yagsy
07-18-2006, 03:27 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20060718-9999-2s18padres.html
First baseman beats Phillies with two HRs
By Tom Krasovic
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 18, 2006
At age 24, Adrian Gonzalez is rapidly evolving into a primary source of power for the Padres.
Able to drive the ball to all fields, which poses problems for a wide variety of pitchers, Gonzalez hit two more home runs last night to carry the Padres to an 8-6 win over the Phillies at Petco Park.
“What a game he had,” Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. “He's got a beautiful swing and a great glove.”
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060718/images/padres280.jpg
JIM BAIRD / Union-Tribune
Adrian Gonzalez watches his three-run homer in the seventh inning against the Phillies, giving him seven homers in seven games.
Gonzalez has seven homers in his past 31 at-bats, a seven-game tear that has lifted his season total to 18, best on the team and equal to Ryan Klesko's team-high total in 2005.
“It's mainly a matter of playing time,” Gonzalez said. “It helps that I have a manager who has confidence in me.”
Gonzalez homered for one run in the sixth, drawing the Padres to 4-3, but it was his next shot that represents one of the team's season highlights. With Philadelphia ahead 6-4, one out and two Padres on base in the seventh, Phillies left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier was summoned.
Cormier had the lowest ERA in the National League, with no homers allowed in 32 innings. Against starter Cole Hamels, a Rancho Bernardo High (SD County) product who stood to get the win, Gonzalez had driven an outside fastball into the left-field seats.
Gonzalez worked the count to 1-1 against Cormier, then hammered a split-finger fastball into the right-field seats. “It was definitely right down the middle, and I took advantage of it,” Gonzalez said.
Scott Linebrink worked a scoreless eighth, Dave Roberts scored an insurance run and Trevor Hoffman, coming off consecutive blown saves, the first in Tuesday's All-Star Game, earned his 25th save in 27 attempts.
The Padres (49-43) won for the first time in four games since the All-Star break. That's a solid spell in the National League West, good enough to add a game to a lead that stands at three.
“You just want to keep winning; it doesn't matter whether you've been losing or winning,” Gonzalez said.
The Padres may want to pinch Gonzalez to make sure he's real. A Chula Vista product who is as popular in Mexico as he is in San Diego, he grew up rooting for the Padres and emulating Tony Gwynn. His left-handed swing produced liners to all fields, so many that Gonzalez was drafted first overall out of Eastlake High.
Now, more liners are carrying for homers.
“Give him credit for all of the work he is putting in,” Bochy said. Hitting coach Merv Rettenmund said Gonzalez's smooth stroke recalls that of former Padres first baseman Wally Joyner, save one key difference.
“Wally had a bad shoulder, so he was unable to finish his swing like he wanted,” Rettenmund said. “Wally hit a lot of line drives that could have gone farther if his shoulder was OK. Well, Adrian's shoulder is fine. He's able to finish his swing.”
As a Rangers prospect, Gonzalez was told his swing was like that of Rafael Palmeiro, who evolved from minor league doubles hitter to major league slugger. In the minors, Gonzalez suffered a wrist injury that drained power. His wrist is back to full strength and he has grown stronger overall, adding some 15 pounds in two years.
“I'm still growing into my body, naturally getting stronger,” said the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder.
Gonzalez, who is batting .281, said he's improved his balance and leverage by applying tutorials of “three great hitting coaches” – the Rangers' Rudy Jaramillo and Padres coaches past (Dave Magadan) and present (Rettenmund).
After hitting his decisive homer – his third in a row off a left-hander – Gonzalez lingered as if to fully absorb what he'd done.
“I'm a streaky hitter,” he said. “I might not hit another home run for 30 games and then it'll be, 'Where did all the power go?' ”
First baseman beats Phillies with two HRs
By Tom Krasovic
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
July 18, 2006
At age 24, Adrian Gonzalez is rapidly evolving into a primary source of power for the Padres.
Able to drive the ball to all fields, which poses problems for a wide variety of pitchers, Gonzalez hit two more home runs last night to carry the Padres to an 8-6 win over the Phillies at Petco Park.
“What a game he had,” Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. “He's got a beautiful swing and a great glove.”
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060718/images/padres280.jpg
JIM BAIRD / Union-Tribune
Adrian Gonzalez watches his three-run homer in the seventh inning against the Phillies, giving him seven homers in seven games.
Gonzalez has seven homers in his past 31 at-bats, a seven-game tear that has lifted his season total to 18, best on the team and equal to Ryan Klesko's team-high total in 2005.
“It's mainly a matter of playing time,” Gonzalez said. “It helps that I have a manager who has confidence in me.”
Gonzalez homered for one run in the sixth, drawing the Padres to 4-3, but it was his next shot that represents one of the team's season highlights. With Philadelphia ahead 6-4, one out and two Padres on base in the seventh, Phillies left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier was summoned.
Cormier had the lowest ERA in the National League, with no homers allowed in 32 innings. Against starter Cole Hamels, a Rancho Bernardo High (SD County) product who stood to get the win, Gonzalez had driven an outside fastball into the left-field seats.
Gonzalez worked the count to 1-1 against Cormier, then hammered a split-finger fastball into the right-field seats. “It was definitely right down the middle, and I took advantage of it,” Gonzalez said.
Scott Linebrink worked a scoreless eighth, Dave Roberts scored an insurance run and Trevor Hoffman, coming off consecutive blown saves, the first in Tuesday's All-Star Game, earned his 25th save in 27 attempts.
The Padres (49-43) won for the first time in four games since the All-Star break. That's a solid spell in the National League West, good enough to add a game to a lead that stands at three.
“You just want to keep winning; it doesn't matter whether you've been losing or winning,” Gonzalez said.
The Padres may want to pinch Gonzalez to make sure he's real. A Chula Vista product who is as popular in Mexico as he is in San Diego, he grew up rooting for the Padres and emulating Tony Gwynn. His left-handed swing produced liners to all fields, so many that Gonzalez was drafted first overall out of Eastlake High.
Now, more liners are carrying for homers.
“Give him credit for all of the work he is putting in,” Bochy said. Hitting coach Merv Rettenmund said Gonzalez's smooth stroke recalls that of former Padres first baseman Wally Joyner, save one key difference.
“Wally had a bad shoulder, so he was unable to finish his swing like he wanted,” Rettenmund said. “Wally hit a lot of line drives that could have gone farther if his shoulder was OK. Well, Adrian's shoulder is fine. He's able to finish his swing.”
As a Rangers prospect, Gonzalez was told his swing was like that of Rafael Palmeiro, who evolved from minor league doubles hitter to major league slugger. In the minors, Gonzalez suffered a wrist injury that drained power. His wrist is back to full strength and he has grown stronger overall, adding some 15 pounds in two years.
“I'm still growing into my body, naturally getting stronger,” said the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder.
Gonzalez, who is batting .281, said he's improved his balance and leverage by applying tutorials of “three great hitting coaches” – the Rangers' Rudy Jaramillo and Padres coaches past (Dave Magadan) and present (Rettenmund).
After hitting his decisive homer – his third in a row off a left-hander – Gonzalez lingered as if to fully absorb what he'd done.
“I'm a streaky hitter,” he said. “I might not hit another home run for 30 games and then it'll be, 'Where did all the power go?' ”