Padres at Rockies Game Recap 3/12/12

In a blow-out loss to the Rockies, the Padres had at least one good sign.  Cameron Maybin may have broke out of his spring slump.  In the first inning, Maybin blasted a lead-off home run into the left-centerfield lawn seats.  Maybin later collected his second hit of the spring and again scored.  He scored the Padres only two runs of the game as the team fell 11-2.

Cory Luebke got the start and pitched three solid innings.  He gave up one hit, one walk, no runs, and struck out two.  His spring ERA remains 0.00.  Unfortunately, the next three pitchers used by the Padres did not fare as well.  Jeff Suppan went three innings, gave up seven hits, one walks, and three runs.  Erik Hamren then did not record a single out while giving up six more runs.  Alex Hinshaw followed and gave up one hit, one walk, and two runs.  It wasn’t until Dale Thayer came in and pitched the ninth that the Padres saw one of their pitchers toss a scoreless frame.

It wasn’t a strong offensive performance for the Padres either.  They collected six hits with Maybin as the only batter to get more than 2 total bases (6).  Carlos Quentin went 2 for 3 to raise his spring average to .500.

Luebke is pegged to the the Padres number two starter with Tim Stauffer pitching Opening Day.  He continued to impress yesterday.  So far this spring, Luebke has struck out six in five innings pitched, gave up just two hits, walked two and allowed no runs to score.

After the game, Luebke said:

"I was working on my offspeed stuff and threw quite a few changeups and curveballs.  The one hit [Brandon Wood single, third inning] was one of my better ones [changeups]."

The Padres will host the White Sox at Peoria Sports Compex at 1:05 PT today.  Edinson Volquez will take the hill for his second start of the spring.