Padres Game Recap – May 2, 2015

Not a blowout like yesterday but a nice tidy 4-2 win for the Padres today to guarantee the series win, and a chance to go for the weep tomorrow over the visiting Rockies.   It really was a text book team win today, with solid starting pitching, clutch hitting with runners in scoring position, flawless defense, and 3 quality innings from the bullpen.

The Pads took the early lead once again on a Matt Kemp RBI single in the first, scoring Myers who had walked to start the inning. That accounted for the 24th run that the Friars have scored in the first inning this season, which leads the N.L.  The Rockies, however, answered with run of their own in the second to tie it, and another in the third to take the lead 2-1.

After that Brandon Morrow shut them down for the next three innings while the Pads offense went to work.  Again starting the rally with a walk Myers reached base in the fifth, and reached third on a Norris double. Upton then singled up the middle scoring both Myers and Norris to regain the lead 3-2.  The next inning Myers again was involved with the Pads run scoring, but this time at the back end instead of the front. With runners on second and third and two outs he singled up the middle to score Barmes giving the Friars a 4-2 lead, and all the cushion the bullpen would need.

Although it was not the usual faces coming-out of the ‘pen in the seventh and eighth to get the ball to Kimbrel it was still the result Padres fans have come to expect in recent years. In fact, instead of two faces this time it was only one as Maurer fired two flawless frames to get the ball to the new fire balling closer. Looking as dominant as ever Kimbrle fired 98-99 MPH fastballs combined with an off the table curve to set the Rocks down 1-2-3 in the ninth to nail down the win, the series victory, Morrow’s 2nd W, his 7th save since joining the Pads, and his 33rd consecutive save since last year.

Morrow was not his sharpest today with his fastball command, but he kept the damage to a minimum to get his second win in a row. He used more curves balls today than we’ve normally seen from him, but he had a good slit finger going, used the top of the zone with his fastball well, and came up with the big pitch when he needed to today to stay out of any big trouble.

There are a lot of things different about this offense this year, but one of the most statistically glaring change since last year is the production with runners on base. The Friars are now leading all of MLB in hitting with runners in scoring position with a .329 mark.

On another note, Gyorko lined a nice opposite field double for himself breaking an 0-12 slump.  Hopefully that can be the start of a resurgence as he has had some better at bats recently but has had little to show for it.

Shields on the hill for the Pads to go for the sweep, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:10.  Uncle Teddy and I will bring you the action on The Mighty 1090. Look forward to you joining us!

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