By Liz Alper

Photo:  Melvin Upton Jr., the hero of the game, gets high-fives from his teammates after his solo home run in the ninth.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

May 12, 2016 (Milwaukee) - After a great series against the Cubs, the Padres traveled to Miller Park in Milwaukee to start a four-game weekend series against the struggling Brewers.  James Shields got the start for San Diego against Jimmy Nelson for the Brewers.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  a Padres fan wears a Colin Rea jersey outside of historic Wrigley Field in Chicago.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

May 11, 2016 (Chicago) - The Pads and Cubs woke up bright and early to play game one of today’s doubleheader.  Colin Rea took the mound for San Diego and Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy Johnmaxmena2 on Wikipedia, Creative Commons attribution

May 9, 2016 (Washington, D.C.) - On Monday, San Diego State graduate and starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg signed a seven year, $175 million extension with the Washington Nationals, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.  The deal includes an opt-out option after the third or fourth year, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.  Bonuses are also included for hitting 180 innings pitched each season.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

May 7, 2016 (San Diego) - Padres fans were in for a treat tonight as they got to witness the legendary Bartolo Colon take the mound for the Mets in game three against James Shields for San Diego.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy Mtmelendez on Wikipedia

May 6, 2016 (Puerto Rico) - The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Miami Marlins were scheduled to play a two-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 30^th and 31^st.

By Liz Alper

Photo: fans enjoy day baseball.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

May 4, 2016 (San Diego) - Cesar Vargas started for San Diego and Tyler Chatwood for Colorado in the matinee series finale between the Padres and Rockies. The score stayed at zero for five innings until Tony Wolters scored in the fifth to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead.

In the ninth, D.J. LeMahieu finished the job with a sacrifice bunt to score Mark Reynolds and make the score 2-0 Rockies. That would be the final score as the Padres once again fail to get the sweep.

100 Things Padres Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, by Kirk Kenney (Triumph Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2016, 269 pages).

By Dennis Moore

May 3, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - Baseball has been called “America’s Pastime,” and for those who have played or enjoyed watching the game as I have, they will absolutely fall in love with the book by Kirk Kenney; 100 Things Padres Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. With a foreword by former San Diego Padres’ pitcher Randy Jones, this book resurrected many of my childhood memories and dreams about actually playing in the Major Leagues.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  bird’s eye view.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

 

May 1, 2016 (Los Angeles) - The Padres were looking for the sweep of the LA Dodgers in the series finale in Tinseltown.  Drew Pomeranz took the mound for San Diego and Clayton Kershaw for LA.

By Liz Alper

Photos: Joshua Perry (Youtube screenshot), Max Tuerk (left, forums.chargers.com), Drew Kaser (Youtube screenshot with SEC background), Derek Watt

April 30, 2016 (Chicago) - Max Tuerk will travel two hours south for his NFL career.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  Youtube screenshot

April 29, 2016 (Chicago) - On day one of the NFL draft, the Chargers added to their defensive line by drafting Joey Bosa.  On day two, they sought to change the fact that Philip Rivers has almost no one to throw to by drafting tight end Hunter Henry as their 35th overall pick in round two.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  Padres line up for the anthem.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

 

April 27, 2016 (San Francisco) - The song says that if you go to San Francisco, remember to wear a flower in your hair.  The Padres replaced their flowers with black wreaths.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

 

April 25, 2016 (San Francisco) - The Padres started a 14 game road trip, but bad luck always seems to follow them wherever they go.  Tonight, their bad luck came in the form of Giants starter Madison Bumgarner, who pitched lights out as usual.  It didn’t help that Drew Pomeranz was starting and he’s no MadBum.

By Liz Alper

 

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

 

April 24, 2016 (San Diego) - The series finale between the Cardinals and Padres was a beautiful Sunday at Petco Park.  Colin Rea took the mound for San Diego, Mike Leake for St. Louis.

By Liz Alper

Photos by Liz Alper

April 23, 2016 (San Diego) - Chargers fans gathered at the parking lot of 13th and K Streets downtown, the site of the proposed new downtown stadium, to listen to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Chargers chairman Dean Spanos, quarterback Philip Rivers, former Charger LaDainian Tomlinson and other Chargers representatives and players.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  the presentation of the colors before the game.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

April 21, 2016 (San Diego) - The Padres were looking for the sweep in the final game of the series against the yinzers from Pittsburgh.  James Shields was on the hill for San Diego, with Pirates ace Gerrit Cole on the mound for Pittsburgh.