Padres Press Clips Sunday, July 26, 2015

Home , Brandon Maurer, Brandon Morrow, Clint Barmes, Derek Dietrich, Doubleday Field, Franchy Cordero

Article Source Author Page

Kennedy shows value in beating Marlins UT San Diego Lin 2

Nothing imminent between Padres, Mets UT San Diego Lin 6

Morrow makes rehab start with El Paso UT San Diego Lin 8

Enberg’s Hall entry was long overdue UT San Diego Canepa 9

Minors: Morrow allows 2 runs in rehab game UT San Diego Cowart 12

Q&A: Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso UT San Diego Tuscano 14

Three Padres drive in runs to beat Marlins MLB.com Frisaro/Maiman 16

Exacting Enberg accepts Frick honor at Hall MLB.com Noble 18

Maurer comes through big in crucial situation MLB.com Maiman 21

Hedges gaining confidence at big league level MLB.com Maiman 23

Despaigne seeks change of fortune in finale MLB.com Frisaro 25

Kemp has 11 extra-base hits in last 12 games Padres.com Center 26

Renfroe, Jankowski, Rea have big nights on the farm Padres.com Center 28

Padres have a winning homestand NBCSanDiego.com Togerson 30

Marlins unable to mount rally against Padres Associated Press AP 31

Kennedy shows value in beating Marlins In 3-1 victory, Padres right-hander throws six innings of one-run ball By Dennis Lin | 8:31 p.m. July 25, 2015 | Updated, 9:46 p.m. After Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Marlins, the Padres will try to win the four-game series outright Sunday at Petco Park.

Then they'll fly across the country and spend Monday's off-day in New York. A three- game series against the Mets opens Tuesday.

Whether Ian Kennedy has made his last start for the Padres will soon come to light. The Padres' veteran right-hander went six-plus innings Saturday, surrendering one run while recording seven strikeouts.

For now, his next scheduled appearance will come in Miami on Friday. It will be nighttime on the East Coast. The July 31 non-waiver trade deadline will have come and gone.

Kennedy and his wife, Allison, are expecting their fourth daughter the same day.

"All my kids were born on a Sunday," Kennedy said with a smile. "I told her, ‘Hey, no pressure, but keep her in until maybe Sunday or the next time around.’ She said, ‘I can keep her in, that’s no problem.’ She’s funny.

"This will be hard," Kennedy added. "I’m really hoping she’s late or she’s early next week."

Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler has said there will be no official determination on the club's direction until after this series. In securing their second consecutive victory, this following a three-game skid, the Padres (46-52) inched closer to .500. If everything falls right, they can get there Aug. 1, the day after the deadline.

Outside the organization, meanwhile, all indications are that Padres General Manager A.J. Preller has been preparing to sell significant pieces. A loss Sunday likely would hasten the process.

The obvious candidates begin with the impending free agents: outfielders Justin Upton and Will Venable; relievers Joaquin Benoit and Shawn Kelley; and, on display Saturday, a veteran right-hander who put together one of his better performances of the season.

For weeks, Kennedy has been distancing himself from a rocky opening. The 30-year- old was off mechanically through his first eight starts, going 2-5 with a 7.15 ERA. His pitches often were flat, often leading to loud contact.

Kennedy had been working with Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley to create more of a downhill angle, to get back to what made him successful in 2014, when he experienced a career resurgence. He eclipsed both 200 innings and 200 strikeouts last season, and while that ranked as a pleasant surprise, plenty remains in his right arm.

"I feel like the last month or last six, seven starts, I’ve been able to command my fastball like I know I can," Kennedy said. "It’s made it a lot easier on myself, allowed my offspeed to work a little bit."

He showed that Saturday, stranding a pair of baserunners in the top of the first, notching his sixth strikeout to end the top of the fourth. With two outs in the sixth, he fired strike three, a 93 mph fastball, past Marlins left fielder Michael Morse.

"The last three or four times in a row, he’s been real good," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said of Kennedy. "He was good from start to finish, his velo was there. When you see 93s, 94s up there from Ian, you know he’s got good stuff."

In the next inning, the scouts on hand were reminded of what has plagued Kennedy all year. On a full count, catcher Derek Norris set up outside. Kennedy's pitch sped toward the inner half of the plate, right into the batter's wheelhouse. Derek Dietrich launched a solo shot to right field.

It was the 22nd home run allowed by Kennedy, who's thrown 96 1/3 innings. No starting pitcher in the majors has yielded a higher rate.

Kennedy then gave up a booming triple to J.T. Realmuto, whereupon Murphy made a slow walk to the mound. In came reliever Brandon Maurer. Out went Kennedy, perhaps for the last time.

Kennedy had scattered seven hits and a walk. He'd thrown 97 pitches, 62 for strikes. Maurer limited the damage by retiring the next three batters.

"That was huge," Kennedy said. "Not only for myself but for the team. He's been doing it all year. It's impressive to watch him pitch."

Kennedy had helped himself, too, stroking a two-out double in the second and scoring on Will Venable's single. That gave the Padres a 2-0 lead; in the first, Yonder Alonso narrowly missed a grand slam, settling for a long sacrifice fly off Marlins right-hander David Phelps.

The Padres scored an insurance run in the seventh. Clint Barmes singled, went to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on Abraham Almonte's pinch-hit sacrifice. Barmes came home when pinch-hitter Melvin Upton Jr. floated a single over a drawn-in infield.

Benoit and Padres closer Craig Kimbrel took care of the final two innings.

It all was enough to give Kennedy his sixth victory. Over his last 10 starts, he is 4-4 with a 2.83 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 14 walks. An above-.500 team certainly could use his presence in the backend of its rotation.

His next start is tentatively scheduled for Friday night in Miami.

"It’s my third year in a row being in talks," Kennedy said. "I was traded here midseason (in 2013). Last year I was being talked about. I’ve been in this situation before. Now that I’ve been through it, I know I still have to go out and pitch well. Doesn’t matter where I’m going, or if I’m still a Padre, whatever it is. I still have to do

4 my job and pitch. Maybe my first time, when I was with the Diamondbacks and my name was being rumored, I threw on the night of the 30th and it was weird.

