Just before Spring Training, as the Padres neared a deal with lefty slugger Gavin Sheets, manager Mike Shildt made a phone call to a mutual connection: Tony La Russa. Sheets had played for La Russa wi

Gavin Sheets hits a solo home run in the fifth inning to give the Padres a lead.

Gavin Sheets was feeling the weight of a spring that didn’t start great. But he kept with what he had started working on during the offseason and continued to hone under Padres hitting coach Victor Rodriguez.