Padres Game Recap – May 3, 2015

Sweep!!! The Padres took care of business today taking down the Rockies 8-6, and completing the 3-game sweep of their N.L. West rivals.  It was a see-saw contest that saw four lead changes, and 7 homers to resemble a game at Coors more than Petco, but the Friars prevailed.

Shields had a bit of a Jekyl and Hyde outing never gaining consistency for any extended period. The first batter of the game took him deep to give Col the early 1-0 lead, but he then settled down to strike out the side. The Offense picked him up right away with Justin Upton’s 7th HR of the season, a 2- run shot over left center to take the lead 2-1.

Shields appeared to have found his grove after the first inning homer, retiring nine in a row, but then the fourth presented another challenge. Another lead off HR allowed tied it at 2. That was followed by a single and run scoring double and the Pads were for the second time of the day looking to play catch up 3-2.

The offense answered back in the first, and they did it again in their half of the fourth. Kemp lead off by getting hit for the second time of the game, and reached third on Upton’s double to center field that just barley missed being his second HR of the day. Solarte’s ground out scored Kemp, and then the beast, Derek Norris, dug in a cranked a fastball over the left field wall for a 2-run blast. With the 3-spot the Pads lead 5-3 heading to the 5^th.

Shields could not hold the Rocks down though and they scored 2 in the 5^th thanks to Arenado’s second long ball of the day to tie it 5-5. No way would that go unanswered for long, and it was Upton yet again coming through for the boys hitting his second double of the afternoon to drive in Spangenebr g who had singked ahead of him to retake the lead 6-5.

Colorado threatened again in the 6^th, and shields gave way to the bullpen, handing over the 1-run lead and two runners on to Thayer. Dale walked the first batter to load the bases, then induced a pop up and a ground out to escape the threat and preserve the lead.

With two outs in the sixth and a runner on Gyorko was asked to pinch hit and came through big with home run to dead center field to give the ‘pen some breathing room 8-5. IT was a much needed boost for JEdd who had been getting some better swings on the ball recently but had little to show for it until his double yesterday. The HR today was a much needed follow up psychologically for sure. To further emphasize his moving in the right direction both the double and the long ball were pitches away that were driven center and opposite field – always a good sign that a hitter is staying closed, and trusting his hands to get to the ball deep in the zone. It was a big swing for the team today, and hopefully an even bigger swing for Jedd and ultimatley the team long run.

Quackenbush then cam in to post a scoreless 7^th. Benoit surprisingly pitched the 8^th, after it sounded as though Buddy may try to avoid him for another day with his dead arm symptoms. He wasn’t super sharp with his breaking stuff, but none the less also posted a goose egg to hand it over to Kimbrel for the save. Although he was touched for a HR to cut the lead to 8-6, the fireballing closer retired the next 2 batters for the Padres win, the sweep, his 8^th save of the season, and his 34^th consecutive save going back to last year.

On a day when the Pads were facing a pitcher that was struggling, and sending to the mound their opening day starter it projected to be a much easier win ( if there is ever such a thing) than it turned out to be, but the Friars battled with a lot of heart and some good ole fashioned hitting, to get the job done. Nice rebound series after the difficult previous week, and a nice head of steam built up as they head to the road for 10 days.

Tomorrow Ross will toe the slab against the Giants, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:15. Look forward to you joining Uncle Teddy and myself for the actiomn on the Mighty 1090!

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