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Padres unveil new additions in home opener against Giants

Apr 9, 2015 - 7:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The San Diego Padres get to unveil some of their new faces on Thursday, as they kick off the home portion of their schedule with the start of a four-game series against the defending world champion San Francisco Giants at Petco Park.

San Diego, of course, completely overhauled its roster this offseason with the additions of Matt Kemp, Melvin Upton Jr., Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Will Middlebrooks, Derek Norris, James Shields and Craig Kimbrel among others.

The moves didn't pay immediate dividends, as the Padres dropped two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers to start the season. San Diego dropped the rubber match of that set, 7-4, on Wednesday, as Padres starter Andrew Cashner served up three home runs to Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

"Tough night for (Cashner)," said San Diego manager Bud Black. "Adrian had a big night. He's locked in right now. It was Adrian's night."

San Diego will hand the ball to veteran right-hander Ian Kennedy on Thursday. Kennedy enjoyed a solid season for the Padres in 2014, going 13-13 with a 3.63 ERA over 33 starts.

Kennedy has faced the Dodgers 17 times and is 5-7 with a 4.08 ERA.

Getting the call for the Giants on Thursday will be one of their few healthy pitchers, veteran righty Tim Hudson.

Hudson returned from a nasty ankle injury in 2013 while pitching for Atlanta to go 9-13 with a 3.57 ERA in 31 starts for the Giants. However, with Matt Cain and Jake Peavy already nicked up more could be asked of the 39-year-old hurler.

San Francisco, though, picked up a series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks to start the season. On Wednesday, Casey McGehee hit his first home run as a member of the Giants to help them defeat Arizona, 5-2.

Nori Aoki, Matt Duffy and Brandon Crawford each drove in runs for the Giants, who are in the midst of a seven-game road trip.

Chris Heston (1-0), making his second career start, picked up his first MLB win after going six innings and allowing two unearned runs with five strikeouts.