June 2011
American League vs. National League
With Interleague Play wrapping up in the next week or so, we asked some of the Padres who have experience in both leagues to compare the different game styles. Clayton Richard (White Sox/Padres) and Rob Johnson (Mariners/Padres) give their take on having the pitcher hit. Aaron Cunningham (A’s/Padres – currently with Tucson) weighs in on the opportunity that role players are given in the NL. Finally, Bud Black (coached and played in both leagues) shares his thoughts on the strategy that goes into a National League game.
2011 Padres Yearbooks
The 2011 Yearbook is in and currently available for $5. Purchase online here.
Luebke to get start against Braves
The Padres return home this weekend for a three-game set with the Braves that marks the third meeting between the two teams this season. The two clubs have split the six games they have played so far, with each team taking two of three on the road from each other.
Bud Black today announced his rotation for the series, with Cory Luebke making his first start of the 2011 season after 29 relief appearances. A starter throughout his minor league career, Luebke made three starts (in four appearances) for the Padres last season. As a starter, he went 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA, earning his first Major League win on 9/8/10 vs. LAD after 6.0 shutout innings of two-hit ball.
Here are the projected matchups for the series against the Braves:
RHP Tim Stauffer (2-5, 3.13) vs. RHP Derek Lowe (3-5, 4.10)
RHP Dustin Moseley (2-6, 3.02) vs. RHP Jair Jurrjens (9-3, 2.11)
LHP Cory Luebke (1-2, 3.23) vs. RHP Tim Hudson (6-6, 6.73)
Lineup 6/22 at BOS
Padres go for the series win today. It would be their first ever series victory over the Red Sox. Go Pads!
On the bright side…
Chase Headley is tearing it up this road trip, hitting .533 (16-for-30) with four doubles. Last night marked his third four-hit game of the trip. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, last MLB player before Headley with at least three games of four or more hits on one road trip was (former Padre) Marcus Giles for the Braves in 2003. Atlanta had a brief road trip of four games (a four-game series in Montreal) and Giles had three four-hit games in that series.
The Padres will look to turn the tide tonight with Mat Latos taking the hill. He was slated to face Josh Beckett, who has been scratched due to illness. RHP Alfredo Aceves will start in his place. Tonight’s game will be Latos’ fifth career Interleague start. He is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA (7 ER/25.2 IP) in his four previous outings against the American League.
In other news from Boston, it has been a busy homecoming for General Manager Jed Hoyer. He was swarmed by media on the field prior to last night’s series opener:
