Padres host D-backs, Royals and Marlins for third homestand

SAN DIEGO - The Padres return home Friday for a 10-game homestand, beginning with a weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by three games against the Kansas City Royals and four games against the Miami Marlins. Highlights of the homestand include the first of three Padres Beerfest events this season, and Petco Park's 10th Anniversary weekend presented by Petco.
 
Home action begins tonight, with a 7:10 p.m. start against the Diamondbacks. The game will be preceded by the return of Padres Beerfest. The first of three tasting events this season will feature offerings from approximately 20 breweries. Regular-sized beers priced at $5 will be available for purchase with Friar Funds exclusively. Fans will have the opportunity to buy Friar Funds at multiple locations. First pour is at 5:00 p.m. More information, including a list of breweries, can be found at www.padres.com/beerfest.
 
Friday also marks the Padres' 13th Annual Teacher Appreciation Night, presented by National University. The Padres and the San Diego County Office of Education are proud to honor our local teachers. Forty-three of San Diego County's newly named District Teachers of the Year and the five reigning 2013 San Diego County Teachers of the Year will be recognized on the field prior to the game. Each deserving teacher will receive a gift bag courtesy of National University.
 
This season, the Padres are bringing back a tradition from the late 90's, reinstating Saturday as "Baseball Night in San Diego." Every Saturday home game will feature a giveaway for every fan in attendance. This Saturday's featured giveaway is a Padres Beach Blanket presented by Jerome's Furniture.
 
Prior to the game, approximately 500 Padres Members who are celebrating a Membership anniversary, including some select Members who have held their accounts since 1969, will take part in a parade around the warning track.
 
Sunday's series finale against the D-Backs marks U.S. Navy Appreciation Day presented by USAA, the first of five individual branch appreciation games this season. 100 sailors from the recently commissioned USS Coronado and the submarine USS Albuquerque will line the baselines to be recognized and thanked during a special pregame ceremony. The USS Albuquerque recently completed a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific. The Ceremonial First Pitch will be thrown by Rear Adm. Patrick Lorge, Commander, Navy Region Southwest.
 
Sunday's National Anthem will be performed by members of the MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band, a musical rehabilitation program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which matches severely wounded service members with accomplished musicians. Together, they work on therapeutic musical projects tailored to individual circumstances, interest and needs. Also Sunday, God Bless America will be performed during the 7th inning break by Petty Officer Third Class James Udofia.
 
Fans attending Sunday's game are encouraged to bring their used baseball equipment, especially balls and gloves, to donate to Kids Gear for Baseball's annual collection drive. Collection bins will be loacated at the East Village and Home Plate gates. Kids Gear for Baseball, a local non-profit established by a group of students from area high schools, collects equipment and then donates it directly to schools, organizations, parks and recreation centers. Kids Gear for Baseball will receive a $5,000 equipment grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. The check will be presented by Padres Pitcher Huston Street during the pregame ceremony.
 
Sunday is also Little League Day at Petco Park. Beginning at 11:15 a.m., thousands of local Little League players and coaches will participate in a pregame parade around the warning track. Many of the participating leagues are part of the Padres' Youth Baseball Initiative, which in 2014 outfitted nearly 15,000 local Little Leaguers in authentic custom-made Padres jerseys and corresponding caps.
Prior to all Sunday home games, from 11:30 a.m. to noon, two Padres players will sign autographs at the Park at the Park for Jr. Padres Sunday Signings. A Jr. Padres membership is required to participate in the signing event. Membership is free, and kids can sign up online or in-person on the day of the event.
 
KidsFest at the Park returns Sunday, featuring bounce houses and other inflatables, games, face painters, balloon artists, and more kid-friendly activities.
 
On Monday, the Padres welcome the Kansas City Royals to town for three games of interleague play. Prior to the game, the Padres will honor the first recipient of the 2014 Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards. The Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards recognize and pay tribute to individuals or organizations making a positive impact on San Diego's Hispanic community. Jose Montaño has been selected by members of the Padres' Hispanic Community Advisory Council (HCAC) to receive the award for his dedication to improving the lives of families and youth, specifically in the area of children's health. 13-year-old Montaño passed away last month after a lengthy but courageous battle with Medulloblastoma, a rare type of malignant cancer. The South Bay teenager, who was diagnosed in April 2011, is the first recipient to be honored posthumously. Despite having had brain surgery, 30 cycles of radiation and 27 chemotherapy cycles over the course of three years, Jose created the Jose Montaño Foundation to put smiles on the faces of young cancer patients. His father, Jose Sr., will be present to receive the award on his behalf.
 
In support of the Padres Foundation's community vision, four awards will be given throughout the year, one each in the areas of children's health (LIVE), children's education (LEARN), youth baseball/ softball or youth fitness (PLAY) and supporting our law enforcement and military communities (SERVE). To submit a nomination, visit www.padres.com/community or www.padresbeisbol.com/comunidad.
 
