MarkBellhorn.net Baseball

Friars edge Rockies in finale
05/31/2006 6:20 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

After Clay Hensley walked an early tightrope, the Padres rallied for three sixth-inning runs Wednesday and beat the Rockies, 3-2, to take the PETCO Park series, two games to one.

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Notes: Piazza heads All-Star hopes
05/30/2006 10:20 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

The Padres' Mike Piazza has been a starter in the All-Star Game 10 times. Among catchers, only Yogi Berra, with 11, has started more often.

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Thompson's outing not enough
05/30/2006 12:48 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

San Diego's Mike Thompson gave up three runs through six innings, but he couldn't top Colorado's Jason Jennings' shutout in the Padres 5-0 loss at home to the Rockies. Mark Bellhorn and Adrian Gonzalez got the only San Diego hits.

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Notes: Cameron knows stroke will come
05/29/2006 9:02 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

After a day full of historic home run blasts at PETCO Park, Mike Cameron warns that the Padres shouldn't fall in love with the long ball. After all, the center fielder knows PETCO's dimensions better than almost anyone.

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Bard, Bellhorn bash Padres to win
05/28/2006 7:10 PM ET
By Amanda Branam / MLB.com

The Padres and Cardinals combined for six home runs in Sunday's game of starters Jake Peavy and Mark Mulder, two of the top pitchers in the National League, but the Padres held on to win, 10-8.

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Missed chances cost Padres
05/27/2006 6:53 PM ET
By Amanda Branam / MLB.com

A three-run third inning by the Cardinals held up to give them a 4-3 win over the Padres on Saturday, giving each team a win in the series.

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Notes: Peavy's performance brings buzz
05/23/2006 10:40 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

To those who wondered why Bruce Bochy pinch-hit for Peavy in the bottom of the seventh, his team trailing 2-0 with one on and two outs, the Padres manager had a sensible response. He was concerned about overextending his ace, who'd complained after his previous start of shoulder tightness and had thrown 114 high-octane pitches in overpowering the Braves.

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Peavy fans 16 Braves in loss
05/23/2006 2:25 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Jake Peavy struck out a team-record 16 batters in seven innings on Monday night, but the Padres lost, 3-1, to John Smoltz and the Braves.

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What a fun game! It's a shame that they lost. They had a couple of rallies - and Mark was part of one of them - but they didn't follow through. Peavy was great - and the Padres' announcer was so funny - I've never heard anyone get so excited (and LOUD!) - he went nuts every time Peavy struck out someone after the 10th one or so. Then he started speaking Italian when Mike P hit his home run! Definitely one to download!

Padres hang on in the desert (Mark got a double)
05/18/2006 2:45 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

The Padres jumped to a 9-0 first-inning lead, sending 13 men to home plate, then held on for dear life to nail down a 14-10 victory Wednesday night at Chase Field, preventing a series sweep.

Padres set for Interleague bash
05/18/2006 2:34 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Chris Young will take the mound for the Padres in the series opener against the Mariners at Safeco Field in Seattle on Friday at 7:05 p.m. PT. Young, who has two career victories against Seattle from his days with the Rangers, will be looking for his fourth win.

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Bowen lifts Padres to seventh straight
05/07/2006 2:40 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

For the second night in a row, it took extra innings to decide the winner between the Padres and Cubs. It only took 10 innings on Saturday night, thanks to Rob Bowen's walk-off homer.

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Notes: Estes starts throwing routine
05/04/2006 10:44 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Sidelined since early April with a strained left elbow, Shawn Estes threw a baseball, 30 times, from 60 feet at Dodger Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

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Padres ride late surge past Dodgers
05/04/2006 2:52 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Late-inning thunder by their new version of the Killer B's -- Josh Barfield, Geoff Blum and Mark Bellhorn -- powered the Padres to their fourth straight win, an 11-5 thumping of the Dodgers on Wednesday night in front of 33,352 at Dodger Stadium that catapulted San Diego over Los Angeles into fourth place in the National League West. The loss was the Dodgers' fourth straight, a skid San Diego started on Sunday with its come-from-behind win in 10 innings.

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12:11am May 4 - Mark just hit a 3-run homer which put the Padres ahead 4-1. It was only his 2nd right-handed at bat this season. GO MARK!!!

May 2 - Dave Roberts added an RBI triple and Brian Giles and Mark Bellhorn each doubled in a run for San Diego, which won three in a row for the first time all season.

You have probably heard that Doug is back with the Red Sox - I'm very happy about that! Check out this article - nice words about Doug and also about Mark's hitting!

Notes: Padres happy for Mirabelli
05/01/2006 11:46 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

In a deal that brought catcher Josh Bard and Minor League pitcher Cla Mereditch along with other considerations to San Diego, catcher Doug Mirabelli was sent back to the Red Sox on Monday.

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Mailbag: Peavy, Hoffman will be OK
05/01/2006 6:26 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Is the lack of offense putting Jake Peavy at risk? Is the lack of save opportunities driving Trevor Hoffman batty? Padres beat reporter Lyle Spencer answers these questions and more to put fans' minds at ease with his latest mailbag.

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APRIL NEWS

Padres rally late to stun Dodgers
04/30/2006 9:15 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

The Padres' slumbering offense finally stirred to life late Sunday afternoon, rallying from a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings and stun the Dodgers, 6-5.

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Notes: Puzzling month comes to end
04/30/2006 4:45 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

The Padres' search for runs -- and answers -- continued on Sunday as a distressing homestand came to a conclusion. The obvious question -- why can't this team hit at PETCO Park? -- is easily and frequently asked.

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April 26 - With rookie Josh Barfield getting a day off, Mark Bellhorn started at second base and hit a solo homer with two outs in the fifth off El Duque. Bellhorn also made two nice plays at second base. (From CNN alerts)

Padres drop pitchers' duel
04/25/2006 2:18 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Chan Ho Park was good, but Brandon Webb was better. Holding the Padres to four hits and one run over eight innings before giving way to Jose Valverde, Webb dispatched Park and the Padres, 4-1, Monday night in front of 19,718 at PETCO Park.

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Notes: Hoffman getting antsy
04/15/2006 6:39 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Trevor Hoffman does not like this waiting game. The All-Star closer, just 43 saves from eclipsing baseball's all-time mark, has yet to appear in a save situation this season. "These dry spells can get a little unnerving," said Hoffman.

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Padres fall on homer in eighth
04/15/2006 2:57 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Jeff Francoeur's line-drive homer to left in the bottom of the eighth inning was the difference Friday night in the Braves' 5-4 victory over the Padres before 36,406 at Turner Field.

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Notes: Hensley inserted into rotation
04/14/2006 6:53 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Clay Hensley was told on Friday that he would be moving from the bullpen to the starting roatation, taking the spot of left-hander Dewon Brazelton.

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Padres lumber up to top Cubs
04/01/2006 1:15 AM ET
By Patrick Donnelly / Special to MLB.com

Vinny Castilla blasted a long three-run homer in the first inning, the first of four San Diego home runs in the Padres' 8-4 victory over the Cubs in Las Vegas on Friday.

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Notes: Young has strong final tuneup
04/01/2006 2:36 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

In his final spring tuneup, Chris Young gave the Padres what they'd been waiting to see: a string of zeros. Delivering four scoreless innings to open the game Friday, Young was pumping premium gas past hitters, including lethal Derrek Lee, and spotting his offspeed stuff. (And Mark got his 4th home run!)

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Padres Opening Day outlook
03/31/2006 10:00 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

The Padres' talent is more than sufficient for another NL West title run, on the field and on the pitching staff. Experience is a plus, the trick being keeping all those veterans healthy.

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Padres fall to hot-hitting Angels
03/27/2006 11:46 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Mark Bellhorn hit a solo homer, his third of the spring. Brian Giles had two of the four hits against Kelvim Escobar, and Eric Young singled and scored on Mike Piazza's force.

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Padres looking to pick up the pace
03/26/2006 4:49 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

The Padres brought in some thunder at the plate during the offseason, but equally important in their plans for 2006 is lightning. The restructured Friars are looking to establish a more viable running game, pumping more life into the whole operation.

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Notes: Pain doesn't faze Klesko
03/25/2006 1:53 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

San Diego Padres first baseman Ryan Klesko told team brass that he will play through the shoulder pain and will have surgery after the season. Meanwhile, several home runs propelled the team to a victory over the Rangers.

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Notes: Tough day for Padres
03/23/2006 9:00 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

There are days when it's best to invoke the one saving grace about springtime baseball: It doesn't count in the grand scheme of things. Thursday was such a day for Bruce Bochy, who watched his Padres absorb a 7-0 pounding from the Royals.

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Notes: Young pleased with his stuff
03/21/2006 8:33 PM ET
By Owen Perkins / Special to MLB.com

You won't see it in his pitching line, but Chris Young felt he had some of his best stuff in Tuesday's 10-7 win over the White Sox.

