Richard Roughed Up Again

May 27, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher

(left) and starting pitcher

(right) shake hands after defeating the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Seattle defeated San Diego 9-0. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres drop the first game against their interleague rival, the Seattle Mariners 9 – 0.  The Padres were out hit 11 – 4 and gave up a complete game shut out to former Padre Aaron Harang.  It was a complete bomshell, with few highlights or positive mentionables for the Padres.  Clayton Richard returns from the DL as he left it – with dubious results.  Clayton gives up 4 ER before registering an out in the 1st, setting the tone early for the game in a horrible way.  Clayton works hard, and everyone wants to him to regain last year’s form.  After all, what has changed?  The early setback seemed to ripple through the Padres team in general, with a “here we go again” effect that tore the Padres hearts out.  They were unable to mount any meaningful attack against Aaron Harang, who goes the distance with 122 pitches.   The Padres hitters made Aaron Harang look like himself in 2007.  I guess its throwback time.  Actually for memorial day, with the Mariners and Padres both sporting camo hats and similar styling for uniforms it got a bit confusing.  From a distance, it almost looked like each team was wearing the same uni.

Chase Headley, who recorded one of the 4 Padres hits had this to say about Aaron’s performance.  “I’ve known Aaron a long time. He got away with some stuff today,” Headley said. “There were some hard-hit balls. Not that he didn’t pitch well, but I don’t see a complete-game shutout.”  Translation – Aaron did well today, because we did not.  I give credit to Chase for speaking his mind, as well as still having that competitive edge, all the way into the post game interviews.  Let’s hope he brings it again for game 2.

Over the last week, the Padres battled hard and played solid teams like the Cardinals and Diamondback well, albeit losing both series.  The Padres now match up against an incomplete team in the Mariners and need to make up ground in the standings.  Catcher Yasmani Grandal will be back for game 2 of the series and hopefully can bring about a mid season rally.  These are heated times for the Padres and much will be revealed in the upcoming month.