By Jeff Sanders| San Diego Union Tribune
The ninth-inning job, Kirby Yates will admit, is the same but different.
It’s three outs (yes, the last three outs). There’s more pressure and more prestige, for sure, but the opportunity to stay sharp closing for a last-place team isn’t also isn’t as robust as it is in middle relief as the Padres’ 31-year-old reliever is learning the hard way this week.
“I like to get out there (often),” Yates said after allowing Arizona’s go-ahead homer in a 4-3 loss, his second of the week. “On the other hand, I like the ninth inning, too. It’s a give and take. It’s not a perfect world. There’s some adjustments that need to be made at times. I just didn’t execute a pitch (today).”
The pitch was a 1-2, 94 mph fastball.
