Padres Waste Richard’s Gem, Lose to Astros

Hey, at least tonight’s loss was quick. The Houston Astros needed just 1 hour and 58 minutes to beat the Padres 1-0, behind the gem pitched by Lucas Harrell. The Astros won, despite netting two hits for the entire game.

Houston scored all the runs that they would need, when Matt Downs homered off of Clayton Richard for the game’s only run. Richard turned in his best start of the year, and perhaps his best in a Padres uniform. Richard went 7 innings, and allowed just the two hits, and did not walk anyone. Richard has a 1.31 ERA over his last four starts.

The Padres had a chance to win the game in the ninth, when Chase Headley led off the inning with a single. After a Carlos Quentin fielder’s choice, Yonder Alonso drew a walk. Alonso returned to the lineup, after riding the bench for 3 games with a sore knee. Speedy Alexi Amarista came in to run for Quentin, and had a chance to score, after Logan Forsythe singled to left. As Amarista rounded third, Astros left fielder J.D. Martinez threw at Amarista, to kill the Padres best scoring chance.

The Padres loaded the bases, with two outs, but Harrell struck out Nick Hundley to end the game. Harrell finished the complete game shutout, and the Padres could not deliver in the clutch, yet again.

Yonder Alonso and Logan Forsythe each had two hits, and the Padres did not have an extra base hit. The Padres will attempt to earn a split tomorrow, when Andrew Cashner makes his second start as a Padre.