Short hops
• Outfielder/first baseman Kyle Blanks was out of Thursday's lineup as the team wanted to give him a day to rest his sore left heel. Will Venable returned after missing three games with a sore left hamstring.
• Asked which of his players he would endorse for a spot on the NL All-Star team, Black indicated that Cabrera was his choice.
Read More: San Diego Padres