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For Bellhorn, more is definitely better
03/08/2006 4:30 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Mark Merchant might be nothing more than a footnote in baseball history, but he is a significant figure in the life of Mark Bellhorn. As a youngster in Florida, Bellhorn mimicked the former top draft pick, which helped the new Padre reach the Majors.

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Mailbag: Will Barfield be first at second?
03/06/2006 10:28 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Is Josh Barfield ready to capture the Padres' second-base job or is he a year away from the Majors? That inquiry, as well as questions about Jake Peavy and San Diego's catchers of the present and future, is addressed in this week's mailbag.

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March 5 - Mark Bellhorn, the free agent who had productive seasons for the 2002 Cubs and 2004 champion Red Sox, continued to swing a hot bat in Sunday's 13-7 decision over the Mariners. The switch-hitter drilled a two-run homer to right-center in the fifth inning at Peoria Stadium against Renee Cortez. See full story HERE

March 5 - Padres at the plate: Rookie Josh Barfield drove in four runs with a pair of doubles, breaking open a 3-3 game with a two-out, three-run double in the sixth against Renee Cortez, who surrendered a two-run homer to Mark Bellhorn in the fifth. Free-agent outfielder Eric Valent had two RBI singles and Paul McAnulty crushed a two-run double.

March 3 - Ringing the bell: Mark Bellhorn, a veteran free-agent acquisition bidding for the second-base job, made an impressive Padres debut with two doubles Friday -- the club's only extra-base blows in a desultory 10-1 loss to the Angels.

March 3 - Padres at the plate: Mark Bellhorn hit a pair of doubles. Mike Cameron reached base on an error and scored. Brian Giles singled and walked

Notes: Hill continues to climb
02/24/2006 5:08 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Newcomer Bobby Hill is in the mix at second base for the Padres, and the talented infielder hopes that his latest stop will mean an everyday job. "It's a matter of finding the right opportunity at the right time," said Hill. "I think the opportunity's there."

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Notes: Padres get taller, Young-er
02/23/2006 7:13 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

The Padres didn't get young during the offseason, but they certainly added a pair of impressive Youngs -- 6-foot-10 pitcher Chris, and 6-foot-5 slugger Walter.

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Mailbag: Looking for lineup thunder
02/20/2006 9:41 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

With Spring Training under way in Peoria, Ariz., Padres fans are wondering about the potency of the San Diego lineup and the makeup of the pitching staff. Beat writer Lyle Spencer tackles those topics and more in this week's mailbag.

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02/19/2006 12:30 PM ET
Padres welcome proven winner Embree
Lefty among several Friars from 2004 champion Red Sox

Nice article - brings back memories!!!

Read it Here

Notes: Mirabelli will be a busy backup
02/16/2006 6:21 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

Doug Mirabelli may have been disappointed when the Padres signed Mike Piazza, but Bruce Bochy assures the veteran catcher he will get plenty of opportunity to play.

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Around the Horn: Bench
02/15/2006 10:00 AM ET
By Tom Singer / MLB.com

There will be new starters at six out of eight positions in San Diego this season, but the Padres will boast less a lineup than a co-op, with versatile backups supporting some veterans recruited for their pennant-race experience and leadership.

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Padres Spring Training quick hits
02/13/2006 9:00 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

After a busy offseason, the Padres will spend Spring Training settling on a new second baseman, reconstructing the bullpen, identifying a starting rotation and building chemistry around newcomers such as Mike Piazza, Vinny Castilla and Mike Cameron.

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Padres wondering who's on second
02/13/2006 8:00 AM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

As the Padres go about the business of defending their NL West title, change is in the air. Nowhere is it more evident, nowhere is it more pivotal, than at second base, where five players are vying to fill the spot vacated by the trade of Mark Loretta.

Blum searching for starting spot
02/10/2006 10:00 AM ET
By Sandy Burgin / Special to MLB.com

With one swing of the bat, everyone knew Geoff Blum. The 32-year-old's home run in the 2005 World Series propelled the White Sox to sweep the Astros. One year later, Blum is ready to compete for the second base spot for Bruce Bochy and company.

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Around the Horn: Middle infielders
02/01/2006 2:00 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

No fewer than five candidates for the second base job will be sharing the middle infield with shortstop Khalil Greene during Spring Training. Four veterans and a rookie will be trying to impress Padres manager Bruce Bochy during Cactus League play.

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Padres play numbers game
01/17/2006 8:12 PM ET
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com

In San Diego, you really won't be able to tell the players without a scorecard after a busy offseason of roster revamping. A host of new Padres means there will also be plenty of new uniform numbers for fans to get to know.

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