Padres Game Recap – May 9, 2015

In a contest like tonight’s there is no middle ground – you’re emotionally all in. You either return to the clubhouse high fiving each other yelling “$%*# YEAH!” as the music blares, or you’re sitting silently in your locker, head hanging, wondering how the $%*# you let that one slip away.

The difference is huge and can have a carry over effect either way. Credit the Friars as they kept fighting and denied the temptation to give in to the twists and turns and multiple setbacks of the night to down the D’Backs 6-4 in 12 innings.

The launch was seamless with the Pads jumping on top in the first 1-0 on singles by Myers and Spangenberg, and a Kemp sac-fly. Ross was as sharp as he’s been all season to start a game facing the minimum 9 through the first three frames using excellent fastball and slider command.

Things started to turn in the fourth, however, as the lead was lost. With 2 outs the snakes singled, then Peralta hit a liner to left that Upton dove for in the misjudgement that he could catch it, when instead it would land well in front of him out of reach, and bounce over him to the wall. The run scored and Peralta was credited for a triple on a ball that should have been a harmless single.

Even more surprising was how AZ took the lead in the 5^th. With 2 outs and a runner on second Ross hung a 2-strike slider to the pitcher who lined it into center for the RBI 1B…Pads now trailed 2-1. Meanwhile Anderson had found his groove and was shutting down the Friar offense since the first. It stayed that way all the way through the 7^th, and things were starting to look bleak.

Lighting would strike in the 8^th for the Pads in the person of Jedd Gyorko. Coming off the bench as a PH to start the inning he laced a double into the LCF gap, and all of a sudden like being hit by a defibrillator the Friar heartbeat was back! With 2 outs Solarte then breathed life into the team with his double driving in Gyorko to tie the game. Norris then administered the adrenalin shot with his double that scored Solarte and gave the Pads a 3-2 lead.

With the team’s swagger back Benoit came in and posted a goose egg in the 8^th to set the stage for Kimbrel to close it out. To make it easier on him the offense even provided a 9^th inning insurance run to make it 4-2. Plenty for the man looking to chalk up his 10^th save since joining the club and 36^th in a row dating back to last year. Easy pickins!

Sure enough Kimbrel retired the first two batters with ease. He then issued the ever sinful 2-out walk. No big deal. He then surrendered a single. Ok…still 2 outs, and the rookie Dorn at the plate – he’s got this. He quickly got ahead of Dorn whiffing badly on a curve and a day late on a fastball. Stunningly the next pitch was a 98 MPH fastball down and in and Dorn dropped the bat barrel onto it sending the ball down the right field line…HUH?!?!? Both runners scored, MLB’s longest active saves streak was gone, and so was the Pads lead. Stunning….and potentially completely deflating.

The momentum had changed. The Pads went down quietly in the 10^th. The D’backs on the other hand came out looking to finish the deal with their first two batters reaching base. The next batter hit a hot shot up the middle that would have gotten through had an extreme shift not been on that allowed Amarista to dive for it behind the second base bag to save the run from scoring, saving the game while getting the force out at second. The next batter hit a missile to Gyorko’s left but he snared it in the air and doubled up the runner at first to end the threat.

Keeping their heads above water the Pads survived to the 12^th.   Then the former D’Back, Upton, who has torched his former club since being traded away three years ago continued his vengeance by launching a line drive home run over the left field fence to break the deadlock. Amarista later drove in a second run and Quackenbush found himself heading out to the mound for his second inning of work to finish off the win for himself.

Continuing with the them of “Nothing will come easy tonight” the tying run came to the plate in the person of the most dangerous D’Back hitter Goldschmidt. Quack went after him, and after just missing and fouling back two fastballs out over the plate, Quack fired one past him down and away for the final out… YES!!!

Exhausting but exhilarating! Draining but captivating! Frustrating at times, but ultimately fulfilling! Let the high fives fly, and the victory music blare!!!

Later as the players walk off the bus and back into their hotel rooms, they have to start getting ready for tomorrow’s game.  Easier with a hard fought W nestled warmly in their gut.

Padres now lead the series 2-1

Cashner will go for the Pads on Sunday in what will likely be an emotional outing for him taking place on Mother’s Day with his mom battling leukemia. First pitch will be at 1:10, and Uncle Teddy and I will look forward to you joining us for all the action on the mighty 1090.

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