News
Mujica making second start for Friars
San Diego (65-81) vs. Arizona (64-82), 12:35 p.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
09/16/09 1:08 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- Can it really be called a spot start if it happens more than once? Edward Mujica, who gets the start Wednesday for the Padres against Arizona, is certainly hoping to make his a full-time gig.On Friday, Mujica got a spot start against the Rockies after the Padres opted to shut down rookie pitcher Mat Latos for the rest of the season out of concerns for his workload in 2009.
Insert Mujica, who nearly got a spot start in early August, but the arrival of Clayton Richard in the Jake Peavy deal changed all that.
Against the Rockies, Mujica made a strong statement to stay in the rotation, if not for the remainder of the year then for next season.
Mujica struck out three and didn't walk a single batter in four scoreless innings. He lowered his ERA this season to 3.33 and did well enough to get at least one more start.
"He threw the ball well," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He's been a strike thrower, he has gone to a full windup, and he feels comfortable."
Mujica, who was making his first Major League start after 116 relief appearances, didn't have any issues with the adjustment to working longer or pitching out of a windup instead of the stretch, as he has done exclusively as a reliever.
"It felt pretty good, these guys put me in a good situation," he said. "Three weeks ago, I told [pitching coach Darren Balsley] that I want to try my windup. He told me if I like it, then keep doing it."
Pitching matchup
SD: RHP Edward Mujica (3-4, 3.33 ERA)
In a game where Mujica was expected to throw between 40-60 pitches, the right-hander threw 56 pitches over his four innings vs. the Rockies. ARI: LHP Doug Davis (7-13, 3.99 ERA)
Davis has not won in his past six starts. In fairness, only two of those can be characterized as poor outings. His last time out against the Brewers was one of them as he allowed 11 hits and five runs before being removed with no outs and the bases loaded in the fourth inning, in his second-shortest outing of the season. Davis is pitching for a contract and is in the final year of a three-year extension he signed prior to the 2007 season. Davis has said he would like a three-year deal this time around as well. Tidbits
Class A Fort Wayne opened the Midwest League championship series on Tuesday with a 6-2 victory over Burlington. Pitcher Erik Davis, who won 16 games during the regular season, allowed two runs over six innings. Daniel Robertson had three hits and stole a base for the TinCaps. ... Relievers Mike Adams and Greg Burke figure to be ready to pitch on Friday when the Padres open a four-game set in Pittsburgh. Both have been dealing with shoulder pain. The Padres could use some depth in their bullpen as pitchers like Sean Gallagher, Heath Bell and Luke Gregerson have been taxed lately. ... Second baseman David Eckstein got his second game off in as many days Tuesday with a sore neck that was the result of "sleeping on it wrong," according to manager Bud Black. The Padres used Luis Rodriguez there again on Tuesday. ... Outfielder Will Venable was a late scratch Tuesday after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Tickets
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• XPRS 1090, XEMO 860 (Español) Up next
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Padres (Tim Stauffer, 4-6, 3.31) at Pirates (Charlie Morton, 3-8, 5.35), 4:05 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Padres (Clayton Richard, 8-5, 4.90) at Pirates (TBD), 9:35 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.
