REVIEW The D-backs came out on top in challenges on back-to-back plays in the fourth inning. First, Padres was called out when he attempted to steal second. Murphy challenged the call, but upon replay review, it was confirmed.

Shields followed with a grounder to third and initially it was ruled that Jake Lamb's throw to first pulled Goldschmidt off the bag. The D-backs challenged the call and upon review it was determined that Goldschmidt did indeed touch first before Shields, so the call was overturned.

WHAT'S NEXT Padres: San Diego will play the second game of the three-game series at Chase Field at 6:40 p.m. PT. (10-10, 3.24) makes his 31st start of the season.

D-backs: Jhoulys Chacin will get the start for the D-backs on Tuesday night in a 6:40 p.m. MST start. This will be Chacin's third start for the D-backs this year after being signed as a Minor League free agent in June.

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Norris, Shields OK after injury scares By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 2:55 AM ET

PHOENIX -- The Padres seemed to have ducked what could have been a couple of serious injuries on Monday in their 10-3 win over the D-backs at Chase Field.

Catcher Derek Norris had to leave in the fifth inning when a foul tip off the bat ofPaul Goldschmidt deflected off the side of his mitt and caught him on the back of the right hand. X- rays were negative and the club is calling it a bone bruise.

Two innings later, James Shields took a grounder hit by Brandon Drury off his right forearm. He made the play and then remained in the game to get the final out of the inning.

Shields said he's no worse for the wear.

"I mean, [when you get hit] it stings pretty good right away," said Shields, who allowed only four hits and a run in seven frames, walking two and striking out six as he registered his 12th win. "My first instinct is to go get the out. I've been hit quite a bit in my career. As long as they don't hit me in my head I'm going to be all right."

Norris' hand might be a little more serious. He left the clubhouse wearing a bandage around it and said he was planning to see a hand specialist on Tuesday "just to rule everything out."

"They're still looking at it," Norris said. "There are some areas of concern they're going to look at with the hand specialist that's here. So we'll wait to hear from them, but as of now it's looking like it's good news."

Asked to be more specific about the "areas of concern," Norris added: "Exactly where I got hit is not necessarily where I'm feeling the most pain. So they're going to go back and take a good glance at it, at some of the bones in lower part of the hand. Sometimes when you get hit your hand will extend downward. So they just want to take another look." Shields and Norris have been two of the stalwarts of the team this season. Norris has played in 132 games and Shields has made 31 starts. Padres manager Pat Murphy said will catch on Tuesday night, but that was the plan all along. Hedges usually is paired with Tyson Ross, who's slated to start.

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Shields would have come out of the game anyway after seven because he had thrown 101 pitches. With the six , Shields reached the 200 plateau for the third time in his career. His 73 walks are third in the Majors and his 29 homers ties him for second. Ross leads the Majors with 76 walks.

More importantly to Shields, at 189 1/3 innings he is nearing the 200 mark for the ninth season in a row.

"The strikeouts mean something to me, but not really, I'm more of an innings guy," Shields said. "I like the 200 innings every year. I feel like if you go deep into games and throw a lot of innings, your strikeouts are going to be there."

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Cashner nominated for Roberto Clemente Award By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | September 14th, 2015 PHOENIX -- announced on Monday that Andrew Cashnerwas named the Padres' 2015 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet.

Wednesday marks the 14th annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by MLB to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially recognize club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award.

Cashner is one of the 30 finalists for the annual award, which recognizes a Major League player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.

The Roberto Clemente Award pays tribute to Clemente's achievements and character by recognizing current players who truly understand the value of helping others.

Cashner intimately understands the challenges families face when one member is battling a health condition. Earlier this year, Cashner's mother, Jane, began fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Her diagnosis came shortly after she celebrated the 10-year anniversary of surviving breast cancer.

In the midst of their mother's fight, Cashner and his sister, Aimee Christensen, created the Cashner Family Foundation, with a mission of bringing hope and joy to children battling various medical conditions.

