News
Carrillo latest in line of new arms
San Diego (49-66) at Milwaukee (55-58), 11:05 a.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
08/13/09 12:08 AM ET
MILWAUKEE -- The Padres will run their 13th different starting pitcher out to the mound on Thursday for the series finale at Miller Park against the Brewers.Right-hander Cesar Carrillo, who joined the team from Triple-A Portland on Wednesday, will be activated before the game. He will be making his Major League debut.
The Padres new-look rotation took another turn recently when Chad Gaudin was dealt to the Yankees. His spot has been filled by Carrillo, the Padres' first-round pick (18th overall) in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami.
Carrillo had Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery on May 1, 2007, and he has been working his way back through the Minor League system ever since. He was 8-4 with a 4.24 ERA with Double-A San Antonio and 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Portland.
"From what I've heard, he's throwing the ball well," said Padres manager Bud Black.
Carrillo's velocity is back to where it was before the surgery. He's sitting in the low 90s mph and has hit 95 on occasion.
Carrillo said Wednesday that it wasn't until this summer, while we was with San Antonio, that his elbow finally felt completely pain free and like it felt before the surgery.
"Everyone who has gone through Tommy John ... everyone is different, everyone comes back with a whole different timetable," Carrillo said. "I feel like I finally found a rhythm this summer as far as being out there on the mound and trying to make pitches."
Carrillo said the key hasn't been velocity but more so getting the feel, command and just being comfortable with his curveball again.
"The curveball has finally come back," he said. "The curveball is one of the last pitches to come back, I don't know if it's because of the surgery, trying to snap it back off or what. Letting go [a fastball] was an easy process, but the curveball ... that was a big step. It's kind of hard to explain, once you let a couple go and it feels good, you're back to normal."
Pitching matchupSD: RHP Cesar Carrillo (MLB debut)
In his first 22 appearances in the Minor Leagues this year, the right-hander had an 8-5 record with a 4.23 ERA and has pitched better throughout the summer. MIL: LHP Manny Parra (7-8, 6.26 ERA)
Parra took advantage of being staked to an early seven-run lead on Saturday, cruising to his fourth consecutive win. Parra allowed four runs on eight hits in five-plus innings in Houston, and struck out four. He is now 4-0 with a 3.79 ERA in his past seven starts. He has not faced the Padres this season. His only start against San Diego came last year. He went five innings, allowing six runs on six hits and struck out five in a losing effort. He is 2-3 with a 5.08 ERA in eight starts at home this season. Tidbits
When Adrian Gonzalez went 6-for-6 for the Padres on Tuesday, he became the third player this season to go 6-for-6 or better, following Texas' Ian Kinsler (April 15) and Pittsburgh's Freddy Sanchez (May 25). Gonzalez is the fourth player in Padres history to get six hits in a game, but the first to do it in only six at-bats. Gene Richards (6-for-7 on July 26, 1977), Joe Lefebvre (6-for-8 on Sept. 13, 1982) and Tony Gwynn (6-for-7 on Aug. 4, 1993) also had six-hit games. ... In four games against the Brewers, the Padres are hitting .378 (56-for-148) and averaging 7.3 runs, 14 hits and 1.3 home runs per game. The club is posting a .434 on-base percentage while slugging .588 against Milwaukee. ... Chase Headley has hit safely in each of his past eight games and in 12 of his past 13. Over that 13-game stretch, he is hitting .422 (19-for-45) with six multi-hit contests and has raised his season average from .232 to .255. A career .350 hitter vs. the Brewers, Headley is batting .333 (28-for-84) since the All-Star break. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• On radio
• XPRS 1090, XEMO 860 (Español) Up next
• Friday: Padres (Mat Latos, 4-1, 2.43) at Cardinals (Adam Wainwright, 13-7, 2.73), 5:15 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Padres (Tim Stauffer, 1-4, 2.90) at Cardinals (Joel Pineiro, 10-9, 3.22), 4:15 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Padres (Clayton Richard, 6-3, 4.57) at Cardinals (Kyle Lohse, 5-7, 4.34), 11:15 a.m. PT
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
