Pitchers look forward to Petco

By: ED WEHDE - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 13, 2005 7:44 PM PDT ∞

LAKE ELSINORE ---- Storm pitcher Arturo Lopez called it good timing and High Desert pitcher Patrick Green termed it a stroke of luck.

Whatever phrase the two minor leaguer hurlers used, "it" is the opportunity to pitch in a major league ballpark.

Lopez and Green will take the mound for their respective teams this evening when the Storm and Mavericks follow the Padres and Phillies as part of the Padres organizations' annual major league-minor league doubleheader at Petco Park in San Diego.

"It's pretty cool, because I just got called up," Green said. "I kind of got lucky."

Green spent the bulk of the season with the Burlington (Iowa) Bees, Kansas City's affiliate in the Low Class-A Midwest League, where he went 6-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 games. In three starts since his promotion to High Desert on July 26, the 23-year-old right-hander has gone 1-2 with a 2.95 ERA.

Just weeks after pitching at Community Field in Burlington, Green will throw at Petco Park in America's Finest City.

"It should be fun," Green said, adding that he is not going to change how he pitches in what has become known as a pitchers' park. "I'm just going to try to keep the ball down, just like usual. Wherever I pitch, I try to keep my fastball down and get my breaking stuff over.

"Of course it does help that you're in a pitchers' park. I've only pitched in High Desert's field one time, and I got touched up pretty good."

For Lopez, the trip to Petco will be his first ---- and his first to any major league park. The chance to pitch there comes in the midst of a slump.

The left-hander started the season 5-2, but has dropped his last six decisions and hasn't won since June 16. For the season, the 22-year-old is 5-8 with a 5.21 ERA.

"It's actually a pretty good time (for me to pitch at Petco)," Lopez said. "I've been struggling, so all I want to do is have fun and enjoy it."

Like Green, Lopez said he won't change how he pitches: He, too, will continue to try to keep his pitches down.

Unlike Green, who is making what is likely a rare appearance at the Padres' stadium, Lopez hopes today's game will be the first of many he pitches in San Diego.

"I think we're all going to enjoy it, and we believe that someday we're going to play there for the Padres," Lopez said.

Hot ticket

The AFLAC All-American High School Baseball Classic is in just its third year, but it has quickly become a must-see for baseball scouts.

The game, which is played in Aberdeen, Md., and was won, 8-4, by the West team this year, is an opportunity for talent judges to see high school players compete against top competition ---- something they can't always do during the high school season.

"Even in his league championship, they won't see this kind of competition," one scout told Minorleaguebaseball.com while watching a left-handed hitter face a lefty pitcher during the game. "This kid may never see a lefty with that kind of stuff all year, and certainly not with a wood bat."

The Classic's participants certainly have made an impression on the scouts.

Fifty-two players from the first two games were drafted, and the first overall pick in the last two drafts ---- Padres prospect Matt Bush and Arizona draftee Justin Upton ---- played in the game.

Around the minors

Inland Empire infielder Michael Garciaparra was honored as California League Player of the Week last week and San Jose's Ryan Sadowski was named the league's Pitcher of the Week. Garciaparra was 16-for-34 with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs as the 66ers went 6-1 for the week. Sadowski held the Storm to one hit and two walks while striking out 12 in seven shutout innings in his one start of the week.

Ed Wehde covers minor league baseball for The Californian. His minor-league notebooks appear Sundays. He can be reached at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2633 or at ewehde@californian.com.