The foundation's mission is to provide funding to hospitals for activities and adventures that will entertain and encourage children in need. It is through this entertainment that Cashner hopes kids will gain the perseverance and hope needed to endure their most difficult times.

"Andrew has always been supportive of the club's community programs, especially when it comes to recognition of our military and first responders," said Padres Executive Chairman . "This year, it has been especially meaningful to watch him take his own personal experience from a family hardship, and channel it into a program that benefits local kids who are dealing with medical difficulties. We are proud to have him as part of the Padres organization."

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Padres promote four players to big leagues Decker, Jackson, Kelly and Erlin join the club on Monday By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 3:24 AM ET PHOENIX -- Cody Decker and pitchers Jay Jackson, Casey Kelly and were called up by the Padres from the Minor Leagues on Monday.

Kelly and Erlin will make at least a start each during the season's final three weeks, but the promotions were really special for Jackson and Decker.

Decker, a 22nd round pick by the Padres in the 2009 MLB Draft, has played 761 games in the Minors for six teams. Jackson, signed as a Minor League free agent this past offseason, has pitched in 238 games for 11 teams at the lower levels. In his first career at-bat in Monday's 10-3 win, Decker popped out to the first baseman.

"It feels amazing, I can't even put it into words," Jackson said.

"How do I feel? Better than I did yesterday and I felt pretty good yesterday," said Decker, who was at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday when he received the call he was being promoted. "I was standing at baggage claim and I thought it was a joke, somebody pranking me. I thought was behind it."

Kelly missed the 2013-14 seasons recovering from surgery. He made six starts in 2012 for the Padres prior to the injury and was 2-3 with a 6.21 ERA and 26 strikeouts across 29 innings. This season, at two Minor League levels, he was 2-10 with a 5.16 ERA in 31 appearances, 17 of them starts. "It's definitely been a successful year being completely healthy and making every start," said Kelly, who is the remaining vestige of the trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez to Boston on Dec. 6, 2010. "That was the biggest thing coming out of ."

Erlin had a left elbow injury with the Padres in 2014 that didn't need surgery, but caused him to miss three months. He's been in the Minors ever since. He was 7-6 with a 5.60 ERA in 24 starts for Triple-A El Paso this season.

"I'm just happy to be back and hope to make the most of the experience and the time here," said Erlin, who was 7-8 with a 4.58 ERA in 24 appearances (20 starts) for the Padres in 2013 and '14.

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Jackson will work out of the . With Colin Rea suffering a sore right elbow and being replaced for his assigned start on Sunday at San Francisco, the Padres definitely have room in the rotation for both Kelly and Erlin. In his big league debut on Monday, Jackson allowed two runs on four hits and he tallied his first big league .

Padres manager Pat Murphy said both pitchers have already been "penciled in," but the rotation is not set in stone as of yet. Rea will rest for the remainder of the season.

"Hopefully, we dodged [a serious injury], but it's something we're going to be conservative with," said assistant general manager Josh Stein. "It's not something he was feeling when he was pitching. But considering where we are and where he's at, we just want to get him into the offseason feeling healthy." The Padres had to move Jackson and Decker onto the the 40-man roster, but had only one open spot. They made room by moving Yonder Alonso to the 60-day disabled list. Alonso is out for the remainder of the season with a stress reaction in his lower back and needs at least four weeks of rest, Stein said.

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Ross hopes to shut down D-backs in the desert By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | September 14th, 2015 Jhoulys Chacin is making his third start for the D-backs on Tuesday night at Chase Field and will be facing the Padres' Tyson Ross.

It's been a tough season for both right-handers. Chacin was released by both the Rockies and the Indians this year, signing with the D-backs as a Minor League free agent on June 19. Chacin was 6-3 with a 3.22 ERA in 13 starts for Triple-A Reno and is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA for the D-backs.

Ross has had control problems all season and has walked 76 batters in 178 innings, tied with the Indians' Trevor Bauer for the Major League lead. Ross has 185 strikeouts and a 1.31 WHIP. Things to know about this game

• With the callups on Monday of infielder Cody Decker and pitchers Jay Jackson, Casey Kelly and Robbie Erlin, the Padres now have 35 players on the active roster. Yonder Alonso (lower back injury) has been moved to the 60-day disabled list. Colin Rea (sore right elbow) is not expected to pitch again this season.

• D-backs lead the National League in homers with 25. On the current roster, Welington Castillo has 17 and Jarrod Saltalmacchia has six playing for Arizona this season.

• With his double in the first inning on Monday night, Paul Goldschmidt became the second player in D- backs history to record multiple 100-RBI seasons. Luis Gonzalez is the other. Goldschmidt did it for the first time with 125 RBIs in 2013. Gonzo did it five times in successive seasons from 1999-2003.

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Padres searching for silver linings Kemp's 31-game on-base streak longest since Klesko's record run By Bill Center / | September 14th, 2015

It is difficult to find anything positive over the way the Padres have played the past 10 days, particularly the past weekend in San Francisco, but they're looking for bright spots as the season winds down.

During the Giants' three-game sweep of the Padres, San Francisco outscored San Diego, 27-4, and outhit the Padres, 35-10. And remember, the Giants, as the home team, had three fewer innings on offense in the 9-1, 8-0 and 10-3 routs.

Over the course of the three games, Giants pitchers had as many RBIs as the entire Padres offense. There was also the near- by Giants Madison Bumgarner on Saturday night, the only blemish in the bid being Melvin Upton Jr.'s two-out single in the eighth.

Entering Monday, the Padres had lost four in a row and eight of their past 10 games to fall 10 games below .500 for the second time this season. Only two starting pitchers have completed seven innings in the past 11 games, and one of those, rookie right-hander Colin Rea, has made his last start of the season due to elbow and forearm soreness.

The of the three San Diego starting pitchers in San Francisco was 11.37. They allowed 16 runs on 21 hits and nine walks in just 12 2/3 innings. The Padres have had only three quality starts over their last 10 games, the best being the seven scoreless innings Rea worked against the Rockies. The ERA for Padres starters over the last 10 games is 5.60.

And San Diego's overworked bullpen has fared little better. Including a spot start Sunday, long reliever Odrisamer Despaigne has given up multiple runs in six of his past seven outings -- a total of 19 runs on 26 hits in 12 innings for an ERA of 14.25. With Brandon Maurer and Shawn Kelley both sidelined with injuries, the setup duties in front of the end-of-game tandem of Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrelhave fallen to Bud Norris, Nick Vincent and Kevin Quackenbush.

The silver lining is hard to find.

FROM THE SCORECARD:

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• Matt Kemp's on-base streak ended at 31 games during Bumgarner's near-perfect effort Saturday night. Kemp was also unable to reach base Sunday. That marked the first time since July 26-28 that Kemp didn't reach base in consecutive starts and only the third time since the end of June. Kemp's streak was the longest since Ryan Klesko reached base in a franchise-record 56 straight games during the 2002 season. The Major League record for reaching base in consecutive games is 84, set by San Diego native Ted Williams in 1949. Kemp had hitting streaks of 15, five and nine straight games during the streak.

• Vincent has allowed only one unearned run during his last two tours with the Padres, allowing six hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in nine innings since June 14. • Brett Wallace started at first Sunday and had a run-scoring double in four at-bats. Since joining the Padres on June 19, Wallace is .329 with four homers and 15 RBIs in just 70 at-bats. He is batting .359 (14-for-39) as a pinch-hitter with three homers and 11 RBIs.

• After Upton Jr. broke up Bumgarner's perfect-game bid with a pinch-hit single with two out in the eighth Saturday night, he singled in two at-bats Sunday to raise his average to .244 -- its second-highest mark of the season.

