ATLANTA – Rubbing shampoo onto his head last August, Shawn Estes was in so much pain that he considered pulling the plug on his comeback from reconstructive elbow surgery. But Estes persisted, and yesterday he returned to the mound for his first appearance with the Padres since his left elbow gave out on April 5, 2006.
“It was worth it,” the 35-year-old pitcher said.
Estes began with 1 2/3 scoreless innings before a two-out error in the sixth by second baseman Callix Crabbe put the Braves' Matt Diaz on first. Estes then allowed a single, a double steal and a walk before Cla Meredith gave up a single that brought in two unearned runs. The Padres went on to lose 5-4, but Estes still took some satisfaction out of his return.
“It was exciting to get back out in that big league atmosphere,” he said.
Estes was so pumped up that he assumed his first batter was a dangerous pinch hitter. Actually, it was middle reliever Jorge Campillo. Estes struck him out. “He's probably thinking, 'What's that guy doing? I'm a pitcher and he's throwing his curveball and fastball inside?'
” Estes cracked.
Manager Bud Black said Estes' pitch quality was far better than in spring training. Estes said his time in Triple-A paid off in improved confidence and better stuff and accuracy.
Another marathon?
Jake Peavy is facing the Rockies tonight, so it might be a long ballgame.
The past three times Peavy has faced the Rockies, the game went at least 13 innings. Each marathon ended with a gut-wrenching defeat for the dazed Padres.
There was the 14-inning, 2-1 defeat at Petco Park on Sept. 21, when Peavy's seven-inning, one-run performance wasn't good enough.
There was the 13-inning, playoff-berth-denying 9-8 loss in Denver on Oct. 1, in which the Rockies scored six runs off Peavy in 6 1/3 innings.
Last month, the Rockies weathered eight scoreless innings by Peavy and won 2-1 in 22 innings, the longest game in Padres history. The Padres were 8-7 going into that April 17 game, which ended more than six hours later, after 1 a.m. on April 18.
Notes
Rookie catcher Colt Morton made an awkward, palm-down attempt to catch Heath Bell's low fastball, and it skimmed under his mitt for a two-out wild pitch that let in the tying run in the seventh. Morton said Bell's fastball was extra lively. “Unfortunately, I couldn't stick it,” Morton said.
If the Padres decide to tear this team down and trade established players for prospects, their options could be reduced by the no-trade powers of some players. Right fielder Brian Giles can veto a trade to the Red Sox, Tigers, Orioles, Marlins, Pirates, Brewers, Rays or Nationals. Greg Maddux's consent would be needed for a trade to any club. Peavy has full no-trade powers through 2010.
Tom Krasovic: (619) 293-2207; tom.krasovic@uniontrib.com