"Now I’m old enough to say, ‘Hey, you’ve done this before. Just go out and pitch, and whatever happens, happens.’ It has a lot to do with my faith, figuring out that God’s got that. He’ll take care of it, wherever I’m going to go."

Nothing imminent between Padres, Mets Report says Mets balked at Padres' asking price for outfielder Justin Upton By Dennis Lin | 5 p.m. July 25, 2015 While the Mets often have been mentioned as a potential destination for Padres left fielder Justin Upton, nothing is imminent between the two teams, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

A CBSSports.com report Saturday said the teams had reached an "impasse" in discussions after a "suggestion that included a big prospect or two and no payment toward Upton's $14.5 million salary." One source, however, said the talks had not progressed as far as exchanging names.

Regardless of exactly what has transpired, the Mets, still in search of offense after Friday's acquisition of Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe, are among multiple teams that have inquired about Upton.

Though Upton would be a two-month rental - and a trade would not allow the acquiring team to extend a qualifying offer - the 27-year-old represents a relatively rare commodity. In a market flush with pitching, he and Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes are the top bats.

Recently held out with a mild oblique strain, Upton was in the Padres' starting lineup for the second consecutive game Saturday.

"He came out of it fine," Padres Assistant GM Josh Stein said of Friday's start. "We thought that might be one of those things that might be lingering for a few days, so that was great."

While the Padres have drawn interest in a number of their players, it appears unlikely any deal will be made before they begin a 10-game road trip Tuesday, sources said. Executive Chairman Ron Fowler indicated Thursday that the club would wait until the

6 end of the Marlins series before formally deciding on a direction ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

Meantime, rival officials believe it is only a matter of days before Padres General Manager A.J. Preller begins selling.

Interestingly, the Padres' next series begins Tuesday at Citi Field. While Upton is seen as unlikely for the Mets, Padres outfielder Will Venable, another impending free agent, could be a more realistic option.

Morrow makes rehab start with El Paso Padres right-hander pitches to fellow rehabber Tim Federowicz By Dennis Lin | 6:33 p.m. July 25, 2015 Padres right-hander Brandon Morrow, who had a rehab assignment cut short last month, returned to game action Saturday.

In a start for Triple-A El Paso, Morrow went 2 1/3 innings and 40 pitches (28 strikes) against Salt Lake, pitching to fellow rehabber Tim Federowicz. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk and struck out one. He was lifted from the game after giving up consecutive hits following a one-out walk.

Morrow has been on the disabled list since early May because of right shoulder inflammation.

If things go according to plan, Morrow will throw either four innings or 60 pitches in his next start with El Paso, then five innings or 75 pitches in his final rehab appearance.

Notable

• Saturday marked the 12th day of Federowicz's rehab assignment. The catcher, who is returning from right knee surgery, can spend a total of 20 days on his rehab assignment. He does not have minor league options left. • Right-hander Josh Johnson (Tommy John surgery) resumed throwing Friday and did so again Saturday, playing catch from 60 feet. Johnson had been shut down after having a simulated game cut short last month.

Enberg's Hall entry was long overdue By Nick Canepa | 6:13 p.m. July 25, 2015 Dr. Dick Enberg has been the eyes, ears, nose and throat — even the hands — of our sporting age. He has “touched ’em all,” as he catch-phrases, and seen them all.

If there were a Mt. Rushmore for sports broadcasters, the Padres’ revered TV play-by- play man would be on it. And not necessarily for one thing, but for everything. He has been our greatest all-around sportscaster. Assign Dick to the Sabinal hog catching contest and when he finished calling it, he’d auction off the bacon.

But to the always dapper Enberg, since his early days on a Michigan farm, when he’d sneak into Tigers games, to his family’s brief stay in the San Fernando Valley during World War II, where he pretended to call minor league Stars and Angels games, to his return to Michigan following the war, to his masters and doctorate in health sciences from Indiana, to his tenure as professor and baseball coach at San Fernando Valley State (now Cal State Northridge), to the beginning of his wonderful career calling major league Angels games for his champion, club owner Gene Autry, to the epic years as voice of John Wooden’s UCLA basketball program, his first love has been baseball.

And Saturday he was rewarded in Cooperstown, N.Y., when he received the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence. I have but one problem with it. And that is: What took so long?

Maybe it’s because he did so many things outside of baseball during his 80 years prior to taking the Padres’ gig six seasons ago, but his legend has been too strong and too real for him to have to wait until 2015. Still, he can’t believe the honor.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” the long time La Jolla resident was saying Friday from his Cooperstown hotel room, where he was working on his induction speech and greeting well-wishers prior to Saturday’s ceremonies. “To say it’s overwhelming is an understatement. I’m an emotional guy, and I’m trying not to be, which is why I’ll read the speech and try not to ad-lib; I’ll know where the emotion is. 9

“Vin Scully (the seminal Dodgers voice, first on Rushmore), told me: ‘Enberg, there’s no crying in Cooperstown.” Blubbering isn’t going to help any speech. I stayed up all night Monday and Tuesday writing it. It’s like planning a wedding without a wedding planner. I have 10 minutes. I rehearsed it and it was 17. It was like cutting off a leg and an arm. Bad enough, I had to cut the Ted Williams part.”

He speaks of Williams, the Hoover High product widely recognized as the greatest of all baseball batsmen, with reverence. And Williams played in Boston, not Detroit.

“Ted was who I wanted to be, who I wanted to be when I hitchhiked to Detroit to watch him take batting practice,” Enberg said. “There just was magic about him.”

Dick wanted to be a baseball player. He became the next best thing — or maybe a better thing, come to think of it.

“I was 9 years old and calling games to myself as I played,” Enberg said of his early days in L.A. “But I wanted to be a ballplayer, and in Los Angeles you could play ball all year. But they always told me I could call a baseball game.