The club will highlight the service and sacrifice of San Diego first responders on Tuesday in partnership with Donovan's Steak & Chop House. The first of six First Responders Salutes this season will recognize the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, highlighting the work of the Sheriff's Volunteer Services Department. Sheriff Bill Gore will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch and Deputy Sheriff Roland Garza will perform the National Anthem. For more information on the Padres First Responders Appreciation program, including exclusive ticket discounts, visit www.padres.com/firstresponder.
 
Back by popular demand, every Tuesday home game will feature $1 pollo asado street tacos sold at six locations throughout the ballpark. New this year, an additional location features gluten-free $1 street tacos.
 
Wednesday's 12:40 p.m. series finale is Weather Education Field Trip Day. In partnership with KUSI, approximately 1,500 local students will watch a pregame weather-education themed exhibition at Park at the Park, followed by a Q&A session with a Padres player.
 
Prior to Wednesday's game, the Padres will honor this homestand's featured charity partner, Barrio Logan College Institute, which promotes higher education as a ticket out of poverty. Working together with disadvantaged families, BLCI ensures that 100% of its students enroll in - and succeed in -- college.
 
Also Wednesday, The Baby Tyrannosaurus Rex will throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch. Baby T is in San Diego promoting Walking With Dinosaurs, which will be in San Diego November 26-30 for eight shows at the Valley View Casino Center.
 
Thursday is College Night presented by Mission Federal Credit Union, featuring special ticket discounts for college students with a valid student ID ($10 in Right Field Upper Reserved College Night section). A DJ from Channel 93.3 will be spinning at the Budweiser Patio in Right Field from 6:00 p.m. until the conclusion of the game. For more information on the remaining College Night events, visit www.padres.com/college.
 
Friday marks the start of the Petco Park 10th Anniversary Weekend presented by Petco. All weekend long, the Padres and Petco will celebrate the power of working together to make a collective positive impact on the San Diego community. Prior to the game on Friday, the Padres will honor the San Diego State Aztecs Men's Basketball team for an outstanding season, including their regular season Mountain West Conference championship and a trip to the Sweet 16. Members of the team and coaching staff will be recognized and 2014 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Xavier Thames will throw the Ceremonial First Pitch.
 
Following Friday's game, fans are encouraged to stay to enjoy a 10th Anniversary-themed postgame fireworks show presented by Petco.
 
All fans in attendance at Saturday's game will receive a 10th Anniversary Commemorative Art Collectible presented by Petco. Saturday's pregame ceremony will celebrate 10 years of Petco Park, featuring the return of several Padres alumni who have played at Petco Park during the last decade. In addition, Saturday is Strike out Stroke Day, designed to promote awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and celebrate the stories of local stroke survivors. Representatives from local stroke centers/hospitals will be present around the ballpark, offering stroke prevention information and materials.
 
Also Saturday, the Padres will honor approximately 100 Champions - children and young adults battling cancer, as well as long-term survivors of the disease -- who earlier Saturday morning will have participated in the 19th Annual Rady Children's Hospital Celebration of Champions, benefitting Rady Children's Hospital's cancer center. Padres players and coaches and the Padres Foundation have been proud supporters of the event since its inception in 1996. Padres Manager Bud Black and his wife, Nan, will once again welcome the Champions and their guests at Saturday's game.
 
The homestand wraps up on Mother's Day, with Military Spouse Appreciation Day presented by USAA. In recognition of our military families, pregame ceremonies will honor military spouses, who also serve our nation. Sixty military spouses will line the baselines during the pregame ceremony, which will recognize spouses from each service who have gone above and beyond in support of the military community. A group of nine military spouses will participate in Military Take the Field presented by USAA.
 
            Marine Corps spouse Laura Brayton will perform the National Anthem, joined by her husband, Capt. Andrew Brayton and their two-year-old daughter. Capt. Brayton recently returned from an eight-month deployment. Shannon Morell, a Marine Corps spouse of 11 ½ years, will perform God Bless America during the seventh-inning break. The mother of five has seen her husband through six deployments. She is also a U.S. Navy veteran, having met her husband aboard the USS Peleliu.
 
Prior to Sunday's game, the Padres will recognize the club's winner of MLB's annual Honorary Bat Girl contest, which recognizes baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and demonstrate a commitment to "Going to Bat" in the fight against the disease. The winner will be honored during a special pregame ceremony on Sunday. In addition, the Padres will host the winner and guests for an exclusive experience, and will provide them with pink ribbon MLB merchandise.
 
Also Sunday, Petco and the Padres will wrap up 10th Anniversary weekend. Prior to the game, the Petco Foundation will make a special donation to a local animal-welfare organization in honor of the 10th Anniversary
 
KidsFest at the Park returns Sunday, featuring bounce houses and other inflatables, games, face painters, balloon artists, and more kid-friendly activities. From 11:30 a.m. to noon, two Padres players will sign autographs at the Park at the Park for Jr. Padres Sunday Signings.
 
Following Sunday's game, kids in attendance are invited to play catch on the field at Petco Park. Children can begin lining up following the conclusion of the eighth inning at Park at the Park.
 
Tickets for all home games can be purchased at the Petco Park box office, online at www.padres.com, by phone at 619.795.5555, at the Padres Store in Tijuana, and at all Ticketmaster locations.