Padres win!!! Padres Win!!! Wow…feels good to type those words again! It’s been way to long, and although it was “only” a six game losing streak that the Pads snapped tonight with their 6-5 win over the Rangers, it felt even longer than that. The boys got back in the W column in grand fashion as well, forging an unlikely come from behind victory on their final out to even the series at one a piece.
The Rangers scored the first run when Moreland homered on a hanging change up in the 2nd to give TEX a 1-0 lead. The Padres answered back right away, though, in the top of the 3rd as with two outs Lewis hit Solarte with a breaking ball to start the rally. Kemp then got himself a hanging slider and did not miss it. He launched into the left field seats for a 2-run bomb, and the Pads were all of a sudden on top 2-1.
Ideally, after your team scores that next inning you need to post a quick zero to establish that your club has taken control of the momentum and is not letting it go, as well as to get their pitcher back on the mound with minimal rest to score some more. With the 8th and 9th hitters coming to the plate it seemed perfectly aligned for Shields to get it done, but simply couldn’t do it. He issued a walk to the lead off man then surrender a double, followed by a run scoring ground ball to plate one. The final blow was a two out single by Fielder to make it 3-2 Rangers…ouch.
It stayed that way until the Pads half of the 5th. With two outs Lewis granted the Fathers back-to-back walks. J. Upton came up and pulled a first pitch slider through the left side to score a run and tie the game 3-3.
In the 6th it was Moreland who struck again, this time on a cutter that was not in enough, sending it into the right field stands for a solo HR. 4-3 Rangers. Later in the 8th Texas got an insurance run on a 2-out RBI double and the Friars were behind 5-3 and down to their final outs.
The 9th of course featured the Rangers closer on the mound, but Venable got a late rally going with a bunt hit to the right side. Wallace then came off the bench to single, and Cashner ran for him. M. Upton then lined a single to left to score Venable but on the play Cash was thrown out at third by Hamilton on a risky play at best that backfired on him. Down to their final out, and with some of the emotional wind taken out of their sales after the throw out at third, Solarte walked to the plate. He got a fastball inside that he liked and hit a towering fly ball that just carried and carried all the way to just past the right field wall for a two run home run. It was totally unexpected given the let down of the previous play, and tough run the fellas had been on, yet totally needed to give the Friars the lead 6-5.
Kimbrel came on for the save for the first time in eight days and struck out the side convincingly for his 22nd save of the season. It was a huge win for the Padres and set the stage for them to take the series tomorrow and end the first half on a winning note.
Ross will take the ball as the Pads look to put book end back to back wins on both end caps of this road trip. First pitch will be at 12:05 PST. Uncle teddy and I will look forward to having you with us for the call on the Mighty 1090.
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