Padres host Giants and Pirates for tenth homestand

SAN DIEGO – The Padres return home Friday, August 17 for a six-game homestand, featuring a weekend series against NL West rivals the San Francisco Giants followed by three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The homestand will be highlighted by Nickelodeon’s Play Ball Day featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Salute to Veterans.

Home action begins tonight with a 7:05 p.m. start against the Giants, which will be preceded by a Friday Night Party at Park at the Park presented by Verizon. The party will feature food and drink specials from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission to the party is included with a paid ticket to the game.

Before Friday’s game, the Padres will honor the third recipient of the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards. The Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards is a series of awards established to recognize and pay tribute to individuals or organizations whose work makes a positive impact on those who live and work in San Diego’s Hispanic community. Daynara Castillo, a volunteer dance teacher at the Monarch School, has been selected to receive the award by members of the Padres’ Hispanic Community Leadership Council (HCLC) for her dedication to improving the lives of youth, specifically in the area of fitness.

In support of the Padres Foundation’s community vision, three awards will be given throughout the year, one each in the areas of children’s health (LIVE), children’s education (LEARN) and youth baseball/ softball or youth fitness (PLAY).  The first two awards, in the areas of children’s health and education, were presented earlier this season to Dr. Raul Trejo of the Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program and Armando Cataño, a teacher at Monroe Clark Middle School in City Heights, respectively. All three Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award winners will be honored on the field before the Padres game on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, as part of Hispanic Heritage Night presented by Verizon.

Also Friday, the Padres have teamed up with State Farm for the Go to Bat program to salute some of the area’s deserving charities that have shown support and commitment to building strong communities. Prior to Monday’s game, the Padres will be honoring Reality Changers with the State Farm Go to Bat recognition.

Lea Salonga, Tony-Award winner and voice of Disney’s Princess Jasmine, will sing the National Anthem.

Following Friday’s game, fans are invited to stay to enjoy a spectacular Olympics-themed Friday Night Fireworks show, in tribute to our Team USA athletes.

Please note: Saturday’s game time has been changed from 1:05 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. for broadcasting purposes.

On Saturday, the Padres are teaming up with Nickelodeon to bring the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Petco Park for Nickelodeon Play Ball Day. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo will take over the ballpark with special events, photo-ops, giveaways, and more. Fans can meet the shell-backs from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Park at the Park. The promotion will support Nickelodeon’s new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles CG-animated series set to premiere on September 29 at 11 a.m. on Nickelodeon.

Sunday marks Salute to Veterans Day, when the Padres will partner with the Got Your 6 campaign to raise awareness of veterans as civic assets. The pregame ceremony, which will feature more than 200 local veterans, will also highlight the work of a number of veteran organizations that are critical in the re-integration process.

Sunday’s pregame ceremony will also recognize the Padres’ 2^nd Annual Baja Little League Day. More than 150 youth baseball players from Tijuana, Ensenada and Rosarito, brought together by the Padres Store in Tijuana, will participate in a pregame parade on the warning track.

Prior to all Sunday home games, fans with tickets are invited to enjoy Breakfast at the Park. A special selection of breakfast menu items will be offered for purchase along K Street at Park at the Park.  In addition to seating at the Park at the Park, tables may be set up on the warning track, allowing fans to dine on the Petco Park field on a first-come, first-served basis, barring batting practice. Gates will open to Season Ticket Holders with reservations at 10:00 a.m. Gates will open to the general public at 10:30 a.m.

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. In addition, all Jr. Padres members at Sunday’s game are invited to stop by Fan Rewards Redemption Centers at the ballpark to receive a back-to-school backpack, presented by Ashford University.

Following Sunday’s game, kids 14 and younger are invited to stay to participate in a postgame batting clinic, featuring tips from Padres third baseman Chase Headley, as well as hitting coaches Phil Plantier and Alonzo Powell. Kids who would like to participate will be asked to meet at the Beachers in Right Field after the game.

On Monday, a group of VIPs (Very Important Padres) from the Make-A-Wish Foundation will enjoy a pregame experience including batting practice, a meet-and-greet with Padres players, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Petco Park. The group will enjoy the game from the U.S. Bank Dream Suite.

Before Tuesday’s game, the Padres will recognize and highlight the Padres Foundation’s featured charity partner this homestand, MDA Augie’s Quest, an organization that gives 100 percent of the funds it raises to ALS research. ALS is the debilitating disease that took Lou Gehrig out of the game. MLB and all 30 teams honor Gehrig’s memory through 4ALS, a campaign to raise funds for ALS charities, including MDA Augie’s Quest.

The homestand wraps up Wednesday with a 3:35 p.m. start against the Pirates, which will feature a special appearance by The Greatest Show on Earth. Wednesday marks Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Day at Petco Park, with pregame performances by Ringling Bros. dancers, clowns and canines. Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson will sing the National Anthem on Wednesday. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents DRAGONS, a never-before-seen circus adventure, is coming to San Diego for eight action-packed shows from Aug. 23-26 at the Valley View Casino Center.

Tickets for all remaining regular season home games can be purchased online at padres.com, at the Petco Park box office, by phone at (619) 795-5555 and at the Padres Store in Tijuana.