Jones Returns Home to Hurt Padres, Orioles Win 4-1

Volquez took the loss tonight. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Riding high off of their fourth consecutive series victory on Sunday afternoon, the Padres enjoyed an off-day before they began a two-game series with the Orioles tonight.  Unfortunately for the Friars, they were unable to keep their series winning-streak alive after Baltimore shut them down in a 4-1 game this evening.

Edinson Volquez did an effective job against eight members of Baltimore’s starting lineup.  In fact, the right-hander only allowed two runs and six hits during his six innings of work despite a high pitch-count.  Volquez however had one problem hitter tonight, and that particular player was San Diego-native Adam Jones.

The outfielder was a one-man wrecking crew this evening at Petco Park, and he hurt the veteran right-hander on a night when he kept damage to a minium.  Jones hit two singles and a solo home run in his first three at-bats against Volquez, he singled in his final at-bat against Luke Gregerson, and he scored Baltimore’s final run when Chris Davis doubled in the top of the eighth.  The only run Jones was not involved in was Manny Machado’s sun-scoring single in the top of the ninth!

Not to be outdone by his teammate, Bud Norris did an effective-enough job on the mound for Baltimore in his second start with the team as he almost matched Volquez on the stat sheet with six innings pitched and five strikeouts.  Norris however was particularly effective when he ran into trouble, and he held the Friars when they put runners in scoring position too.

As well as the Padres hit with two outs against the Yankees, their lineup tonight could do nothing of the sort against Norris and the rest of the Orioles’ pitchers.  Will Venable could not score after a leadoff triple in the bottom of the first, Jedd Gyorko was stuck at third base with two outs in the bottom of the second, Venable was stranded at second base in the bottom of the third, and Chase Headley was left at third base in the bottom of the sixth as the tying run.

Outside of Yonder Alonso’s run-scoring single earlier in that inning, San Diego’s hitters were simply unable to come through when the chips were down.  Overall, the Friars went a pathetic 1-12 with runners in scoring position tonight!

Final Thoughts

Eric Stults will take the hill for the Friars tomorrow when they take on Baltimore in the final game of their current home-stand at 12:40 PM PDT.  Hopefully the left-hander can snap his three-start losing streak tomorrow, especially so San Diego can avoid the sweep.  He will however need his lineup to hit better with two outs than they did though.

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