“Baseball undeniably is my favorite. It’s in my core; once it’s in your DNA, you can’t lose it. It’s an announcer’s game.”

It is. And by far the best radio game. There certainly have been times this season when the Padres were better heard than seen, no offense to Dick and partner Mark Grant.

“Because of the pace,” he said. “It’s the most personal game.”

And, because of its lapses, baseball is the most difficult game to call. Any announcer will tell you fast-paced sports are easier. Enberg proved it as one of the all-time basketball (his teaming with Al McGuire and Billy Packer calling college hoops set a standard that won’t be matched) and football voices. Not to mention tennis, golf, Olympic sports, hockey and whatever.

“Absolutely, it’s the most difficult,” he agreed. “Radio’s had the best announcers, easy. Call baseball well and you can call anything. You have to fill in the voids. On radio, 10 you are required to paint the whole picture. Television tells the whole story. Radio is an art form.”

He worked radio in L.A. when the city had the greatest colony of broadcasters — Scully (Dodgers), Chick Hearn (Lakers) Bob Kelly (Rams) and Enberg (Angels and UCLA), not to mention Tom Kelly and Mike Walden (USC football).

“I got to listen to those men and read Jim Murray three times a week,” he said. “What’s better than that?”

It’s not bad. An incredible life, Dick Enberg has led.

And his favorite moment? “Nolan Ryan’s no-hitter for the Angels against Detroit in 1973. The drama. The emotion. A no-hitter is the best thing that can happen to a broadcaster.”

Maybe. But a Padres pitcher never has thrown one. For Richard Alan Enberg, Cooperstown must do for now.

Minors: Morrow allows 2 runs in rehab game Recapping the latest action from around the Padres' farm system By Jackson Cowart | 8 a.m. July 26, 2015 After being shut down early in his last rehab assignment, Padres pitcher Brandon Morrow returned to the mound for his first start in over a month.

One down, two more to go.

Morrow pitched a conservative 2 1/3 innings Saturday, allowing three hit and two runs as Triple-A El Paso notched a 10-8 victory over Salt Lake. The recovering righty tossed 40 pitches on the afternoon. Morrow is scheduled to throw 60 pitches in his next game, with 75 pitches planned for his third and final minor league start. After signing with San Diego in the offseason, Morrow had been a bright spot for the Padres, going 2-0 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts. But since hitting the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation in early May, Morrow has been recovering with hopes of reclaiming a rotation spot in the coming weeks.

At the plate, recently demoted Will Middlebrooks (.364) stole the show. The third baseman recorded three hits with no strikeouts, smacking a solo shot in the first to kick off the scoring spree for the Chihuahuas.

CF Travis Jankowski (.500), making his fourth Triple-A appearance, continued his hitting excellence, going 3-for-6 with two RBI in the leadoff spot.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (42-57)

Midland 9, Missions 1: RHP Dennis O’Grady (3-3, 4.72) surrendered eight runs (six earned) in just 1 2/3 innings to bury the Missions early. RF Hunter Renfroe (.264) went 0-for-4 from the plate, but 1B Duanel Jones (.249) hit a solo homer for his team’s lone run.

HIGH SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (38-60)

• High Desert 5, Storm 0: LHP Brad Wieck (0-3, 4.62) gave up six hits and four runs to pick up his third loss of the year. C Ryan Miller (.293) and SS Chase Jensen (.291) each hit two singles for the Storm’s only multi-hit efforts. LOW SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (48-50)

• TinCaps 2, Bowling Green 0: LHP Thomas Dorminy (8-7, 3.53) allowed just two hits through six scoreless frames, adding four strikeouts to just one walk. 1B Trae Santos (.251) went 1-for-4 with an RBI, and LF Franchy Cordero (.228) recorded an RBI despite going hitless. SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (22-15)

• Dust Devils 5, Vancouver 4: SS Kodie Tidwell (.280) went 1-for-1 with two walks, two RBI and a run scored. RHP Walker Lockett (2.91) gave up three runs through five innings, but RHP Phil Maton (2-1, 1.56) earned the win despite recording a blown save. • Dust Devils 4, Vancouver 2: LF Jose Carlos Urena (.281) coaxed three walks, recorded a run and added a double. LHP Jose Castillo (3.86) allowed two runs on two hits through four innings, and LHP Jerry Keel (2-0, 2.76) recorded the win with two scoreless innings in relief. ROOKIE DSL PADRES (21-27)

• Padres 7, Blue Jays 4: RHP Starlin Cordero (2-1, 4.88) tossed a no-hitter through four innings to earn his second win of the season. LF Luis Asuncion (.243) went 2-for-3 with two walks and an RBI. ROOKIE AZL PADRES (12-16)

• Athletics 8, Padres 2: RHP Emmanuel Ramirez (4-2, 2.48) allowed five of his seven runs in the first inning, including a three-run homer, but still managed five innings of work. DH Ronaldo Contreras (.238) went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Q&A: Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso Why the Boys and Girls Club means so much to Alonso By Justin Tuscano | 1 p.m. July 25, 2015 Yonder Alonso held his Celebrity Basebowl Tournament on Wednesday as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.

• Question: As someone who was raised in the Boys & Girls Club, what does it mean to give back in a big way with your tournament? • Answer: Giving back to the Boys & Girls Club is such a huge deal. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to raise awareness for the club and the inner-city kids. I’m a huge believer in always giving back to the next upcoming (generation) and the future. It’s always an excellent tribute to them and obviously to us. It was just an opportunity to have something (for the kids).

• Q: Playing for the Padres, it’s probably really exciting for the kids to see you out there putting on the event. Did professional athletes help out at events you attended as a kid? • A: Growing up in the Boys & Girls Club, you had guys like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter helping out. So many guys would come and give back to the Boys & Girls Club that I was a part of and it was a learning experience and I dream of mine to be able to reach their level and do the same for the kids today. Once they see guys like us helping out, maybe some of today’s kids will want to go that route and reach that big league potential. Those are just little things I try to help the kids out with.

