Padres host Cardinals and Braves for ninth homestand

SAN DIEGO - The Padres return home Tuesday for a six-game homestand, featuring three games against the St. Louis Cardinals followed by a weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. Highlights of the homestand include the Dog Days of Summer presented by Petco, WineFest presented by Copa Di Vino and a Padres floppy hat giveaway presented by Fanatics.

Home action begins tonight, with a 7:10 p.m. start against the Cardinals on Taco Tuesday presented by Cholula Hot Sauce, featuring $1 pollo asado street tacos sold at six locations throughout the ballpark. An additional location features gluten-free $1 street tacos.

Before the game, the Padres will highlight the service and sacrifice of San Diego first responders. The pregame ceremony will recognize Future First Responders, including San Diego Police Department Cadets, San Diego Fire-Rescue Cadets and members of the STAR/PAL Making Changes program.

Tonight is also the 10th Annual Dog Days of Summer event, presented by Petco, when hundreds of dogs and their owners will be hosted by Petco out at Park at the Park. Dogs will also have the opportunity to participate in a pre-game "tail" gate party and an on-field pet parade around the warning track. Costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded to costumed dogs in a variety of categories.

Staying true to Petco's "Think Adoption First" philosophy, local pet adoption partners will be on site to raise awareness for pet adoption and offer participants the chance to save a life by giving a shelter pet a forever home. In addition, Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy will throw out the first pitch alongside a dog from the San Diego Humane Society. Gus gained notoriety not only on the slopes in the 2014 Winter Olympics, but off as well, as he made it his mission to save the stray dogs of Sochi and find them loving homes. Once the game has commenced, dogs and their parents are invited to cheer on the Padres from the Park at the Park. The application period for the Dog Days of Summer has closed. No walk-ups will be accepted.

Prior to Wednesday's game, the Long Haul Bombers return to Petco Park for their annual softball slugfest, set to begin around 6:05 p.m. Wednesday's Ceremonial First Pitch will be thrown by Miles Doughty of the band Slightly Stoopid.

Wednesday is also College Night, 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.

Prior to Thursday's game, approximately 2,000 kids will participate in a parade around the warning track as part of Youth Day Camp. Jared Fogle, of Subway weight loss fame, will throw Thursday's Ceremonial First Pitch.

Join us on Friday for WineFest presented by Copa Di Vino, featuring wine from 15 California wineries in an outdoor wine lounge setting at Park at the Park. One glass or two tastings, 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. Live entertainment will be provided by DJ Graham Funke.

Prior to Friday's game, the Padres will recognize members of the "Friends of San Pasqual" Board during a special pregame ceremony honoring San Pasqual Academy, this homestand's featured charity partner.

Local champion sandcastle builders IB Posse will once again work their magic at Petco Park on Friday, custom building a Padres-themed sand castle at the Beach in right field. This is the 11^th straight year IB Posse has built a custom sand castle at Petco Park. The team placed in the top two at the U.S. Open Sandcastle competition in Imperial Beach for seven straight years.

Saturday is "Baseball Night in San Diego." All fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a Padres Floppy Hat presented by Fanatics Authentic.

Saturday is the 13^th Annual Scripps Night at the Ballpark, with approximately 10,000 Scripps Health employees and their families expected to attend the game and a pregame tailgate party.

Following Saturday's game, approximately 300 Padres Season Ticket Members will take part in the annual Membership Campout on the field at Petco Park.

The homestand wraps up on Sunday with U.S. Army and Army National Guard Appreciation Day, presented by USAA. The Padres will honor San Diego's soldiers from various active, reserve, and National Guard units, including 250 soldiers and family members coming down to the game from the National Training Center in Fort Irwin. Some of San Diego's top-performing soldiers will be honored at home plate while 100 soldiers line the baselines. The U.S. Army San Diego Recruiting Company will present the colors during the National Anthem. 

The first 10,000 people at Sunday's game will receive a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mask, courtesy of Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon Movies.

On Sunday, Jr. Padres members can snap photos with their favorite Padres from the field. Jr. Padres Photo Day runs from approximately 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM. Families may enter the field through the Park at the Park. A Jr. Padres membership is required to participate in Jr. Padres Photo Day. Membership is free, and parents can sign up their kids at padres.com/jrpadres or in-person on the day of the event. Jr. Padres Sunday Signings will not be held on this date due to Jr. Padres Photo Day on the Field.

KidsFest at the Park returns Sunday, featuring bounce houses and other inflatables, games, face painters, balloon artists, and more kid-friendly activities.

Following Sunday's game, fans are invited to stay to enjoy some Mexican Baseball League action, with the Tijuana Toros taking on the Mexico City Diablos Rojos approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Padres vs. Braves game. Admittance to the Mexican League game will be included with a ticket to that day's Padres game. The second game of the Sunday doubleheader will be the final game of a weekend series between the Toros and the Diablos Rojos, with the first two scheduled to be played Friday and Saturday at Estadio Gasmart in Tijuana, home of the Toros. This marks the second time Petco Park has hosted a Mexican Baseball League regular-season game. On June 11, 2006, the Tijuana Potros defeated the Mexico City Diablos Rojos 4-0 following an afternoon Padres game against the then-Florida Marlins.

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.