Padres Game Recap – May 19, 2015

“Bend but don’t break”, was tonight’s theme for the Padres as they took game one against the Cubs 4-3.  For the Cubs the theme would have to be, “Extra outs kill”, as they committed three errors and all three resulted in runs scoring and ultimately the difference in the game.

Shields was brilliant for the Pads tonight except for 2 pitches.  Both mistakes came in the third inning after blowing away the first 6 batters he faced to start the game, 4 on strikeouts.  Coghlan lead the inning off with a solo HR on a missed location fastball intended away.  Then later in the inning Fowler also hit a solo shot again on a missed location fastball, this time intended in.  Other than that he was nails.  Filthy curveball, good changeup, and enough well located heaters to record 11 strikeouts (he now leads the N.L. with 75 total) over his 7 innings of 2-run work. He bent a little in that 3rd inning but did not break and keep the boys close.

Hammel for the Cubs was just as tough as Shields, in fact tougher as he did not make any mistakes through his first 4 innings – literally as he retired every batter he faced.  The errors mentioned above, though, did take their toll in the 5th as Upton reached on a throwing error by Bryant to break up the perfect game.  Solarte then signed to break up the no-hitter and move Upton to third, who scored Venable’s groundout to make it a 2-1 game.

Bad defense came back to bite the Cubs again in the 7th as Kemp started the inning be reaching base on a routine grounder to short that Castro misplayed. Solarte reached on a fielder’s choice which would have been the third out had the error not been committed. Yangervis reached second on a wild pitch then scored on Venable’s single to tie it up at 2 a piece.

Benoit fired a perfect 8th to set the stage for the final act of the Cubs Harkari (No, not Harry Carey) by error tragedy.  This time the perpetrator was the young second baseman Russell who dropped a catchable popup to center field allowing Barmes to reach safely to start the 8th. Almonte followed with what at first appeared to be a botched sacrifice attempt as he couldn’t get the bunt down for the first two strikes, then several pitches later surprised the infield with a successful 2-strike drag bunt. Spangenberg sacrificed Barmes to third brining Norris to the dish.  The Friar’s backstop promptly ripped a double into the left field corner scoring Barmes and Spangenberg to give the Pads a 4-2 lead. Norris now ranks 3rd in the N.L. with 15 doubles, and 10th in avg. in MLB with runners in scoring position at .432.

Kimbrel came on to close it out, and was also victimized by a  Coghlan solo shot to cut the friar lead to 4-3.  The Cubs comeback effort ended there, however, as he recorded the last out and his 11th save of the season.  Again, bending but not breaking.

Not the way you would design it on the blueprints, but a hard fought win none the less and the Pads will gladly take it.

One disappointing piece of pregame news today was Myers going on the DL.  Not a surprise really as wrists can be finicky in healing.  He said he still felt it swinging the bat, so they’ll give him a few more days and Cory Mazzoni was recalled.  Hopefully it really is only a few more days that he needs.

Tyson Ross will toe the slab for the Fathers tomorrow.  First pitch is at 7:10, and I can’t wait for you to join Uncle Teddy and myself for all the action on the Mighty 1090.

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