• Q: You talked about Jeter and Rodriguez helping out at some of the events you attended when you were younger. Is there a specific story of meeting or interacting with them that stands out to you? 14

• A: One of the first times I met Jeter and Rodriguez, they had a Boys & Girls Club event to raise money during Christmas time. We were able to hang out with them all day and raise a lot of money for us. That was the first time where I saw those guys giving back and it was something that I wanted to be part of as well. It was a day I’ll always remember and I was only about 10 or 11 years old. I feel like if I can do that for even just one or two kids, it would make my day.

• Q: When did you truly get serious about hosting a fundraiser for the kids of the Boys & Girls Club? • A: The minute I was a professional. That’s just what I wanted to do — I wanted to give back and do something like that.

Three Padres drive in runs to beat Marlins By Joe Frisaro and Beth Maiman / MLB.com | 1:25 AM ET

SAN DIEGO --The Padres had eight hits and Craig Kimbrel earned his 28th save as the Padres beat the Marlins, 3-1, Saturday night on RBIs from Yonder Alonso(sacrifice fly in the first), Will Venable (second-inning single) and Melvin Upton Jr.(pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh). Ian Kennedy looked strong until the seventh inning, when he gave up a home run toDerek Dietrich. After the homer, J.T. Realmuto tripled and Kennedy was pulled. Kennedy went six-plus innings, allowing seven hits, one run and striking out seven. David Phelps pitched six innings, allowing six hits and two runs, bringing his record to 4-7. The Marlins have dropped their last two games against the Padres in this four-game series. "Every time I go out, I'm giving up runs early and putting us in a hole," Phelps said. "We lost our best power bat [injured Giancarlo Stanton]. So we're not exactly a team that's built to score a lot of runs quick and come from behind fast. I'm really doing us a disservice early in games, giving up runs. When you look at the games that we've won lately, our guys are going out and giving us a chance to score first. I'm not doing that right now."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Speed and strength: With Realmuto as the tying runner on third in the seventh, the Marlins brought in Casey McGehee to pinch-hit. McGehee hit a ball to center field, but Venable sprinted in for the catch to get the second out. He also had a nice throw to the infield, which forced Realmuto to stay at third base.

Could have been four: Petco Park burst with excitement in the first inning with the bases loaded, when Alonso hit a ball to center field just feet away from home run territory. The play resulted in a sacrifice fly to bring in Matt Kemp and give the Padres their first run of the game.

Kennedy helps on offense: Kennedy didn't just help his team from the mound on Saturday. He hit a two-out double to right-center field in the second inning. The next batter, Venable, hit an RBI single to bring in Kennedy and give the Padres a 2-0 lead.

Dietrich goes deep: The Marlins had gone 14 consecutive innings without a run before Dietrich homered off Kennedy to lead off the seventh inning. It was the left-handed-hitting infielder's fifth homer and seventh RBI of the season. The drive closed Miami's gap to 2-1. To Dietrich, Petco Park holds some special memories. Dietrich had his first MLB hit in San Diego, a single in his MLB debut on May 8, 2013. More >

"He's a confident hitter," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. "His versatility is going to be the key for him, being able to go over and play some third, some second, some first, left field. He's

16 showing the reason we made the trade to get him over here. He's got a good bat. It's a pretty aggressive swing. He's got natural leverage in his swing. He's able to get the ball in the air."

QUOTABLE "Not being in rhythm from the start of the season was kind of weird for me, to come off the DL, then pitch a couple times and was not very good with my command. And I feel like the last month here or six, seven starts here I have been able to command my fastball. It has made it a lot easier on myself." -- Kennedy on continuing to pitch well in recent starts

"I didn't have great stuff today, but I felt I was commanding the ball decently. I don't know. I'm just tired of losing." -- Phelps on losing his fourth straight decision

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS With the Dodgers last year, Dee Gordon paced the Majors with 12 triples. Now with the Marlins, Gordon is on the DL with a dislocated left thumb. He has four triples this year, but that isn't tops on his team. Realmuto, who opened the season at Triple-A New Orleans, tripled in the seventh inning, giving him five on the season.

WHAT'S NEXT Marlins: In Sunday's series finale, at 4:10 p.m. ET, Mat Latos (4-6, 4.48) pitches what might be his final start with the Marlins. The right-hander is a candidate to be dealt before Friday's Trade Deadline.

Padres: The Padres conclude their 10-game homestand Sunday against the Marlins, before heading to New York to face the Mets. On the mound for San Diego will be Odrisamer Despaigne. Despaigne is 3-7 with a 4.98 ERA this season.

Exacting Enberg accepts Frick honor at Hall By Marty Noble / MLB.com | July 25th, 2015

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Folks in this business, members of the fraternity Kappa Delta Press Box, usually have time to gather their thoughts, second-guess themselves and maybe backspace, insert words or even phrases. And on those glorious and treasured instances when the game has been staged in daylight, they even can purge and start anew. Writing need not be an exercise without flaws until the finished product.

The demands are greater for the folks in that business, the ones armed with wires, earpieces and headphones and tethered to their ballpark surroundings. They don't have the same face-saving luxuries. Cough buttons are for congestion, not correction. Ahem.

On-the-spot precision is for the folks who paint the word picture and speak it to the radio and television audiences. They have no means of privately correcting mistakes. Baseball has changed so much in the last 30 years, but the backspace key still is unavailable to the people who provide the play-by-play. They can apologize if they stumble or misspeak. But they can't purge. And not since the days of Les Keiter doing recreations of San Francisco Giants games for the abandoned Giants clientele in New York, have the play-by-plays guys been able to start over.

So this for them: big league precision or the smaller ponds in Double-A and A ball.

Dick Enberg always has been precise. No need for erasers on his mike. We can count his on-air faux pas on the right hand of Mordecai Brown. He is exacting. His elocution, his eloquence, his choice of adverbs and adjectives. His timing. Check the knots of his ties -- perfect. His shirt collars are beyond wrinkle-resistant. And he wears a blue blazer with the same grandeur that DiMaggio wore a blue suit. Farm boys aren't usually so careful about appearance.