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Decker's big-league dream finally a reality Newly promoted infielder: "It's something I've looked forward to my entire life" By Dennis Lin | 8:43 p.m. Sept. 14, 2015 | Updated, 11:04 p.m. PHOENIX — The Padres' 10-3 romp over the on Monday was a lopsided footnote this time of year, a September matchup featuring a pair of clubs already glancing ahead to 2016, the fourth-place team whipping the third-place team in front of 15,951 at Chase Field. For Cody Decker, it was the highlight of all highlights.

"This," the 28-year-old said before the game, "is the most surreal 24 hours of my entire life. It's something I've looked foward to my entire life. You get to a point where you almost start questioning if this was going to happen, and I had many of those questions. And now I'm here."

Standing at Los Angeles International Aiport baggage claim on Sunday, his final season with Triple-A El Paso having ended the night before, Decker was coming to grips with what he thought was reality. He was headed home.

Monday afternoon, in the visiting dugout at Chase Field, Decker was struggling to describe the best surprise imaginable. After 2,929 plate appearances spread across seven professional seasons, the first six of which ended without a call-up, his big- league dream had become reality. Really.

It was only a day earlier that Decker, while he waited for his bags at LAX, received a phone call from Padres farm director Sam Geaney, who informed the infielder that he was getting the call. "This is all I know; these are the people I wanted to be around, the team I wanted to play for," Decker said. "I'm borderline speechless, as close to speechless as I can get."

One of the most colorful characters in - a well-followed account (@Decker6) provides daily snapshots - Decker had flown from El Paso to Los Angeles on Sunday not knowing the next step in his baseball career. Off the field, he was looking forward to the trivia show he hosts in the offseason in his hometown of

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Santa Monica, with plans for another location in Westwood, near where he played collegiately.

The Padres drafted Decker out of UCLA in the 22nd round in 2009. Since then, he had hit a modest .265 while launching 154 home runs, a Padres minor league record.

He had played every position except second base, , center field and right field. He had been passed over three times in the , most recently last December. Evaluators both near and far had called him a "four-A" player, a label Decker has scoffed at while injecting trademark humor.

"The reason why that's ridiculous is I'd never been in the big leagues, so I could never be four-A," Decker said. "Nice try trying to insult me, but your insult is actually higher than what I was, because I'd only been in Triple-A. So now, officially, I can be a four-A player."

A chance, that's all Decker wanted, not just these last seven seasons but going as far back as a quarter-century, when he wore a toddler-sized baseball uniform to bed. The Padres finally gave it to him Monday, adding him to their 40-man roster for the first time, reuniting him with interim manager and former El Paso skipper Pat Murphy.

"It's a great story, man. It gives you chills," Murphy said. "It's a great statement for the Padres to reward minor league success."

Said Padres assistant general manager Josh Stein: "In large part, we called Cody up because we felt like he could help us win a major league game as a bat off the bench. He was going to be a minor league free agent, so this was our last opportunity, before he would hit free agency, to call him up to the big leagues. But really, he's earned it with what he's done, his consistency throughout the course of his career."

So for now, Decker's offseason plans - the trivia show, part-time acting (he's already made a cameo on since-canceled NBC thriller "State of Affairs") and daily workouts - are on hold. He is only too happy, a kid again.

"I loved baseball more than anything," he said. "Still do. This is unbelievable."

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With two outs in the top of the ninth, Decker made his way to the plate, pinch-hitting for former El Paso teammate Austin Hedges. On a 2-1 count, he popped out to first.

As for the rest of Monday's game, it opened with drilling his second home run since his return from the disabled list. The Padres, who were held to four runs in their previous series at San Francisco, finished the inning with five.

They did the same in the fifth, with Myers' bases-clearing double giving him four RBIs, tying a career high. Cory Spangenberg also finished 2-for-4, with three RBIs.

Padres catcher Derek Norris left in the bottom of that inning with a bruised right hand, the product of a foul tip. He was replaced behind the plate by Hedges. X-rays on Norris' hand were negative.

Norris will be re-examined by a hand specialist in Phoenix on Tuesday. Hedges already was scheduled to catch right-hander Tyson Ross in the second game of the series.

