Padres Fall to the Dodgers with Bench Clearing Brawl Sandwiched Inbetween

The Padres dropped their third straight series to open the 2013 season as they lost to the Dodgers earlier tonight by a score of 3-2.

Quentin charging the mound. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

As the title states, I am sure that the biggest story from this game will revolve the fight during the 6th inning which occurred after Carlos Quentin was hit by a Zack Greinke pitch.  Whether or not it was a retaliatory job for a pitch over Matt Kemp’s head earlier in the game I can’t say for certain, but Quentin did not take kindly to Greinke hitting him.

The benches cleared and Quentin, Greinke, and Kemp were all ejected.  I for one question Quentin’s behavior and why he believed that he would be targeted, especially with a 3-2 count in the bottom of the 6th inning in a 1-run game.  But Greinke and Quentin apparently have a history, and the frail right-hander didn’t help himself by mouthing off to Quentin after he was hit.

Things did not start well for Friar starter Jason Marquis on the night to say the least.  The veteran right-hander struggled with his control (4 walks on the evening) threw 26 pitches in the 1st inning, and gave up a 2-run home run to Adrian Gonzalez with 2 outs.  To his credit, Marquis did not allow a run over the next 4 innings, and the Friars were able to claw back into the game when they tied it in the bottom of the 6th.

San Diego’s first run came courtesy of a wild pitch by Greinke that Jedd Gyorko scored from third on, and the second run crossed the plate when Yonder Alonso knocked in Alexi Amarista with a single after the mid-game fracas.

Unfortunately, the Padres could not come through at the end, and their bullpen of all units failed them.  The usually reliable Luke Gregerson gave up an 8th inning home run to pinch-hitter Juan Uribe.  The big fly gave the Dodgers a 3-2 advantage, and proved to be enough breathing-room for Los Angeles to earn the “W.”

The Padres have lost seven of their first nine games to begin the 2013 campaign and this team will continue to lose if their offense sputters and their starting staff cannot hand the bullpen leads or ties.  2-7 is not a great way to begin any regular season, and it appears that 2013 is shaping up to be even worse than 2012 was.

San Diego has a three-game series against the Rockies over the weekend, and I hope that the Friars can play better at Petco than they did when they were swept at Coors Field last week.