I know, I know…you were hoping that yesterday’s gutsy come from behind victory would be the jump start that the Padres needed to put together a string of wins. Honestly, I was hoping for that too! Unfortunately the engine did not ignite, and the Friars fell to the Giants tonight 6-0 to even the series 1-1.
Errors and walks to concoct a deadly inning was the poisonous recipe tonight. Sound familiar? Of course it does because it was the same arsenic that lead to the last Padres suicidal loss three days ago in AZ.
Tonight it was an error to lead off the 2nd inning that set the stage. It was a grounder to the left of Middlebrooks that appeared to take a last second bad hop up and over his glove. Maybe it could have been ruled as a bad hop single. In either case the next batter singled on an 0-2 mistake by Kennedy. A walk then loaded the bases, followed by a sac-fly to score the first run. Another walk immediately followed which reload the bags and set the stage for Posey. Kennedy was able to get to a 2-2 count when he beat Posey on two good fastballs in hitters counts, but again made a two strike mistake with a hanging off speed pitch which Posey launched into the left field bleachers for a grand slam home run. It was his second slam of the week and gave the Giants a 5-0 lead.
Kennedy allowed another run to cross in the 3rd on a triple and single and the Pads had a 6-0 hole to dig out of. They had an opportunity to start clawing their way back in it in the 4th when Alonso lead off with a walk and Upton doubled him to third. The next three batters, however, were retired in order without any of those ducks on the pond crossing the plate. That was an important potential turning point if the Pads were going to have any chance of fighting back, but it passed without any damage being done and the rest of the night for the offense was rather benign.
Ian ended up throwing the ball well the rest of the way posting zeros in the 4th, 5th, and 6th, but the damage of course had been done. No team is perfect, but the Padres need to find a way to if not eliminate, at least reduce the frequency and severity of the self inflicted wounds. The Friars have allowed 37 unearned runs to cross the plate so far this season – most in the N.L. Tough way to win games.
In other Padres news in case you had not heard:
- Dale Thayer was put in the 15-Day DL with a shoulder strain. Dale has been working lot and not had more than two days rest from pitching in a game since May 21st.
- Nick Vincent was optioned to El Paso.
- Kevin Quackenbush was recalled from El Paso
- Marcus Mateo had his contract purchased form El Paso to also join club. It’s his first time in the big leagues with the Pads, and mad his Friar debut tonight with a solid scoreless inning.
Tomorrow Shields will go to the hill to try to take the rubber match, win the series, and salvage a .500 road trip. Ted Leitner and yours truly will have all the action for you on the Mighty 1090, and we look forward to having you with us.
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