Little Amarista Has Big Hit In Padres Victory

Hey, Bud Selig, can the Padres play the Mariners all year? The Padres won 2-0 on Sunday, and improved to 5-1 on the season against their “natural” rivals. The Padres rode solid pitching and a timely hit for the series win.

Edinson Volquez got the start for the Padres, and turned in one of his best starts in a Padres uniform. Volquez was brutal in his last outing against the mighty Texas Rangers, but looked much better today. He pitched 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits, and walking 3. The walk total is still high, and Volquez currently leads all of MLB in walks with 55.

The Padres only two runs came courtesy of an opposite-field, ground-rule double off of the bat of Alexi Amarista. The hit gave the Padres the only two runs of the game that they would need.

On a day where bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds tragically passed away from cancer, the Padres bullpen came up huge in preserving the win for San Diego.

Luke Gregerson pitched a spotless 8th, and was assisted on a sparkling double play by Amarista. Huston Street pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in as many chances.

The Padres still struggled to score runs, but the big story was the work from the bullpen. The opening of the game featured a tribute to Akerfelds, and there was not a dry eye on the field. Akerfelds has been the bullpen coach since 2001, and has helped develop some of the Padres core relievers. Akerfelds will be missed.

The Padres will hit the road, and will open a series with the Houston Astros on Monday night.

NOTES: The Padres placed pitcher Anthony Bass on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. The Padres activated Andy Parrino from the DL.