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RHP Silva makes major league debut vs. Dodgers

Apr 8, 2009 - 6:54 AM By Jeff Mezydlo Stats Senior Writer

LA Dodgers (1-1) at San Diego (1-1) 10:05 p.m. EDT

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Walter Silva wasn't even a member of the San Diego Padres' organization when spring training started.

On Wednesday night, the 32-year-old rookie pitcher will try to help the Padres to a second consecutive win over the Los Angeles Dodgers when the NL West rivals continue their four-game set at Petco Park.

One of the more intriguing early-season stories in the majors, Silva didn't start pitching until he was 27, and has never played professionally in the United States.

The right-hander helped pitch Mazatlan -- Mexico's winter-league team -- to the Caribbean World Series this year and impressed Mazatlan teammates and current Padres Adrian and Edgar Gonzalez. The pair mentioned him to the organization and manager Bud Black saw him pitch.

San Diego then signed Silva to a minor-league contract in late February after it reached an agreement with Monterrey, his team from the Triple-A Mexican League.

"Now that I'm here, it's really a dream come true," Silva told the Padres' official Web site. "I have a lot of family driving from Mazatlan. It's a long drive, like 25 hours to get here. I'm very excited for it."

A sprained ankle plagued Silva during spring training, and Black could have him on a limited pitch count. That doesn't mean he'll be any less effective.

"He throws strikes every time," Edgar Gonzalez said. "He doesn't walk a lot of guys. When he's on, he has all four pitches and can throw a very good game. You don't need anything more than that."

Though four San Diego pitchers held Los Angeles to five hits Tuesday, Silva will still be in for a challenge.

"Chances are somebody has seen him pitch, in winter ball or somewhere," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said of his team's limited scouting report on Silva.

Manny Ramirez doubled for his first hit after going 0-for-3 in Monday's 4-1 season-opening win at Petco. Matt Kemp had two hits and Russell Martin drove in a run for Los Angeles. Kemp is 3-for-7 in the series.

San Diego's Heath Bell struck out the side in the ninth inning for the save in his first opportunity since replacing Trevor Hoffman, baseball's career saves leader now with Milwaukee.

Chase Headley's two-run double highlighted a three-run sixth for San Diego. Both of Headley's hits in the series are doubles, and the Padres left-fielder is 2-for-3 against Chad Billingsley, the scheduled starter for Los Angeles.

Adrian Gonzalez went 1-for-3 with a run scored Tuesday, and is 8-for-24 with three doubles and four RBI versus Billingsley. Older brother Edgar is 4-for-7 with a homer and two RBI against the right-hander.

Billingsley enjoyed a career year in 2008, going 16-10 with a 3.16 ERA in 32 starts before a pair of rough outings against Philadelphia in the NL championship series.

Entering his fourth season, Billingsley appears ready after breaking his leg over the winter and straining a groin muscle in spring training. After allowing 10 runs in a span of 9 1/3 innings, he gave up two in five innings of his final spring start last week.

"Overall, it felt really good," Billingsley told the Dodgers' official Web site. "The off-speed was good and the fastball was good, so I was really happy about that."

Billingsley is 4-3 with a 2.37 ERA in nine starts against San Diego.