Padres vs Cubs Game Recap 3/29/12

The hits keep coming.  17 of them to be exact.  The Padres used those 17 hits to score 12 runs and beat the Cubs 12-11.  Not the type of pitching performance any pitcher wants to look back on.

The game’s starter for the Padres, Clayton Richard, tossed just 4 1/3 innings (he was scheduled for at least six).  He gave up 12 hits, one walk, and nine runs.  It was a rough outing.  Luckily, the bats came to play.  But it wasn’t all bad for the Padres’ pitchers.  Brad Brach, who is fighting diligently for a spot on the roster, pitched a perfect ninth and lowered his spring ERA to just 0.93.

At the plate, Jason Bartlett and Jesus Guzman provided some of the noise.  Bartlett had a two-run shot in the second inning.  Guzman hit his own two-run blast in the sixth.  Beyond the home runs, the Padres had an additional three extra base hits.  Nick Hundley, Will Venable, and Matt Clark all doubled.

Mark Kotsay continued to do nothing but hit when given the chance.  He went 2 for 4 and raised his batting average to .357.  Nick Hundley went 2 for 3 and is also sitting at .357.  Jason Bartlett also went 2 for 3 on the day.

As part of our new FreeClark movement here at Chicken Friars, I’ll highlight Matt Clark’s day.  After an 0 for 4 day at the plate for Yonder Alonso, Clark came in to relieve him.  Clark went 2 for 2 with a double and two RBI.  He has raised his spring batting average to .425.  FreeClark.

The Padres, now 18-12, will face the Giants in an evening contest today in Peoria.  The game will be at 7:05 PT and broadcast by Fox Sports San Diego.  Dustin Moseley will get the start and should go six innings barring a pitching meltdown like we saw yesterday.

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