The Padres dug themselves an early hole and weren’t able to climb out of it as they lost to the Brewers tonight 8-5. Tough loss to swallow for several reasons, but mostly because it guaranteed the Friars would not win the series against a weak and recently top talent depleted Brewers club.
The offense came out swinging against Taylor Jungmann, who had been shutting down the N.L. since his call up eleven starts ago. Amarista lead off with a single. Solarte followed with the rip of another safety to right to get Ninja to third. Kemp drove a ball to deep RF to score Alexi, and the Pads drew first blood 1-0.
Kennedy had just come off one of the more impressive and mentally challenging outings of his career five days ago (you’ve undoubtedly heard the story of his flight to join his wife during the birth of their daughter being delayed, so he got off plane and returned to the stadium to pitch), and it seemed as though the let down from that stressful effort was now taking it’s toll. He struggled with his command in the first inning as he made several mistakes in the zone which cost him to the tune of 5 hits and four runs…ouch. So much for that early lead.
To Ian’s credit he pulled himself back to gather and really pitched a great game the rest of the way for himself and the ball club. He ended up posting zeros in each of the next six frames. In fact, he struck out the side in his 7th and last inning, retired the last ten he faced in a row, and eighteen of the last twenty that stood in the box against him. It was that dang first inning that was the only fly in this great outing ointment.
Unfortunately Jungmann also got himself locked in and was doing the same thing that Kennedy was – putting zeros up on the scoreboard. He did so all the way until the 7th when an Alonso double and Venable single broke the spell and got the Friars to within 4-2.
The Padres were so close at that point but then things completely unravel in the 8th. Mateo came on to pitch and simply was not sharp. A double, walk, and single with two outs added to the Brewer lead to extend it to 5-2. Then the back breaker arrived on a single to center that Upton Jr. charged for but couldn’t come up with a didn’t stay in front of which allowed the ball to get behind him all the way to the wall easily letting in two runs. Another single later and the Pads trailed 8-2….ugly.
This team has NEVER quit all season long, though, and tonight was no exception. In the 9th the boys charged back with an J. Upton single, a Venable 2-0ut double to score Justin, and that was capped off with a Wallace mammoth blast to right field to put the Pads within 8-5. Upton Jr. then single to keep the rally going, but the final out was recorded without any other damage.
Close but no cigar, nor crucial win that this team needs especially against sub .500 clubs if it’s going to make a run for a wild card spot.
Tomorrow the Pads will go for the series split with Despaigne on the hill. First offering is at 11:10 (PDT), and Uncle Teddy and myself would be honored if you would join us for the call on the Mighty 1090!
Scan
Comments are closed