Carlos Quentin Has Big Day, but Padres Swept by Cubs

The Padres entered the series with the second worst record in baseball.  They exit it with the worst record.  They have claimed baseball’s top prize in futility – the worst overall winning percentage.  The three game series showed off some of the offense the Padres have been missing all season long, but the pitching was less than stellar.  This was on display as the pitching staff walked seven in the 8-6 loss to the Cubs yesterday.

Carlos Quentin almost single-handedly kept the Padres in this game, but it wasn’t enough.  He was 3 for 4 with two home runs.  Both home runs were two run shots.  He also clubbed a double and now has seven hits in his first three games as a Padre.  Quentin also moved into third place on the team in home runs with three in just three games.

The Padres used seven pitchers in the game, and none were very effective.  Anthony Bass got the start but lasted only 4 2/3 innings.  He gave up six hits and walked four on the way to allowing five runs.  One of the runs allowed came across when Miles Mikolas came on in relief and walked in a run before being yanked.  This of course came after Bass had walked in a run of his own before being removed.

The big blow came in the ninth with the Padres and Cubs tied at 6 runs apiece.  With a runner on and Darwin Barney at the plate, Dale Thayer served up the game-winning, walk-off home run, and the Cubs, losers of 12 straight entering this series, completed the sweep of the Padres.

The loss drops the Padres to 18 games below .500 and 16 games back in the division.  They finished the 2011 season 20 games under, but with only two more losses they will match that pace already this year.  San Diego has an off day today, but they will look to turn their luck around on Friday as they start a three-game series against the Diamonbacks at Petco.  Clayton Richard will face Wade Miley for the 7:05 PT start.