Robbie Erlin Bounces Back But Padres Fall To Giants

Apr 30, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Diego Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko (9) attempts to tag out San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence (8) as he steals second base during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres were unable to get the victory in the final game of the three-game series against the San Francisco Giants falling 3-2 Wednesday night. Padres’ left-hander Robbie Erlin bounced back from his rocky start against the Washington Nationals last Friday to give the club a chance to win, but he was bested by the Giants 38-year-old veteran Tim Hudson, who continues to shine in April lowering his season ERA to 2.17.

Yasmandi Grandal’s second home run of the year in the ninth inning off Hudson got the Padres within one, but the Giants’ Sergio Romo closed out the Padres for his seventh save of the season. Hudson was outstanding allowing 2 runs over 8.2 innings allowing only five hits in-a-near complete game.

Erlin pitched strong allowing three runs over 6.2 innings striking out five, but he was done-in by Brandon Hicks‘ fifth home run in the second inning and a RBI each by Michael Morse and Buster Posey.

Despite Jedd Gyorko and Seth Smith‘s return to the Padres’ lineup, the offense continues to struggle. They managed only five hits for the game, and continue to fall behind early in games squandering solid starts by their starters. Yonder Alonso returned to the lineup after missing the last two games and went 0-for-3, dropping his average to .167. Third baseman Jace Peterson got the start and stole his second base of the season, but the club is failing to do the little things that made them successful last year.

The Padres get a much needed day off Thursday before opening a three-game series back at Petco Park against the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks. Andrew Cashner (2-3, 2.68) is scheduled to start Friday’s game against the Diamondbacks’ Bronson Arroyo (1-2, 7.77) at 7:10 PST.