So there was Enberg on Saturday afternoon in, appropriately, the perfect setting -- Cooperstown, to be exact; at Doubleday Field, to be precise. Enberg was there to receive the 2015 Ford C. Frick Award for outstanding work as a baseball announcer and deliver salutes and words of appreciation for those had ushered him to this point in his life. He shared the first afternoon of Hall of Fame Weekend with Tom Gage, the longtime Tigers beat reporter for the Detroit News who received the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding performance as a print journalist. Gage hasn't made many mistakes either. Instead, he made the News required reading for

18 anyone who has cared about matters involving Trammell, Fidrych, Kaline, Sparky, Lolich, Verlander and Cabrera. The guys Gage and Enberg have spoken and written about for decades get their chances Sunday.

Enberg was characteristically dressed to the nines Saturday, neat in every sense of the word. He remains the Vada Pinson of baseball announcers. No one wore a baseball uniform so splendidly as Pinson.

At 80 and wearing a red tie, blue shirt and blue blazer, Enberg spoke of baseball's "place in American heritage." With all the Hall of Famers in town seated behind him, he saluted them for how "they honored the game I love" by "playing it properly." The grandstand appreciated that thought.

He said baseball exists in his DNA and that it pulsates in him "for a lifetime." He recalled his first big league game -- Indians at Tigers, Freddie Hutchinson vs. Bob Feller at Briggs, later Tiger Stadium in 1947 -- and how his father prepared him for the large, flat expanse of green and noted the difference between a park and a ballpark. He regularly recalls that distinction even these days, he said.

Enberg spoke with the passion of the 12-year-old farm boy he was. The game already had appealed to him by that age. The final seduction happened that day in pre-Motown Detriot.

Sixty-eight years later, the game still has a strong hold on him. So he identified his induction into sports' premier Hall of Fame as "the culmination of a privileged career." Perfectly put by a man who already had plaques in basketball and football halls of fame. His trifecta is complete.

Earlier, he had characterized one of Nolan Ryan's no-hitters -- the 17-strikeout one in Detroit in '75 -- as the "most omnipotent piece of pitching" he'd ever has seen. So wonderfully put. He embraced ground- ball double plays because of the precision and the touches of ballet required for their successful execution. He said he "relishes day games" and made clear his distaste for the designated hitter rule.

So good for him. Enberg works these days in the league that offers real baseball with pitchers batting -- even if they're eighth in the order. He is in his seventh summer working Padres games and entertaining and educating their SoCal followers, that after he after he covered the Angels in the 1968-1978 and did national baseball broadcasts for NBC. He identified baseball as "the best announcer-game, the best and most challenging announcer-game." That he was there on the dais speaking was evidence he had met the challenge.

Enberg returned to his first-love sport after working golf, football, basketball, Wimbledon and the Olympics. He still abides by the advice afforded him by Fred Haney, then an Angels executive and previously manager of the World Series champion Braves of 1957. Haney urged him to "report the ball. Not what should have been done or could have been done."

If his speech was flawed in any way, the error came early. Enberg may have heeded the advice afforded him in December when he learned of his election but he couldn't put it into practice. The great Vin Scully -- the sixth Frick recipient and "the game's poet laureate" according to Enberg -- had called and urged his friend to control his emotions when he delivered his speech. "There's no crying in Cooperstown," Scully said.

Enberg was no more than 15 words into his remarks when his voice cracked. But professional that he is, he recovered nicely and pitched a complete game.

His first two words had been his signature comment about big moments for decades -- "Oh my!" But he made his fatigue and the wonder of it all evident by his tone.

Later, he recalled Red Barber's "Oh, doctor!" and Mel Allen's "How about that!" He saluted others among his play-by-play brethren. He called them "the holies" -- holy cow, holy mackerel and holy Toledo."

He expresed admiration for his hero Ted Williams and for Brooks Robinson and for the "simple arrogance" of Rod Carew when he drag bunted. And he playfully knocked Al Kaline. Enberg's childhood goal had been to play right field for the Tigers. "Kaline took my job," he said.

And he acknowledged whatever influences had directed his career and made it so rewarding. His work in baseball, he noted, has been with the Angels and the Padres.

Maurer comes through big in crucial situation Well-rested Padres reliever escapes jam in seventh inning

By Beth Maiman / MLB.com | 12:16 AM ET SAN DIEGO -- After starting pitcher Ian Kennedy gave up a home run and a triple, relief pitcher Brandon Maurer was called to the mound in the seventh with the tying run on third with no outs in Saturday's game against the Marlins. It wasn't the most ideal situation for a relief pitcher, but Maurer was able to get three straight outs to end the inning, as the Padres defeated Miami, 3-1.

"Whenever you can not give up anybody else's run it's a good day," Maurer said. "[I] kept the momentum going, got us back in the dugout, we ended up scoring another, handed the ball over to the rest of the bullpen and got it done."

Interim manager Pat Murphy used the word "unbelievable" to describe Maurer's performance Saturday night.

"That whole Maurer sequence was just absolutely huge," Murphy said. "Maurer was filthy tonight."

Maurer entered Saturday's game coming off a performance where he struggled. On July 22, he allowed three hits and three runs in a 7-1 loss against the Giants.

So far this season, San Diego's relievers rank fifth in the NL for innings pitched. After a disappointing series against the Giants, Murphy spoke about the potential fatigue of the bullpen. After Friday's 3-1 win against the Marlins, Murphy said the decision to let Andrew Cashner pitch through seven innings was partly due to wanting to rest Maurer.

"Give him two days like that, they pitch differently," Murphy said. "He needed that. Came in, he was on it -- man on third with nobody out -- to get out of that situation, the tying run at third, that was a huge turnaround."

Maurer said that he definitely felt more rested entering Saturday's game.

"Two days off puts you right back where you need to be," Maurer said.

