The San Diego Padres are aware, perhaps painfully, of their one game NL West lead over the upstate Giants. San Francisco whipped out the bats in the series opener at Petco Park last night, while the Friars’ offense was just batty. The Giants’ victory allowed them to pull within one game of the division and one game behind Atlanta for the NL wildcard. San Francisco banged out 13 hits as Matt Cain took a three-hitter into the ninth for his 11th win of the season. The Giants topped the Padres 7-3.
Leadoff hitter, Andres Torres, got the ball rolling in the top of the first as the Giants began their quest to defeat Jon Garland for the first time. Torres tripled off the San Diego starter, and scored on Freddy Sanchez’s base hit to center. The Giants surged to a three run lead in the third frame after a Sanchez stolen base and an Aubrey Huff homerun. It was Huff’s 24th of the season and put Bruce Bochy’s team in a favorable position. San Diego tallied a run in this crucial series during the bottom half of the third. Will Venable launched a solo shot off Cain to trim the deficit to two runs.
The visiting Giants enjoyed a six run advantage by the sixth inning, however. Juan Uribe added to the homerun parade with a one-run blast, his 20th long ball of the season, in the fourth. Huff, who finished 3-for-4, ignited the scoring in the fifth after Cain worked a hitless bottom of the fourth. Huff pasted a right field double that was followed by Buster Posey’s homerun to left field. Reliever Kevin Correia replaced Garland in the sixth with the Padres trailing by five. Pat Burrell’s towering, 421-foot shot to left added to the Giants’ lead in the sixth. The Padres scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Giants’ powerful offensive showing. Ryan Ludwick slammed a full count offering into the seats off Cain. Cain surrendered three runs on five hits before leaving the game. Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez closed out the game for the Giants, who have won five of their last six games. Garland suffered the loss after yielding eight hits and six runs through five frames. A tough game two is in store for both teams tonight. No-hit pitcher, Jonathan Sanchez opposes San Diego southpaw, Clayton Richard. Richard is 3-0 in four starts against the Giants this year. Both teams will be going for their 80th win of the season and control of first place in the West.
Parting Points: A bit of a snooze-fest to start the NFL season, but the real excitement takes place on Sunday.
The Cowboys extended Miles Austin’s contract for six years, which is a good move for Dallas. See previous blog entry for reasons why this is good!
A few marquee matchups on the college football slate this weekend: Ohio State-Miami, Alabama-Penn State and Florida State-Oklahoma.
Showing posts with label San Diego Padres. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Diego Padres. Show all posts
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Curvy, Complete Celebration in Cali
Vicente Padilla took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, baffling the NL West leading Padres in Wednesday game in Los Angeles. The 32 year old Nicaraguan righty blew away San Diego with a complete game shutout for his fifth victory of the year. The Dodgers routed the Padres 9-0 a night after newly acquired pitcher, Ted Lilly, limited San Diego to two hits over seven innings. Padilla, pitching on an extra day’s rest, fanned nine batters and walked two in a two-hit effort. He tossed 77 strikes, including 10 Eephus slow curve pitches. The Dodgers’ starter also contributed a pair of hits and an RBI during the contest at Dodger Stadium.
San Diego’s southpaw starter, Wade LeBlanc, suffered the loss as the Dodgers tallied their highest run total since the All-Star break. It was the second time this season L.A. has shutout the Padres with LeBlanc on the hill. LeBlanc allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 frames of work. Scott Podsednik’s two-run base hit capped a three run second inning for the home team. The hosts added a fourth run on a Ronnie Belliard double in the third. Shortstop, Jamey Carroll and third baseman, Casey Blake collected two hits and scored twice, while teammate, Andre Ethier pounded out three hits in the win. Ethier smacked his 17th homerun of the season with one man on base in a five-run eighth inning to increase the Dodgers’ lead to 9-0.
