Wade LeBlanc throws another gem; Matt Clark hits homerun number 18 and Logan Forsythe and Everth Cabrera join the San Diego Padres in week 15.

The All-Star break gave the Tucson Padres Monday through Wednesday off this week, except for All-Star right fielder Aaron Cunningham, who had a walk in his one at bat in Salt Lake City where the Pacific Coast League All-Stars were defeated by the International League All-Stars 3-0.

On Thursday, July 14 the Tucson Padres were in Fort Wayne Indiana hosting the Las Vegas 51s for four games. These four home games were played in the single-A stadium of the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

T-Pads starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner started game one the series with the Toronto Blue Jays triple-A affiliate. Toronto Blue Jays prospect Kyle Drabek, who started the season in the Blue Jays five man pitching rotation was roughed up by the T-Pads as they scored six runs (five earned) in three innings off of Drabek.

SP Hefner allowed six runs in five innings with four of those runs coming on a two-out grand slam by 51s left fielder Danny Perales in the fourth inning. SP Hefner was able to strikeout five hitters on the day and received a no decision in his start.

The T-Pads offense was led by designated hitter Clark who hit a two-run homerun in the third inning off of Drabek. Seven different T-Pads had hits and six different starters had runs batted in on Thursday. Centerfielder Cedric Hunter and catcher Ali Solis both had two hits and an RBI in the contest.

The game was tied 8-8 going in to the eighth inning; relief pitcher Luis Perdomo was credited with the loss when he surrendered four runs in the 51s five run eighth inning. The final score was 8-13 as the T-Pads lost game one.

Game two saw Tucson ace LeBlanc face Las Vegas starter Jesse Litsch. SP LeBlanc was solid as usual; pitching eight innings with six strikeouts and three runs allowed. Opposing starter Litsch was impressive as well throwing six shut-out innings with seven strikeouts.

Once Tucson got Litsch out of the game the offense erupted as they scored three runs in the seventh and two runs in the eighth to capture the lead. C Guillermo Quiroz had a hit and two RBI and LF James Darnell hit a solo homerun, his fourth of the year.

With a two-run lead in the ninth inning, RP Brad Brach struck out the side to earn his third save of the season, giving Tucson the 5-3 win. After Friday’s victory, LeBlanc is now tied for first in the PCL with nine wins and is seventh in the PCL with 86 strikeouts.

Game three saw Las Vegas SP Robert Ray pitch against Tucson SP Samuel Deduno. SP Deduno, who started the season in the bullpen, has officially settled in to the starting role as he pitched six shutout innings with five strikeouts while allowing just two hits on Saturday.

Steve Tolleson started the game at shortstop and had the only Tucson RBI from the lead-off spot. The game was tied at one after eight innings as Tucson RP Brach came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning. RP Brach allowed his first runs as a T-Pad when he was touched up for three runs on four hits. RP Brach took the loss in the game that ended 1-4.

Sunday Tucson SP Jon Leicester went to work against Las Vegas ace and University of Arizona graduate SP Brad Mills. Mills was the starting pitcher for the PCL in this week’s all-star game; he was dominant Sunday as he pitched eight shut-out innings, and allowed one T-Pads hit in the final game of the series.

SP Leicester threw six innings while allowing five runs (four earned) with three strikeouts. The bullpen team of RP Greg Burke, RP Will Inman, and RP Perdomo combined for three shutout innings and 1B Clark had the sole Tucson hit in the 0-5 loss on Sunday.

Tucson won one of three games with the Las Vegas 51s giving them a 46-48 record which is nine games back of first place Sacramento. Tucson’s next game will be in Tucson Monday when the T-Pads host the Tacoma Rainiers for four games.

Roster Transactions:

- Rocky Gale, catcher has been assigned to Lake Elsinore from Tucson 7/12

- Scott Munter, relief pitcher has been released by the Tucson Padres 7/13

- Pedro Hernandez, starting pitcher has been assigned to San Antonio from Tucson 7/14

+ Ali Solis, catcher has been assigned to Tucson from San Antonio 7/14

+ Eric Patterson, outfielder has been activated from the seven day disabled list 7/14

+ James Darnell, third base/outfield, has been activated from the temporarily inactive list 7/14

- Logan Forsythe, infield, has been recalled by the San Diego Padres from Tucson 7/16

-Everth Cabrera, shortstop has been recalled by the San Diego Padres from Tucson 7/17

+ Tyler Stubblefield, infield, has been assigned to Tucson from the Fort Wayne TinCaps 7/16

- Bobby Kielty, outfield, has been placed on the seven-day DL with an ankle injury 7/17

- Aaron Cunningham, outfield has been placed on the seven-day DL with a concussion 7/17

+ John Van Benschoten has been assigned to the Tucson Padres from San Diego 7/17