Kennedy earned his sixth win of the season and credited Maurer for coming in strong.

"I was pumped up because that was huge, not just for myself, but for the team," Kennedy said. "It was good for him to come out there and get three big outs like that. He's a legit back-end reliever and it's impressive to watch him pitch."

Hedges gaining confidence at big league level Padres rookie catcher taking every opportunity to learn

By Beth Maiman / MLB.com | July 25th, 2015 SAN DIEGO -- Like many rookies, catcher Austin Hedges is taking every opportunity he can to learn. Whether it's chatting with pitching coach Darren Balsley or picking the brain of starter James Shields, who he refers to as "a mastermind of pitch calling," the 22-year-old, who was a second-round pick in 2011, believes he is gaining something each day.

"Any game experience I get helps me out a ton," Hedges said. "Even when I am not playing, I mean there isn't a day that goes by that I am not learning something, watching what everybody else does in there, preparing, watching how the game flow is."

But being a rookie also comes with an eagerness, one that interim manager Pat Murphy said can sometimes hamper the young player.

"I look at it like the volume on the radio in your car, sometimes that volume is just a little too loud, you got to flip it down just a hair," Murphy said. "I think when he settles down, the game will slow down for him a little bit, the music will play at a little better level."

Hedges, who was called up on May 4 from Triple-A El Paso, has made 16 starts for the Padres. Before arriving in San Diego he was batting .324 with two home runs at 15 RBIs in 79 plate appearances. Backing up the experienced Derek Norris, who leads NL catchers in starts, Hedges made five starts in May, six in June and five in July.

Hedges said he is always learning from Norris and tries to mimic the way he prepares for games, even if he is not in the lineup that day.

"Even though [Hedges] doesn't get to play a lot, I think he still helps us a bunch and believes he can help us. I think that's the key," Murphy said. "I think Austin knows in his mind he is a Major League player. That is the No. 1 goal when they come up -- they know they belong here. And I think he knows he belongs here. I have seen that transformation that he believes he belongs."

Since he was called up, Hedges said he believes he has been more more disciplined at the plate, giving him more consistent and quality at-bats. The rookie has eight hits, two home runs and six RBIs in 54 at-

23 bats. He said he hopes to continue to improve with his overall consistency and preparation with the pitching staff.

"I think he is a guy that has to go to winter ball," Murphy said. "I think we have semi set that up. I think it's pretty close to being official. Going back to Triple-A? I am not sure about that one." Worth noting • Assistant general manager Josh Stein said that pitcher Josh Johnson, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, started throwing Friday. • Pitcher Brandon Morrow was scheduled to pitch Saturday night for Triple-A El Paso in Salt Lake City. Morrow will pitch three innings or 45 pitches. Tim Federowicz, who is recovering from right knee surgery, will be catching. • Wil Myers swung a short bat again Saturday. He took 40 swings and said he felt good.

Despaigne seeks change of fortune in finale By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com | @JoeFrisaro | July 25th, 2015 It's will be a bit of a homecoming for Marlins right-hander Mat Latos, an 11th-round Draft pick of the Padres in 2006. The 27-year-old spent three seasons in San Diego, but Sunday he will be pitching for Miami in the series finale at Petco Park.

The Padres counter with Odrisamer Despaigne, who has had his struggles all season. The right-hander is has not won since May 31, a span of eight starts. He is 0-4 in that stretch and has been unable to pitch as many as six innings in his last five outings.

Latos' overall record isn't sterling -- 4-6 with a 4.48 ERA. But he's been one of the team's hottest starters of late, posting a 3-2 (3.60 ERA) mark with 45 strikeouts in 45 innings over his last seven outings. With the Trade Deadline on Friday, Latos may be making his final start as a Marlin. Things you need to know about this game

• Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso, a South Florida native who attended Coral Gables High School, nearly missed belting a grand slam Saturday, when his long drive to center was caught. He picked up an RBI on the sacrifice fly. Alonso also homered off Dan Haren, a solo shot, on Friday night. So he's picked up an RBI in each of the first two games of the series.

• Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki sits at 2,898 career hits, meaning he is 102 shy of the 3,000 mark. But reaching the 2,900 plateau has been a struggle for the 41-year-old, who wasn't in the starting lineup Saturday. Ichiro is just 2-for-22 in his last four starts.

• With 12 of his 15 home runs at home, Padres left fielder Justin Upton is three homers shy of the record for home runs in a season at Petco Park. Will Venable hit 15 in 2013.

Kemp has 11 extra-base hits in last 12 games Cashner has 2.60 ERA over last four starts

It is pretty clear now that Matt Kemp is en fuego.

The Padres right fielder continued his assault Friday night at Petco Park with two more extra-base hits, including the back-end of the Padres' first back-to-back homers in almost two years.

Kemp has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, going 17-for-44 (.386) with 11 extra-base hits - six doubles and five home runs - for 11 RBIs. His 11 extra-base hits are the most in the National League since July 7.

In addition to hitting .386 since July 7, Kemp has a .449 on-base percentage and a .864 slugging percentage for a 1.313 OPS.

Going back farther, Kemp is hitting .313 (26-for-83) with seven home runs, eight doubles and 17 RBIs in 23 games. And 10 of his 11 home runs this season have come in his last 39 games. He has 27 RBIs during that run.

Now, returning to the back-to-back home runs. They also came on back-to-back pitches in the fifth inning.

First, Yonder Alonso connected on a 2-and-2 pitch from Marlins' right-hander Dan Haren that landed 423 feet from home plate in the right field stands to give the Padres a 2-1 lead. Kemp then drove Haren's next pitch 412 feet over the fence in center to make it 3-1.

Before Friday night, the Padres last back-to-back homers were delivered by Chase Headley and Chris Denorfia on July 27, 2013, at Arizona.

Both Kemp and Alonso have a history of success against the Marlins and Haren.

