Cameron Bolsters Bullpen

Kevin Tower's most successful Rule 5 pick since Will Cunnane has returned to the big club. Last year, Bud Black treated Kevin Cameron with kid gloves for the first half of the season. While Cameron seemed to excel before the break, a quick glance at his statistical line revealed a dangerous number of walks allowed (18 in a hair under 30 innings pitched with a 0.31 ERA). Before imploding in September, Cameron found his control and was rewarded with more high profile duty out of the pen. Down with flu during Spring Training, Cameron has been brought up from Portland with Enrique Gonzalez being outrighted to the Beavers to create roster space. The move will shore up a traditionally sturdy pen that has struggled thus far in 2008, a welcomed positive story for Frair fans everywhere.

Friars Take 3 Of 4 From Houston

The San Diego Padres opened the season winning their first series taking 3 of 4 from the Astros. Randy Wolf made his Padres debut and showed well, tossing 6 innings allowing just 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 5. Wolf left with a 2-1 lead courtesy of a first inning, 2 run blast off the bat of Kevin Kouzmanoff. Enrique Gonzalez surrendered the tying run in the 7th, but the Padres' Scott Hairston started a rally with his third hit of the game, a triple past Astros center fielder Jose Cruz. He was immediately picked up by Tad Iguchi for the go ahead and winning run. Trevor Hoffman was aggressive in retiring the Astros in order on just 8 pitches, coaxing 3 groundouts.

Pads Points:

The Pads welcome in the LA Dodgers for a weekend series beginning tomorrow with Justin Germano taking the hill on Friday.

The premier matchup this weekend will be a Saturday afternoon tilt featuring staff aces Jake Peavy and Brad Penny.

Scott Hairston hit out of the leadoff spot Thursday and responded by getting on base all 4 plate appearances by walking and falling a homer shy of the Padres first ever cycle.

Keving Kouzmanoff added 2 hits as he was slotted in the cleanup spot for the first time this season with Gonzalez flip-flipping with him.

Callix Crabbe made his MLB debut flying out to left in the 8th.

Jody Gerut started in RF giving Brian Giles an extended rest for his surgically repaired right knee.

Tadihito Iguchi and Heath Bell teamed up for a nice play to end the 8th; with Adrian Gonzalez diving after the ball, Iguchi calmly fielded the ball on the outfield grass and delivered a strike to Bell who was covering the bag.