Bats Bounce Back in Padres Win

Jul 10, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Carlos Quentin (18) runs the bases after a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Padres came into tonight’s game expecting to be entrenched in a duel with Rockies’ starter Jordan Lyles. Lyles was undefeated in 8 starts and just about unhittable at home. Lucky for the Padres, he was a little off his game.

The scoring started early for the Padres when they got on the board off the strength of a two run double by Yonder Alonso.  It wasn’t just the two runs that made such an impact but the 37 pitches Lyles was forced to throw.

The Rockies would tack on a run of their own in the bottom of the first off of Troy Tulowitzki solo home run, but Seth Smith responded with a two-run homer of his own to give the Padres a 4-1 lead.

A three run lead wasn’t enough for Buddy Black, so the Padres added two runs in third off if a Yasmani Grandal ground out and a Robbie Erlin RBI single. It would end up being the shortest outing of Jordan Lyles season finishing with 6 runs on 5 hits and a career high 6 walks in 3 1/3 innings of work that caused his ERA to jump from 2.66 to 3.50.

Even though they were down early, the Rockies battled back. A sac fly in the 4th would inch them a step closer and an RBI single the next inning made it a three run game. A lead off single to start the 6th would chase Erlin from the game, and a two run double from Carlos Gonzalez ended his line at 4 runs and 9 hits in just 5 innings. It wasn’t quite as a good of a start as we grown accustom to seeing from the Padres’ pitching staff, but he kept them in the ball game and left with the lead intact.

In a tight one run game, Bud Black turned to his bench to look for some insurance, and he found some in the form of Carlos Quentin. The slugger blasted a 0-1 pitch deep into the left field stands for his first home run of the 2014 season.

With a 3 run lead the Padres felt safe handing it over to the dominant trio of Dale Thayer, Joaquin Benoit and Huston Street who had no trouble closing out this game notching his 13th save of the season.

One interesting note from last night’ game was the amount of double plays turned by the Padres. The pitchers forced five double plays and tying the franchise record. It was the first time this had been achieved since 2008 against, ironically enough, the Colorado Rockies.

Tomorrow Donn Roach (1-0, 2.57 ERA) will get his first career start in place of the injured Andrew Cashner against Juan Nicasio (4-2, 3.77 ERA). If the Padres can hit anywhere close to the way they did tonight they should have no issues leaving Colorado with a series victory. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PDT.