"We'll wait to hear back from that, but as of right now, it's looking like good news," Norris said. "We're just going to look and completely rule everything out."

Padres right-hander James Shields suffered a noticeable bruise of his own, taking a comebacker off his throwing forearm in the seventh. He remained in the game to complete the inning.

"We had a doctor check it out. It's all good," said Shields, who said he would be able to make his next start.

Shields, who allowed one run on four hits and two walks, recorded six strikeouts to run his season total to 200. He is the fifth Padres pitcher to reach that milestone.

Like Decker, another Padres call-up, Jay Jackson, made his major league debut in the ninth. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits before Marcos Mateo came on to get the final out.

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Padres recall Kelly, Erlin; select Jackson Yonder Alonso moved to 60-day DL, meaning first baseman's season is over By Dennis Lin | 3:10 p.m. Sept. 14, 2015 | Updated, 6:18 p.m. PHOENIX — In addition to officially promoting infielder Cody Decker on Monday, the Padres recalled right-hander Casey Kelly and left-hander Robbie Erlin and selected the contract of righty Jay Jackson. To make room on the 40-man roster for Jackson, first baseman Yonder Alonso was placed on the 60-day disabled list, effectively ending his season - and perhaps his time with the Padres. All four of Monday's call-ups had just finished their minor league seasons with El Paso on Saturday. For Decker and Jackson, this is their first big-league call-up. Erlin is returning to the majors after spending much of last season with the Padres, while Kelly, who underwent Tommy John surgery more than two years ago, is back for the first time since 2012.

Both Kelly and Erlin are both expected to make starts before season's end. Jackson will pitch in relief.

Kelly, 25, recorded a 5.16 ERA this season in 31 games (17 starts) between Double-A San Antonio and El Paso. He made his major league debut as a well-regarded prospect in 2012, but he underwent Tommy John surgery the following April, and his rehab was interrupted last year by elbow discomfort.

"I don't think I ever took a game for granted before, but you appreciate it a lot more being healthy, not having to sit on the bench or be rehabbing," Kelly said. "I've been healthy; I can't ask for anything more. I'm definitely excited to come up here and compete and see what happens."

Erlin, 24, had a 5.60 ERA in 24 starts with El Paso. Last season with the Padres, he posted a 4.99 ERA in 13 appearances, including 11 starts, but he was edged out early in this past spring's competition for the fifth-starter job.

"Robbie's dealt with some injuries the last few years," Padres assistant general manager Josh Stein said. "He came back and didn't have the greatest first half of the

15 season, but he stuck with it, pitched a lot better down the stretch, and I think he's put himself back on the map."

At 27, Jackson put together arguably his best season as a professional, recording a 2.42 ERA in 54 games between San Antonio and El Paso. Originally drafted as a starter by the Cubs in 2008, he made a successful transition to full-time relief work this season.

"I wasn't really worried about it," Jackson said of the possibility of a promotion. "I was just worried about perfecting what I was doing, especially this being my first time being a full bullpen guy. Just getting through the year healthy was the main thing, just seeing how my body transitioned from being a starter to being in the bullpen. It kind of all just happened."

Alonso, whose DL stint is retroactive to Sept. 2, was diagnosed with a stress reaction in a bone in his lower back last week. Stein said Alonso will need at least four weeks of rest to allow the injury to heal.

Monday's move means the 28-year-old, who becomes arbitrartion-eligible in 2016, has had three consecutive seasons ended prematurely by injury. This year, he hit .282 with a .361 on-base percentage, both team highs, but he also had just five home runs in 103 games. With Wil Myers an option at first, Alonso could be a non-tender candidate this winter.

Roberto Clemente nominee

Right-hander was named the Padres' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which annually recognizes a major league player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field.

Cashner's mother, Jane, has been fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and Cashner and his sister, Aimee Christensen, created the Cashner Family Foundation, with a mission of bringing hope and joy to children battling various medical conditions. Cashner hosts patients and their families from Rady Children's Hopstial in his personal suite at Petco Park during every homestand.

