Padres Game Recap – June 25, 2015

Nothing better than a good roller coaster ride, as long as there’s a grand and happy finale to the adventure.  Unfortunately the end of today’s ride was not happy as the Pads fell to the Giants 13-8 to lose the series 2-1, and finish the road trip 3-5.

The Giants took a first inning lead against Shields with a lead off double followed by a single to make it 1-0 after two batters.  James retied the next two batters but a two out triple to Belt made it 2-0.   Three innings later Belt lead off the 4th with another triple. Crawford walked, and Blanco singled to plate Belt. Heston then singled to score Crawford, and Pagan also singled to push Blanco across to make it 5-0 Giants.

It was the day of the triple at AT&T Park, and Duffy lead off the 5th with their third of four total on the day.  Posey singled him in to make it 6-0 and chase Shields from the game.  It was the first time all season he had not pitched at least 5 innings in one of his starts. Graces allowed a two out single which scored Posey to put S.F. up 7-0.

The offense showed signs of life in the 7th when Venable walked, Middlebrooks tripled (remember it was the day of the triple for both teams) to score Venable, then Amarista singled in Middlebrooks.  There was still a long way to go trailing 6-2, but the Pads had at least gotten on the board.

S.F. responded with two of their own in their half of the 7th to extend their lead back to a comfortable 7 run margin 9-2.

Then the roller coaster ride got fun for the Friars in the 8th.  Solarte lead off the inning with a pinch hit double…ok.  Barmes followed suite with a pinch hit double of his own to score Solarte and the Pads were down 9-3.  Then Kemp stepped up a drove his fifth home run of the season, and third in the past nine games, over the center field wall to bring the Pads to within four 9-5…now we’re talking.  The rally continued with a walk to another pinch hitter, Norris, followed by a single by Alonso.  The next two batters were retired but Amarista kept the excitement alive with a single that scored Norris and all of a sudden the tying run was at the plate with the the fourth pinch hitter of the inning Wallace.  The lefty blooped one in to center field to push Alonso across the plate to make it a 9-7 game, and some sweaty brows for the Giants.  For the second time in the inning Solarte came up to bat, this time with runners on first and third and for the second time in the inning came through with a hit, this time to score Amarista and get the Fathers to within one of completing the unfathomable comeback! Like Yangervis, Barmes now had his second chance of the inning to do damage as a pinch hitter but ended the hit parade with a pop out.  All in all, though, 6 runs crossed on 7 hits with 11 Friars having walked to the plate. Unbelievable!

The Pads were back in the game. The momentum had shifted. The Giants were on their heels. The mustard was off the…wait, I got carried away there for a moment. Sorry, Chick Hearn, the mustard was still on the hot dog, but the Pads had done the heavy lifting to put themselves in position to grasp one of the most unlikely wins of the season from the gullet of defeat.

Unfortunately the miracle comeback wasn’t meant to be.  The bullpen, which had been very solid of late, coughed up a four spot in the bottom of the 8th to put the Giants comfortably out front 13-8.  The Pads were again out of the game. The momentum had shifted back. The Giants were back on their feet.  The game was in the refrigerator…there you go, Chick.  13-8 was the final.

My stomach felt a little woozy at the end of that wild ride.  Would have been a real nice one to steal late and finish off the road trip with a .500 record and a happy flight.  Instead it put the Friars at a 3-7 mark since the managerial change, and the team still on a search to find any consistency.

Hopefully the short homestand can help the Pads find their footing. Ross will toe the slab for the fellas tomorrow with the first pitch crossing the plate at 7:10.  Ted Leitner and Chick Hearn will bring you all the ac…no, sorry it will be Teddy and I bringing you the action on the mighty 1090, and we look forward to having you with us.

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