ST. LOUIS (AP) -David Wells’ latest poor start will not cost him a spot in the San Diego Padres’ rotation.
Manager Bud Black said Tuesday that the 44-year-old Wells, victimized Monday night when the St. Louis Cardinals tied a major league record with 10 consecutive hits in a 10-run fifth inning, remained the scheduled starter Saturday at Cincinnati. Wells is 0-3 with a 14.33 ERA in his last four starts. He gave up seven runs and 11 hits in four-plus innings on Monday.
“Anything could change,” Black said. “As of right now, yeah, he’s scheduled to start.”
Wells, who had allowed four hits in four scoreless innings, gave up six straight singles to start the fifth. Black removed Wells after the seventh straight hit, a three-run home run by Scott Rolen that put the Cardinals ahead 7-3.
Black noted that the first few singles weren’t hit hard, although Wells was pounded later in the inning.
“He’s had a few of these in a row, I guess similar type games where things sort of gained momentum for the opposition,” Black said. “I guess you can call it a snowball game.”
It’s possible that Wells wilted in the heat. It was 96 degrees with high humidity at game time.
“He didn’t talk about it, and I didn’t ask him,” Black said. “It might have been a factor, might not.”
The Padres made one roster move Tuesday, involving the reliever who worked the last four innings of Monday’s blowout. Mike Thompson was optioned to Triple-A Portland while outfielder Terrmel Sledge was recalled from Portland.
One of the reasons for the move was that Thompson, who allowed three runs on four hits in his longest outing of the season, would not have been available for at least a few days.
Black also said right-hander Chris Young, who threw a bullpen session on Monday, is likely to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday and start the finale of a four-game series against the Cardinals. Young, who leads the major leagues with a 1.82 ERA, is rehabbing from a strained side muscle.
Sledge was batting .216 in 148 at-bats with six homers and 16 RBIs. He provides protection for outfielders Milton Bradley (hamstring) and Brian Giles (ankle), both battling minor injuries.
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