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Additionally, the pitcher is involved in the Padres' outreach to military and first responders.

Notable

• Right-hander Shawn Kelley on Monday threw his first bullpen session since he suffered a forearm strain Sept. 1. • Monday marked what would have been the 91st birthday of late Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman.

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Friar talk: James Shields joins 200K club The latest Padres news, notes and links By Jeff Sanders | 5 a.m. Sept. 15, 2015 In a 10-3 rout of the Diamondbacks on Monday, the Padres' career minor league home run leader popped out in a long-awaited MLB debut as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. By then, Cody Decker's new teammates were well on the way to snapping a four-game skid. Wil Myers led the game off with a his second homer since returning from the disabled list as the Padres, fresh off scoring four runs in three games in San Francisco, pounced on Arizona with a five-run first.

Both catcher Derek Norris and right-hander James Shields appeared to avoid major injury during two impact plays, the latter staying in the game after a comebacker in the seventh to push his strikeout total past 200.

Shields is the fifth pitcher to join that club: Kevin Brown (257 in 1998), (240 in 2007, 216 in 2005, 215 in 2006), (231 in 1971) and Ian Kennedy (207 in 2014).

This is the seventh time Shields has reached that milestone.

AROUND THE WATER COOLER

• Earlier this month, U-T beat writer Dennis Lin laid out precisely what's at stake if the Padres extend Kennedy a qualifying offer. On Monday, ESPN's Buster Olney(subscription required) explained why the Padres should pass: "But some rival evaluators say they'd be very reluctant to give up a draft pick to sign Kennedy during the offseason and believe he might be best served taking the qualifying offer. For the Padres, a team that owes about $65 million next season to the quartet of Matt Kemp, Craig Kimbrel, James Shields and Melvin Upton Jr., that's probably a frightening thought." • In addition to recalling Decker, the Padres added pitchers Robbie Erlin, Casey Kelly and Jay Jackson to the active roster following Triple-A El Paso's playoff ouster. Erlin and Kelly figure to get starts. Also from the Union-Tribune's Padres notes: Andrew Cashner is the team's Roberto Clemente Award nominee and Shawn Kelley threw his first bullpen. • Rain poured through the roof Monday night at Chase Field. 18

Myers' homer kicks off Padres' 10-3 rout over D-backs Associated Press PHOENIX -- Even an indoor rain storm was not enough to distract James Shields and the San Diego Padres.

Shields pitched seven strong innings, eclipsed 200 strikeouts for the third time in his career and kept his focus when rained poured through the Chase Field roof into the stands, leading to the Padres to a 10-3 rout over the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night.

"He'll compete no matter what the score is," Padres manager Pat Murphy said. "He won't give into hitters. That's what makes him so effective."

Wil Myers hit a leadoff homer in San Diego's five-run first inning offJeremy Hellickson (9-9) and added a three-run double in the fifth, another five-run inning.

Cody Spangenberg had three RBI and the Padres had 11 hits after scoring four combined runs in a three-game sweep by San Francisco.

That was more than enough for Shields (12-6). The right-hander allowed a run on four hits and struck out six to become the fifth Padres' pitcher to eclipse 200 strikeouts.

Shields pitched without noticing the rain in the stands behind the plate in the first inning and stayed in after being struck on the right forearm in the seventh.

"I feel like if you go deep in a game and throw a lot of innings, your strikeouts are going to be there," said Shields, who also struck out 200 in 2011 and 2012 with Tampa Bay. "I've never really been a strikeout guy in my career, but it's always nice to get 200."

The Diamondbacks were shell-shocked from the moment Myers hit Hellickson's 3-1 pitch out for a leadoff homer. Arizona had two errors in San Diego's five-run first and never recovered.

Paul Goldschmidt had one of Arizona's few bright spots, hitting a run-scoring double in the first inning to join Luis Gonzalez (2011-12) as the only players in team history with multiple 100-RBI seasons. Goldschmidt had 125 in 2013.