Kemp is a career .308 hitter (53-for-172) against the Marlins and is 13-for-42 (.310) lifetime against Haren with a double and four homers. Alonso is hitting .365 (27-for-74) in 20 career games against his hometown team and is 4-for-11 (.364) against Haren. FROM THE SCORECARD:

--Right-hander Andrew Cashner has officially made 19 starts this season - plus last Sunday's rain-stopped game. Arguably three of his best seven starts of the season have come during his last four outings. Cashner is 2-1 and the Padres are 3-1 over those four outings as Cashner has posted a 2.60 earned run average - eight runs allowed on 19 hits and six walks with 19 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. After allowing 13 homers in his first 14 starts, Cashner has not allowed a home run in his last five starts since June 16. Cashner is now 14-14 with a 2.41 record in 54 career games (32 starts) at Petco Park.

-- Brett Wallace, who was making his first start as a position player Friday since being promoted from Triple-A El Paso on June 19, also hit his first Major League homer since Sept. 14, 2013. Before starting at third base Friday, Wallace had made two starts for the Padres as a designated hitter in interleague games in addition to being 4-for-16 as a pinch-hitter. Wallace was 2-for-3 Friday, which was his first multi-hit game in the majors since Sept. 6, 2013.

-- The Padres are 11-5 over their last 16 games against the Marlins at Petco Park dating back to the start of the 2011 season. During that run, the Padres starting pitchers have a collective 10-2 record with a 2.27 ERA with 95 strikeouts against 26 walks in 103 2/3 innings. The Padres are 7-2 over their last nine games against the Marlins at Petco Park.

-- Right-handed closer Craig Kimbrel successfully converted his 18th straight save opportunity Friday night. It was his 27th success in 28 tries this season. Over his last 22 outings, Kimbrel has 16 saves and has allowed two runs 13 hits, 10 walks and a hit batter in 21 2/3 innings - for an ERA of 0.83.

Renfroe, Jankowski, Rea have big nights on the farm Federowicz homers in rehab game for Triple-A El Paso

By Bill Center / San Diego Padres | July 25th, 2015 Top Padres prospects Hunter Renfroe, Travis Jankowski and Colin Rea had big games Friday night, and rehabbing catcher Tim Federowicz hit his first homer for Triple-A El Paso.

• Right fielder Renfroe, 23, the Padres first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2013 Draft, was 3-for-5 with his 11th and 12th homers for three RBIs in Double-A San Antonio's 7-1 win at Midland. Renfroe is hitting .317 (13-for-41) over his last 10 games, with three homers and eight RBIs, to raise his batting average to .267.

• Center fielder Jankowski, 24, was 3-for-4 with a double, two steals and two runs scored in Triple-A El Paso's 4-2 win at Salt Lake. Jankowski, the 44th overall pick selected in the 2012 Draft, is 5-for-10 since being promoted to the Chihuahuas with two doubles, two steals, three runs scored and three RBIs.

• Right-handed starting pitcher Rea allowed two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings to pick up his second win for El Paso. Rea (2-0, 4.86 ERA) has allowed three runs on 11 hits and four walks with eight strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings in his last two starts for El Paso.

• Federowicz had a double, a homer and two RBIs for El Paso in his sixth rehab start for the Chihuahuas. He is 4-for-19.

There was more movement in the Padres' system on Friday. Right-handed starting pitcher Ronald Herrera, 20, was promoted from high Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore to San Antonio. Right-handed starting pitcher Ernesto Montas, 24, was promoted from Class A Fort Wayne to Lake Elsinore. Herrera was 5-6 with a 3.88 ERA for the Storm. Montas was 9-6 with a 3.28 ERA at Fort Wayne Around the farm TRIPLE-A EL PASO (51-48): Chihuahuas 4, SALT LAKE 2 -- 3B Will Middlebrooks was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and two RBIs. RF Rymer Liriano was 2-for-4 with a double. RHP Leonel Campos (2.98 ERA) followed Rea and had three strikeouts in two perfect innings. LHP Frank Garces (1.64) issued a walk with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. RHP Jay Jackson (1.83) retired the only hitter he faced to get his seventh save. The Chihuahuas have won four straight games and six of their last seven. DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (42-56): Missions 7, MIDLAND 1 -- Starting RHP James Needy (4-0, 2.17 ERA since returning to San Antonio from El Paso) allowed one run on three hits and three walks

28 with five strikeouts in six innings. LHP Eury De La Rosa (0.00) pitched a perfect seventh. RHP Cody Hebner (0.00) allowed a hit and a walk with a strikeout over the final two scoreless innings. CLASS A ADVANCED LAKE ELSINORE (38-59): High Desert 9, STORM 7 -- Montas allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five innings in his Lake Elsinore debut. RHP Rafael De Paula (5-9, 5.51 ERA) allowed four runs on three hits and two walks with a strikeout in an inning to take the loss. RHP Eric Yardley (3.46) issued a walk with two strikeouts in two otherwise perfect innings. 1B Marcus Davis (.252 batting average) was 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. C Miguel Del Castillo (.174) was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. RF Nick Torres (.326) and 3B Gabriel Quintana (.249) were each 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. LF Nick Schulz (.248) was 2-for-4 with a walk. CLASS A FORT WAYNE (47-50): BOWLING GREEN 3, TinCaps 2 -- Starting LHP Travis Radke allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings in his debut with the TinCaps. RHP A.J. Weir (3-3, 4.11 ERA) allowed a run on three hits with two strikeouts in two innings. 3B Luis Tejada (.298 batting average) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. 2B Luis Urias (.380) was 1- for-3 with a walk and an RBI. SS Ruddy Giron (.298) committed two errors to raise his total to 18 in 58 games. The TinCaps played after an eight-hour overnight bus ride from the Cleveland area. SHORT-SEASON SINGLE-A TRI-CITY (20-15): The Dust Devils were rained out at Vancouver, and the game will be made up Saturday as part of a doubleheader. ARIZONA ROOKIE PADRES (12-15): GIANTS 7, Padres 3 -- LF Jhonatan Pena (.279 ERA) was 2- for-3 with a walk. CF Josh Magee (.185 batting average) was 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored. RHP Pete Kelich (3.00 ERA) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings. RHP Jean Garcia (0-3, 7.01) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in four innings. LHP Nathan Foriest (1.50) allowed two hits with a strikeout in a scoreless inning. DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES (20-27): Blue Jays 12, PADRES 7 -- DH Luis Asuncion (.234) hit a three-run homer in four at-bats. 1B Emmanuel Arias (.226) hit his fifth homer in four at-bats. RF Jaffe Garcia (.278) was 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk and a run scored. LHP Jordis Ramos (7.50 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. LHP Eisler Cordova (0-5, 8.04) allowed five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in three innings.