Padilla did not give up a hit until the seventh inning. Ryan Ludwick lined an 0-2 pitch to right field with one out to break up the no-no, but Padilla still finished with his fourth career shutout. He is a satisfactory 4-2 in his last nine starts. Los Angeles backstop, Russ Martin, was placed on the 15 day disabled list shortly after the game. The catcher will be sidelined for the first time in his career with a right hip tear. Surgery could be an option, which would end Martin’s season. Forty-one year old, Brad Ausmus filled in behind the plate for Martin and almost caught a no-hitter. Padilla has a phenomenal 1.69 in his last dozen games.
Parting Points: Oddball pop, white rap song of the day-“Summer Vacation” by The Party
San Diego’s southpaw starter, Wade LeBlanc, suffered the loss as the Dodgers tallied their highest run total since the All-Star break. It was the second time this season L.A. has shutout the Padres with LeBlanc on the hill. LeBlanc allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 frames of work. Scott Podsednik’s two-run base hit capped a three run second inning for the home team. The hosts added a fourth run on a Ronnie Belliard double in the third. Shortstop, Jamey Carroll and third baseman, Casey Blake collected two hits and scored twice, while teammate, Andre Ethier pounded out three hits in the win. Ethier smacked his 17th homerun of the season with one man on base in a five-run eighth inning to increase the Dodgers’ lead to 9-0.
Padilla did not give up a hit until the seventh inning. Ryan Ludwick lined an 0-2 pitch to right field with one out to break up the no-no, but Padilla still finished with his fourth career shutout. He is a satisfactory 4-2 in his last nine starts. Los Angeles backstop, Russ Martin, was placed on the 15 day disabled list shortly after the game. The catcher will be sidelined for the first time in his career with a right hip tear. Surgery could be an option, which would end Martin’s season. Forty-one year old, Brad Ausmus filled in behind the plate for Martin and almost caught a no-hitter. Padilla has a phenomenal 1.69 in his last dozen games.
Parting Points: Oddball pop, white rap song of the day-“Summer Vacation” by The Party
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Stranded in S.F.
Webb Wrings Win, Zito Zapped
Yesterday’s date was 511, so it seems only fitting to discuss baseball in the 511. San Francisco, area code 511, hosted the first place San Diego Padres Tuesday. The Giants have been on the losing side of four games against the Pads this season. San Diego arrived in the Bay Area to face a team coming off a 6-5 win at Citi Field Sunday. The Giants and Mets stranded 23 runners total in that game and the pitchers produced 16 walks. San Francisco carried that tone back home as the hometown hurlers issued 12 walks in a sloppy effort. Barry Zito lost for the first time this season as the Padres drove the lefty’s pitch count up. Zito struggled with location and labored through five frames and a career high seven walks. The Padres prevailed 3-2 to pad their NL West lead to 1 ½ games over the Giants. It wasn’t a celebratory 511 in the 511 because the baseball team was clipped and the ace pitcher was tagged for his first loss.
Twenty-four year old, Ryan Webb, picked up his first win by tossing 1 1/3 innings for the visiting San Diego club. The Padres grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning off Zito. Oscar Salazar had two hits, including a one-out single in the second. Jerry Hairston, Jr. followed Salazar’s slap with a ground rule double over the Bay Area centerfield fence. Zito loaded the bases with a pass to Scott Hairston and David Eckstein scraped together a base hit to drive in a pair of runs. San Francisco got a run back in the bottom of the third as Pablo Sandoval tripled and scored on Aubrey Huff’s base hit. Huff went 2-for-4 with an RBI for San Francisco, but the Giants stranded 11 base runners in the defeat. San Diego wasn’t better, leaving 15 on board. Pitcher, Wade LeBlanc, was charged with six hits, two runs and four walks through four plus innings for the Giants. San Diego added a run in the fifth. Zito walked Kyle Blanks with one out. Blanks stole second base and crossed home on backstop, Yorvit Torrealba’s hit to give the Padres a 3-1 lead. The Padres stole three total bases in Tuesday’s victory and Zito was done after 108 pitches. Zito steadied himself after allowing the runners waltz around the bases. He conferred with pitching coach, Dave Righetti, to get the final outs of the fifth. Zito contributed a hit at the plate, but finished the night with a 5-1 record on the hill.
