Douglas grad Estes called back up by Padres

Douglas grad Estes called up by San Diego

ATLANTA (AP) -Douglas High School graduate Shawn Estes received a long-awaited call from the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

The Padres placed right-handed pitcher Kevin Cameron on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow sprain and purchased the contract of Estes from Triple-A Portland on Thursday.

It didn't take long to get back on the field, either, as Estes was called on and pitched 12Ú3 innings Thursday in a game the Padres lost 5-4 to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves, down 4-1 after five innings, rallied back and won the game when Matt Diaz hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning .

Estes, a left-hander who graduated from Douglas High School in 1991, gave up two runs, both unearned, in his first major league appearance since April 5, 2006.

He missed the 2007 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

"It was exciting to get back out there," said Estes, who has 99 career major league victories to his credit. "A lot of adrenaline was flowing. It was fun, but it was bittersweet because of the results today."

Estes was 4-2 with a 3.67 ERA in six starts for Portland.

"I think he's best suited to start, but we'll see how it plays out," manager Bud Black said before Thursday's game.

Cameron suffered the first-degree sprain while throwing only three pitches in relief in Tuesday's game against Atlanta.