PADRES NOTES: Rodriguez shows versatility with a start at first base

By DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Thursday, August 28, 2008 12:23 AM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Luis Rodriguez continued to make the most of a tough season, starting at first base on Wednesday.

Padres manager Bud Black preferred to keep Rodriguez and his hot bat in the lineup. With left-hander Randy Johnson on the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Adrian Gonzalez in need of a rest, Black elected to move Rodriguez to first base, where he started for the fifth time in his career.

"I don't feel tight or intimidated," Rodriguez said of playing at first. "I want to be in the lineup. I feel really good."

Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt before shifting to shortstop in the ninth inning, when Gonzalez entered as a defensive replacement. In his last 15 games, covering 56 at-bats, Rodriguez is hitting .321.

It's the high point of a season in which Rodriguez was one of the final cuts of spring training. Several weeks later, he broke his hand at Triple-A Portland.

Since shortstop Khalil Greene was placed on the disabled list with a broken hand on Aug. 1, Rodriguez has appeared in 22 games, impressing Black with his solid defense. With fewer than three years of service time, Rodriguez ---- who was claimed off waivers last Oct. 4 ---- could figure into a utility role with the Padres next season.

 

Reineke the stopper

When he stalled Brandon Webb's quest for his 20th victory Tuesday night, Chad Reineke became only the fourth pitcher in the last 50 years with fewer than two career wins to beat an opponent trying for his 20th win, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Reineke joined Wayne Franklin, Rick Kreuger and Bill Gogolewski, who prevented Roy Oswalt (2002), Ed Figueroa (1976) and Jim Palmer (1970), respectively, from accomplishing the feat.

Reineke said he didn't think about the stature of his counterpart.

"Especially being in my third start, there are so many things I have to worry about," he said. "Thinking like that could crowd my head."

 

Banks, Corey to minors

The Padres optioned pitcher Josh Banks to Triple-A Portland to make room for Bryan Corey, who was activated off the 15-day disabled. But shortly after being activated, Corey was sent outright to Portland, leaving the Padres with 24 players on their 25-man roster.

 

Shorts hops

RHP Chris Young (forearm) said he's ready to return to the rotation after coming out of Tuesday's simulated game in good shape. Young might throw a bullpen session Friday and start Sunday against Colorado or in Los Angeles on Monday or Tuesday. ... OF Brian Giles moved into sixth place in club history when he scored his 431st run in the ninth inning. ... LHP Randy Johnson had two hits for the eighth multihit game of his career and the first since Sept. 14, 2003.