Padres Recap 4/21/15: Clutch Hitting Spurs Padre Comeback

“If it’s not broke don’t fix it.”  Bud Black used the same lineup on Tuesday that drove in 14 runs on Monday.

1st Inning

The Padres looked to pick up where they left off on Monday by generating some runs after a lead off walk by Wil Myers.  Unfortunately, former Padre Nick Hundley forced a strike out throw/ out double play.

3rd Inning

That quieted the Padres until the third inning, when Clint Barmes got a hold of a pitch and drove it to deep left for his first homer in a Padre uniform.  Matt Kemp tacked on another RBI single by driving in Derek Norris.

Brandon Morrow effort went relatively unscratched when Nick Hundley drove a hit past the dive of Matt Kemp for a triple.  A fundamental ground out to second by DJ LeMahieu brought Hundley home to even the game at 2.

5th Inning

The Padres looked to have something dangerous going in the top of the 5th, but the Rockies stopped the threat by catching Barmes in a pickle at home, and forcing Matt Kemp to ground out into a double play.

Starting pitcher Tyler Matzek helped his own cause in the bottom of the 5th by leading off with a single to center.  His offense backed him up by stringing together some hits and putting up 3 runs in the frame.

7th Inning

The Padres kept the game close and chipped away at the deficit after Brandon Morrow left the game.  Wil Myers continued his hot hitting in the 7th, driving in pinch hitter Cory Spangenberg from second base to cut the Rockies lead down to 2 runs.

8th Inning

You can never have too big of a lead at Coors Field, and the Padres proved that in the top of the 8th.  After getting runners on 1st and 2nd, Bud Black called upon hot hitting Yangervis Solarte, who did what he does best and looped an RBI single to right field.  The Friars tried to get creative by utilizing the squeeze play with Alexi Amarista at the dish, but the bunt wasn’t effectively placed and Yonder Alonso was easily thrown out at home.

That seemed to deflate the Padres for the inning, but Wil Myers came up clutch again and knocked in Solarte to tie the game at 5 with two outs.  Derek Norris followed with a sharp line drive to center over the glove of Drew Stubbs.  With the lead now secured, Bud Black called upon Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel to close out the game.

9th Inning

Nick Hundley continued to hurt his former team and led off the 9th with a home run of all-star closer Craig Kimbrel.  Where was this when he was on the Padres?!  Kimbrel then settled down and retired the next three batters.

The Padres were perhaps a little too aggressive on the base paths.  On two occasions runners were thrown out when attempting to score.  However, the tenacity and clutch two out hitting of the lineup carried the team to victory.  Defensively, there were some nice plays by Solarte and Amarista that personified the new energy the San Diego Padres are playing with in 2015.

WP:  Brandon Maurer (1-0)

LP:  Boone Logan (0-1)

The Padres will continue this 4 game series in Colorado tomorrow at 5:40 PM when James Shields (2-0 2.84 ERA) takes on Kyle Kendrick (1-2 7.56 ERA).

Next: MLB Uniform Rankings Part 2