Padres Have A Winning Homestand Win over the Marlins secures successful stretch By Derek Togerson It has not happened very often this year, so let's enjoy it while we can. The Padres beat the Marlins 3-1 on Saturday night at Petco Park. It's their fifth win of their second half-opening, 10-game homestand and since one of the games was rained out, that means the Friars have already guaranteed a winning run at home!

Ian Kennedy made his second straight solid start. Kennedy threw 6.0 innings, striking out seven and allowing one run. He also scored what turned out to be the game-winning run in the second inning. After a 2-out double (of the Padres eight hits, the only one for extra bases came courtesy of the pitcher) Kennedy scored on a single by Will Venable to put the Friars up 2-0.

This could be an interesting week for Kennedy. His next scheduled start would come on Friday, July 31. That day is also the MLB trade deadline and Ian has been rumored in a few different trade scenarios. That is also the day his wife is due to deliver their fourth child. So, things could get VERY interesting for at least one Padre who might once again become a Padre but do it while not in a Padres uniform.

San Diego closer Criag Kimbrel tossed a perfect 9th inning for his 28th save of the season (in 29 chances). He's another guy who is expected to draw attention as the trade deadline draws near.

The Padres can win the series from the Marlins on Sunday afternoon at Petco. Odrisamer Despainge gets the start against former Padre Mat Latos.

Marlins unable to mount rally against Padres AP JUL 25, 2015 11:43p ET SAN DIEGO (AP) -- David Phelps was steamed after his latest loss, and he wasn't shy about showing it.

Phelps was decent on Saturday night, but couldn't stop the Marlinsfrom losing 3-1 to the San Diego Padres.

"I'm tired of losing," Phelps said.

Phelps (4-7) gave up two runs over six innings. But both came in the opening two innings, which meant Miami was trying to rally the whole game.

"I'm giving up runs early and putting us in a hole," Phelps said. "We lost our best power bat (Giancarlo Stanton) so we have a team which isn't built to come back. I'm really doing us a disservice early in games giving up runs."

Ian Kennedy, being mentioned in various trade scenarios, pitched six strong innings and he was rewarded with the win.

Kennedy (6-9) allowed a run and five hits. He matched a season high with seven strikeouts and walked one. He also helped himself by hitting a double and scoring.

Kennedy has attracted interest from contending teams heading toward Friday's trading deadline.

Phelps isn't going anywhere and manager Dan Jennings is fine with that. "Thought Phelps pitched another outstanding game," Jennings said. "He pitched six innings and gave us an opportunity there. I think we have scored three runs in his last four starts and it's been tough for him."

Derek Dietrich opened the seventh with a home run, slicing the Marlins' deficit to 2-1. J.T. Realmuto followed with a triple and that chased Kennedy. Phelps was gone by then as the Marlins again struggled to support him. "I didn't have great stuff today but I had command," Phelps said. " I'm just giving up runs early and scratching and clawing to put up zeros the rest of the way, just trying to give us a chance."

Reliever Brandon Maurer came in and stranded the tying run when Adeiny Hechavarria and Cole Gillespiegrounded out to third and pinch-hitter Casey McGehee flied out. "Brandon was huge, not just for me but the whole team," Kennedy said. "To get three outs like that is huge and he's been doing it all year." Said Jennings: "You got three chances to get the run in and tie it up." But the Marlins failed. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 29 chances. The Padres added a run in the seventh when Melvin Upton Jr. drove in Clint Barmes with a pinch-hit single. Kennedy had gone through a stretch where he dropped four of five starts before beating the Giants in his previous outing. Kennedy escaped a jam in the first when the Marlins had runners on the corners by Michael Morse. In the second, Kennedy doubled and Will Venable hit an RBI single. Yonder Alonso had a sacrifice fly in the Padres first. "I'm not pitching well enough to win right now and it is really driving me nuts," Phelps said. But he's pitching better than what his record reveals, according to Jennings. "Even when he got into trouble with men on he executed his pitches when he needed to," he said. "That cutter of his is a tremendous pitch for him." NO SCRATCHES FOR ICHIRO Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki entered the series with the Padres on Thursday needing two hits to reach 2,900 career hits. Suzuki, who is 38th on the all-time hit list, enters the final game of the set still seeking those two hits. He grounded out in the eighth after entering the game in the previous inning Saturday, falling to 0 for 10 in the series. OH MY, INDEED Padres announcer Dick Enberg wasn't in San Diego to call the game, but he had a good excuse. The decorated Enberg, who was hired by the Padres in 2010, was accepting the Ford Frick Award in Cooperstown, N.Y., which is presented annually for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. TRAINERS ROOM Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) will consult with Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday after aggravating his injury in a rehabilitation start. Surgery is a possibility. ... 2B Dee Gordon (thumb) is taking batting practice and could go on a rehab assignment on Tuesday. Padres: RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder) was to start for Triple-A El Paso on Saturday. C Tim Federowicz(knee) was to catch Morrow. ... OF Wil Myers (wrist) took 40 swings with a short bat as he continues his rehab.

UP NEXT Marlins: RHP Mat Latos (4-6, 4.48) seeks his first win against his former team and to even his road record at 3-3. Latos lost his only decision against the Padres last year, although he gave up but one run on a hit in seven innings. Padres: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (3-7, 4.98) has lost his last four decisions and seeks his first win since May 31.