Eaton adds hybrid to his pitch arsenal

By: GREG BALL - Staff Writer | Sunday, March 28, 2004 9:37 PM PST ∞

SURPRISE, Ariz. ---- Adam Eaton has added a new pitch to his repertoire in his last two starts. The right-hander, who made his final start of the spring Sunday in the Padres' 14-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals, is experimenting with a pitch that is a hybrid of his cut fastball and his slider.

It's most effective against lefties, Eaton said.

"Usually I have either a great cutter or a great slider, but I don't have both," Eaton said. "So I just want to try that one pitch."

Eaton threw more pitches Sunday (92) than any other Padres pitcher this spring, and after a three-run first inning, he settled down. He allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

He said he threw more sinkers than he had in his previous four starts combined.

"I got a lot more ground balls and jam shots," Eaton said. "It was a positive sign that I could get the ball to sink out here."

Said Padres manager Bruce Bochy: "He feels ready. All his pitches got better as he went on."

Bullpen falters

The Royals beat up on the Padres' bullpen Sunday. Kansas City reached relievers Bart Miadich and Edgar Huerta for 10 runs in the sixth inning.

Most of those came after Huerta's throwing error extended the inning. Huerta fielded a comebacker with two outs and sailed it over first baseman Jeff Cirillo's head, allowing three runs to score.

Royals left fielder Adrian Brown later hit a three-run home run.

"(Huerta) got flustered and lost his composure there," Bochy said. "He was out of synch.

"He's really been throwing well. One thing you look at it is how a guy handles adversity."

Bochy said the team expects to announce a roster cutdown today. One of the few areas left to address is the crowded bullpen.

Short hops

1B Phil Nevin said he felt fine after taking batting practice for the second time since injuring his left shoulder March 7. He's expected to play Tuesday. ... Todd Sears (back) made his first start of the spring as the Padres' designated hitter. He went 2-for-2 ... Rick Renteria, the manager of the Padres' High Single-A team in Lake Elsinore, is expected back in minor-league camp today after being sent home to Temecula for a week with a medical condition. Renteria declined to specify exactly what ailed him, but plans to be ready for the Storm's opener on April 8. He was hospitalized March 22 near Peoria and won't be on the field for the rest of the spring. "I'm recovering well," he said by phone. "I'm taking it easy." ... Minor-league infielder Peter Stonard is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a broken thumb. A San Diego State product, Stonard was to start the season with Lake Elsinore.