Padres Game Recap – Apr. 23, 2015

After a road trip filled with home runs and dramatic comebacks today’s 2-1 loss to the Rockies felt like a 2014 flashback with the offense simply unable to get anything meaningful going against the Rockies pitching today…getting spoiled.  With the loss the Friars split the series with Colorado, but still come home with a winning 4-3 overall record for the trip.

For the second game in a row the Pads starting pitcher just couldn’t find his rhythm early.  Yesterday it was Shields, and today it was Ross who simply struggled all game to find any slider consistency.  That being said, in both cases despite not having their usual arsenal of weapons they kept their team in the game.  After expending 37 pitches, yet allowing only 1 run in the first, Ross ended up posting 3 shutout innings before surrendering another run in his 5th and last inning of work. That second run was the difference in the ball game, but still quite an effort on is part to keep the game close especially at Coors.

The offense which was missing Upton, Middelbrooks and Norris all getting a day’s rest, scored a run in the fourth thanks to an RBI 1B by Alonso to tie it at that point 1-1, but that was the only real noise it would make. There was a glimmer of hope in the 7th, but with two runners on Upton struck out as a pinch hitter ending the threat. Unlike every other game of the trip there was just never a sense that the stacked middle of the lineup was going to pounce at the next opportunity.  The reason was because the stacked middle of the lineup simply wasn’t there today.

The highlight of the day for the offense was Alonso who had two other hits to go with the above mentioned single, raising his season average to an even .400, which puts him 2nd in the N.L. behind Adrian Gonzalez (.414).  He’s been on fire, hitting the ball to all parts of the field with authority.  He shared with me on the Inside The Clubhouse Report a couple of days ago that not only is he healthy, but feels more confident and focused than ever as to what kind of hitter he is and what approach he needs to take to the plate each at bat. It’s obviously all coming together for him to create an amazing start to the season.

Not much else to report. Kennedy is for sure starting on Saturday, and any doubt was put to rest when Despaigne came in from the bullpen to get the final out of the 8th.

Good to be back home, and looking forward to the weekend series against the Dodgers. Cashner and Greinke will go at it tomorrow. First pitch is at 7:10.  The Pads have issued a traffic advisory in expectations of the stadium being packed so please give yourself enough time to get there. If you can’t make it to the game then Ted Leitner and I look forward to you joining us on the Mighty 1090 for all the action.

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