News
LeBlanc faring well in his late audition
San Diego (66-80) vs. Arizona (63-82), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
09/15/09 1:59 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- The Padres continue to use the final weeks of the regular season to evaluate players who might be under consideration for spots on the 2010 roster and left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc certainly fits the bill.After struggling mightily in a two-start stint in June, LeBlanc was sent to Triple-A Portland. He emerged a different pitcher, one who allowed two runs in 13 innings with six hits in his past two starts.
LeBlanc gets the start on Tuesday against the D-backs at PETCO Park, his third start since returning from Portland on Aug. 29.
In his last outing he pitched into the eighth inning of a 4-2 victory over the Giants on Sept. 9. All told, he allowed two runs on four hits in seven-plus innings.
"You have to tip your hat to him," Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez said after the game. "He pitched a great game. At the same time, starting with myself, as a team we needed to have a better approach.
"I don't think we made adjustments on him throughout the game and I'll be the first one to admit that I'm one of those guys."
LeBlanc has done a better job of pitching off his fastball since returning and not merely relying on his changeup. This start followed six scoreless innings against the Dodgers.
"I would say this was a lot better than in L.A.," LeBlanc said. "This game, I felt I was able to set the tempo. This is the first time I've been able to throw it where I wanted to."
Manager Bud Black likes how much more aggressive LeBlanc is being in the strike zone instead of pitching away from contact.
"He was throwing the ball well and he had given up four hits through seven innings, and there wasn't a lot of hard contact," Black said. "He was throwing strikes and in the sixth and seventh, he was very efficient."
Pitching matchupSD: LHP Wade LeBlanc (2-1, 5.01 ERA)
Five days after tossing six scoreless innings in a victory over the Dodgers, LeBlanc went after another NL West bigwig -- the Giants. Other than allowing a two-run home run to leadoff hitter Andres Blanco in the third inning, LeBlanc pitched pretty well, getting 11 ground-ball outs over seven-plus innings in a victory at AT&T Park. LeBlanc walked three, struck out three and allowed four hits. ARI: RHP Dan Haren (13-8, 2.82 ERA)
Haren pitched well enough to win in his last outing, but came away with a no-decision instead as the D-backs beat the Dodgers, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth inning at Chase Field. Haren allowed three runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. The Dodgers hitter that did the most damage against him was Manny Ramirez, who drove in a run in the first inning with a single and hit a solo homer in the fourth. Haren left with the game tied, 3-3, and the D-backs won it when Mark Reynolds drew a bases-loaded walk. Tidbits
Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, who hasn't played since Tuesday in San Francisco, is "feeling better" according to Black. Kouzmanoff was told his strained left calf might take seven to 10 days to get better and Black indicated over the weekend that he might not return until Friday in Pittsburgh. "I'm not going to say Friday or Monday, we're hoping for Pittsburgh, if not Colorado," Black said, indicating Kouzmanoff might return for a series in Colorado on Tuesday. ... Relievers Mike Adams (shoulder strain) and Greg Burke (sore shoulder) threw bullpen sessions on Sunday and will do so again on Tuesday. If all goes well, Black said, they could return to active duty later in the week. ... Black indicated that pitcher Edward Mujica will get a second start on Wednesday against Arizona. He threw four scoreless innings in his first spot start on Friday against the Rockies. Tickets
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• XPRS 1090, XEMO 860 (Español) Up next
• Wednesday: Padres (Edward Mujica, 3-4, 3.33) vs. D-backs (Doug Davis, 7-13, 3.99), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Padres (Tim Stauffer, 4-6, 3.31) at Pirates (TBD), 4:05 p.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.