"The understand. They are embarrassed by the performance as a team, as a group, but I am sure they will bounce back," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "We always have so I am not concerned about that."

Hellickson's return from the DL because of a left hamstring strain could not have gotten off to a worse start. 19

After Myers' homer on a 3-1 pitch, San Diego loaded the bases on two walks and an error by Jake Lamb. Jedd Gyorko hit a , then Spangenberg and Derek Norris each had run-scoring singles. Another run came in when Hellickson threw into center field trying to get after he left first base early.

Hellickson lasted one inning after giving up five runs -- three earned -- and three hits.

"I feel that I haven't been on the mound my whole life," said Hellickson, who allowed a run in 13 1/3 innings before going on the disabled list. "It felt really weird out there. I've got to make an adjustment early and try to keep us in the game. Putting up a five spot before we even get a chance to bat is by far my worse inning of my career."

The rain came after that.

A strong thunderstorm moved through downtown Phoenix and a section of about 100 seats got soaked as rain poured through Chase Field's closed roof. The fans behind the plate had to move, but it didn't affect the game before tapering off the next inning.

Shields pitched well with the comfortable lead and through the rain, giving up two hits after the first inning.

Spangenberg added a two-run double in the fifth inning and Myers followed with a three-run double to put the Padres up 10-1.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Tyson Ross, Tuesday's pitcher against Arizona, allowed three home runs in his last start against Colorado. He went 16 starts earlier in the season without giving up one. Diamondbacks: RHP Jhoulys Chacin is 5-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 12 career games against San Diego heading into Tuesday's game. TRAINER's ROOM

Padres: Norris had to leave the game in the fifth inning after a foul ball Paul Goldschmidt hit him on the right hand. He was replaced by Austin Hedges. ... 1B Yonder Alonso was moved to the 60-day disabled list with a stress reaction to a bone in his lower back, ending his season.

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Padres promote infield prospect Cody Decker, also add 3 pitchers Associated Press

PHOENIX -- The San Diego Padres have purchased the contract of slugging infielder Cody Decker and recalled right-hander Casey Kelly and left-hander Robbie Erlin from Triple-A El Paso.

San Diego also placed infielder Yonder Alonso on the 60-day disabled list with a lower-back strain and purchased the contract of right-hander Jay Jackson.

The 28-year-old Decker has 154 career homers since being drafted in the 22nd round of the 2009 draft, most of any major-league-affiliated minor leaguer in that span.

Erlin has appeared in 24 career games with the Padres, most recently last September, going 7-8 with a 4.58 ERA.

Kelly appeared in six games in the majors before having Tommy John surgery in 2013. Jackson will be making his first appearance in the majors.

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Padres Offense Reappears in Arizona San Diego Cranks out 10 Runs vs D'Backs By Ben Rosehart

The Padres built a 5-0 lead before James Shields even took the mound at Chase Field. Wil Myers led off the game with a home run and the Friars never looked back after that one swing.

If only it was that easy every night.

The Padres scraped together a couple more runs before Cory Spangenberg did a Little League throwback by taking off for 2nd base with runners on the corners. An errant pickoff throw by Jeremy Hellickson bounced into centerfield allowing Justin Upton to scoot home and Spangenberg to cruise over to 3rd.

Derek Norris then plated Spangenberg with an RBI single and the rout was on. The offense took the pressure off Shields who earned his 12th victory of the year. Shields struck out 6 Diamondbacks in 7 full innings of work. He only allowed 1 earned run on 4 hits and improved to 12-8.

It’s hard to digest how the Friars only managed 4 runs in their entire 3-game series against the Giants and then somehow burst out of the dugout for 5 runs right away in Arizona.

These two squads look destined to battle for 3rd place in the NL West as the Dodgers won again Monday night and are running away with the division.

Tyson Ross opposes Jhoulys Chacin Tuesday evening at 6:40pm PT.

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