Padres Game Recap – May 6, 2015

The padres busted out of their two day scoring slump in grand fashion today, as they beat the Giants to salvage the last game of the set 9-1.  Along the way were some notable firsts, and career highs by several different Padres players, and a Hoffman Happy Flight to AZ was had by all.

After going 22 innings without scoring a run, the tension building up within the Padres offense was like a a spring coiled tighter and tighter waiting to explode…and explode it did!  Right in the face of Giant’s starter Heston who had previously allowed 2 or less runs in 4 of his five starts.  Kemp was the one who finally busted through the invisible forcefield that held the Friar’s bats impotent the previous two nights. An RBI double that scored Spangenberg did the trick to break the scoreless streak and commence the onslaught.  Upton, Alonso, Gyorko, Amarista, and finally Hedges all followed suit reaching base safely, with Hedges recording his first MLB hit and RBI with a single up the middle. The dust settled only after the Pads sent 10 men to the plate, 7 reaching base consecutively, 5 of whom scored, and six of whom reached safely swinging.

With a 5-0 lead Ian Kennedy had more than enough of a cushion to find his groove and settle in.  Fastballs located on the corners and at the knees left his fingertips all game long, complimented by his changeup, curve, and slider all located equally as effectively from the first inning on.  Hedges and he appeared to work in perfect harmony together with Ian seldom having to shake his head, and Austin equally rarely with a need to move his glove.  Kennedy ended up with 7 innings of 1-run ball on the day with 5 strikeouts.  Good enough for his second victory of the season.

Were the five runs in the 3rd plenty for the win? You bet, but the Pads apparently needed to purge some more and did so with one in the 7th, and 3 more in the 8th to ice it.  You read about Hedges’ memorable offensive firsts above, but Upton also was able to rewrite his own history book with his firs 4 BB game, and Spangenberg recorded his first MLB 3-hit contest to establish a new personal best.

Hedges, it should be noted, not only notched his first hit and RBI, but also his first MLB win calling a game behind the plate. Every expectation about his defensive prowess was met as he showed an ability to call a well thought out game plan, and frame and stick pitches on or off the plate with a quietness far beyond his years.  A smooth and impressive first start for Austin in many ways.

Multi-hit performances were also recorded today by Alonso making his return after missing two games with a sore shoulder following his plunking on Sunday, Gyorko, and Amarista.

Despaigne will look to extend the Pads winning ways tomorrow against the Diamondbacks with the first pitch of the four game set to be fired at 6:40. Uncle Teddy and I will be excited that you tuned in with us tomorrow to enjoy all the action on the Mighty 1090!

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