Bruce Bochy’s Giants got within a run following Juan Uribe’s RBI in the home half of the fifth. The run was set up by Huff’s double a batter earlier. Huff cruised home to end the evening for LeBlanc. Eckstein reached base in all five at-bats and walked three times. Neither team would score again as run production came to a halt. Webb, Luke Gregerson and Mike Adams threw scoreless frames for the 20-12 Padres in relief, and Heath Bell earned the save with a hitless ninth. The Padres’ pitching has been phenomenal this season. San Diego leads the league in runs per game. The Giants are second in that category, which explains the low scoring affair between the California clubs Tuesday night.
Parting Points: Javier Vasquez is finally pitching a good game and the Yankees can’t score any runs.
It looks like LeBron and the Cavs may be ousted in Boston. Was Tuesday night James’ final as a Cleveland Cavalier?
Songs of the day: “Disarm” by Smashing Pumpkins and “Breathless” by the Corrs
Yesterday’s date was 511, so it seems only fitting to discuss baseball in the 511. San Francisco, area code 511, hosted the first place San Diego Padres Tuesday. The Giants have been on the losing side of four games against the Pads this season. San Diego arrived in the Bay Area to face a team coming off a 6-5 win at Citi Field Sunday. The Giants and Mets stranded 23 runners total in that game and the pitchers produced 16 walks. San Francisco carried that tone back home as the hometown hurlers issued 12 walks in a sloppy effort. Barry Zito lost for the first time this season as the Padres drove the lefty’s pitch count up. Zito struggled with location and labored through five frames and a career high seven walks. The Padres prevailed 3-2 to pad their NL West lead to 1 ½ games over the Giants. It wasn’t a celebratory 511 in the 511 because the baseball team was clipped and the ace pitcher was tagged for his first loss.
Twenty-four year old, Ryan Webb, picked up his first win by tossing 1 1/3 innings for the visiting San Diego club. The Padres grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning off Zito. Oscar Salazar had two hits, including a one-out single in the second. Jerry Hairston, Jr. followed Salazar’s slap with a ground rule double over the Bay Area centerfield fence. Zito loaded the bases with a pass to Scott Hairston and David Eckstein scraped together a base hit to drive in a pair of runs. San Francisco got a run back in the bottom of the third as Pablo Sandoval tripled and scored on Aubrey Huff’s base hit. Huff went 2-for-4 with an RBI for San Francisco, but the Giants stranded 11 base runners in the defeat. San Diego wasn’t better, leaving 15 on board. Pitcher, Wade LeBlanc, was charged with six hits, two runs and four walks through four plus innings for the Giants. San Diego added a run in the fifth. Zito walked Kyle Blanks with one out. Blanks stole second base and crossed home on backstop, Yorvit Torrealba’s hit to give the Padres a 3-1 lead. The Padres stole three total bases in Tuesday’s victory and Zito was done after 108 pitches. Zito steadied himself after allowing the runners waltz around the bases. He conferred with pitching coach, Dave Righetti, to get the final outs of the fifth. Zito contributed a hit at the plate, but finished the night with a 5-1 record on the hill.
Bruce Bochy’s Giants got within a run following Juan Uribe’s RBI in the home half of the fifth. The run was set up by Huff’s double a batter earlier. Huff cruised home to end the evening for LeBlanc. Eckstein reached base in all five at-bats and walked three times. Neither team would score again as run production came to a halt. Webb, Luke Gregerson and Mike Adams threw scoreless frames for the 20-12 Padres in relief, and Heath Bell earned the save with a hitless ninth. The Padres’ pitching has been phenomenal this season. San Diego leads the league in runs per game. The Giants are second in that category, which explains the low scoring affair between the California clubs Tuesday night.
Parting Points: Javier Vasquez is finally pitching a good game and the Yankees can’t score any runs.
It looks like LeBron and the Cavs may be ousted in Boston. Was Tuesday night James’ final as a Cleveland Cavalier?
Songs of the day: “Disarm” by Smashing Pumpkins and “Breathless” by the Corrs
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