Clan-Members » een undeniably downgraded.A lot of the g

SAN DIEGO -- It appears Petco Park is going to have a hard time holding Hunter Renfroe.The rookie hit his first career grand slam and also had a three-run shot to drive in all the runs for the San Diego Padres in their 7-1 victory against the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.The Dodgers fell two games behind the NL East champion Washington Nationals for home-field advantage in their Division Series matchup.Renfroe says hes felt comfortable at the big downtown ballyard since his first big league plate appearance Wednesday night, when he was intentionally walked.Since then hes hit three impressive home runs, including his first one off San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner on Friday night.Im very comfortable, said Renfroe, San Diegos first-round pick in the 2013 draft and this years Pacific Coast League MVP.He hit a high, arcing three-run homer to left field off Kenta Maeda with two outs in the first inning. Renfroes grand slam to straightaway center came on a full-count pitch from Louis Coleman with two outs in the eighth. Renfroe has three homers in six games.Padres manager Andy Green said Renfroes grand slam, which came on a fastball after he fouled off several sliders, was about as hard as Ive seen a baseball hit all year.Hunter Renfroe is going to be a dynamic player at this level when he stays in the strike zone, Green said. Theres really no other message for him or about him. He can hit anything. He just has to get him over the plate. When he does that, its as much damage as anybody would have.Renfroes seven RBI were one shy of the team record.The rookie said hes keeping things in perspective.One of the big things is you cant think of it as more than what it is, he said. Its a game. Youve been playing it since youre 4 years old or what have you. You cant think of it more than that. Its just on a bigger stage and more fans and everything is kind of magnified. You cant think too much in it. You cant be afraid to fail.Dodgers rookie manager Dave Roberts was on the Padres staff the last several years, so he knows about RenfroeHes got big power, Roberts said. We left some balls out over the plate and elevated to him, and do that with a power hitter and that can happen. He had a big day.Maeda had faced the Padres three times earlier this year, but they have a lot of new players since his last start against San Diego on July 10.It wasnt miscommunication as much as it was facing these new hitters and I wasnt familiar with them, he said through a translator.Maeda (16-10), who beat the Padres 7-0 at Petco Park in his big league debut on April 6, had his start moved up one day so hell get another one before the playoffs begin.Paul Clemens (4-5) held the Dodgers to one run and three hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked one.Chase Utley homered for the Dodgers in the third, his 13th.TV SURPRISESome Padres fans were surprised when a spokesman for the San Diego Chargers was interviewed on the Fox Sports San Diego broadcast early in the game. Fox executive Henry Ford said the Chargers spokesman, Fred Maas, was a guest of the network. His appearance in no way reflects a position or endorsement by the Padres, nor FOX Sports, Ford said in an email. Padres management was not given advance notice of his appearance, and we apologize for any confusion this may have caused. While the Padres have said they want to see the Chargers stay in San Diego, they say they havent been given adequate answers to several questions about how a new downtown stadium would affect Petco Park. The Chargers will ask voters on Nov. 8 to approve a hotel tax increase to help pay for a new stadium and convention center annex that would be close to Petco Park.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: 1B Adrian Gonzalez left the game with a sinus infection. Roberts said he doesnt think its serious.UP NEXTDodgers: Rookie RHP Jose De Leon (2-0, 5.52 ERA) had his start pushed back from Tuesday to Wednesday. He beat the Padres 7-4 in his major league debut on Sept. 4 at Dodger Stadium.Padres: Rookie RHP Luis Perdomo (8-10, 5.59) is scheduled to make his 20th start for the Padres. Cheap Nike Shoes Authentic . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. https://www.wholesalenikeshoesauthentic.com/ . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Cheap Nike Shoes For Sale . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Discount Nike Shoes . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Ron Rivera cant imagine the Carolina Panthers without fullback like Mike Tolbert on the roster.The 5-foot-9, 250-pound Tolbert does a little of everything for the NFC champions -- blocks, catches passes, carries the ball and even contributes on special teams. So its hard for Rivera to fathom how nearly one-third of the league didnt even carry a fullback on their rosters last season.I couldnt tell you why teams dont, Rivera said. I think that is one of the missing links in the league to be able to have an effective running game, to have lead blockers and guys who can get dirty down inside.It has worked for Rivera and the Panthers.The Panthers have run for at least 100 yards in an NFL-best 32 straight games, including the playoffs. They were second in the league in rushing last season and first in scoring and reached the Super Bowl before losing 24-10 to the Denver Broncos.That success is why the Panthers didnt hesitate to re-sign the 30-year-old Tolbert to a two-year, $3.3 million contract after he became an unrestricted free agent. All things considered the Panthers might have gotten a bargain for a guy who has been an All-Pro two of the last three seasons.Then again, its not as though fullbacks are the Pokemon Go of the NFL.The Miami Dolphins are among the teams that dont employ a true fullback.Dolphins coach Adam Gase said after careful consideration the team decided they couldnt afford the luxury of having a specialty position like fullback on the roster.Where we kind of ran into the problem was that we liked staying on the ball, we didnt like changing personnel and we always liked the fact of having a guy that could play the fullback role (but) still be a guy that we could flex out plus play in-line, Gase said. Were really being a little pickier as far as we want a guy that can do it all, and then play special teams as well.We didnt want to get stuck in a spot where we had some experience with a fullback when we were first at Denver and he was getting likee eight plays a game.dddddddddddd. We just felt like lets get the guy out there that is going to play 30 plays a game on just offense, plus special teams.The Jacksonville Jaguars stopped carrying a fullback prior to the 2015 season after they hired offensive coordinator Greg Olson to replace Jedd Fisch.Olsons offense simply doesnt use one, relying on backs to find holes and using more multiple tight end sets up front.We dont use one in any of our offensive sets so no sense in carrying one if were not going to use one, Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said.Some teams are reincorporating the fullback into the offense.The Philadelphia Eagles have gone back to using a traditional style running game following the departure of coach Chip Kelly. Theyve moved tight end Trey Burton to fullback.But the importance of the position has been undeniably downgraded.A lot of the game nowadays is predicated around the quarterback, said Tolbert. You try to develop him first as a passer, where as in the old days it was more about the run game and defense. Its not that way anymore.Tolbert collected 256 yards rushing and 154 yards receiving last season for the Panthers and scored four touchdowns.He also played on most of the special teams.Tolbert said the key to surviving is changing with the tide and remaining versatile, knowing well that the days of true smash-mouth fullbacks like Lorenzo Neal, Daryl Johnston and Tom Rathman may be over for good.You have to do special teams and pass protect and block out of the backfield and run routes, Tolbert said. You have to be able to do different things than in the past, more than just being a bang-your-head-against-the-wall fullback.---AP Sports writers Mark Long in Jacksonville, Florida, Steven Wine in Miami and Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '