Bullpen Pitches 4.1 Scoreless Innings to Help Padres Win 7-5 Over Rockies

Venable slides into second base. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres needed a bounce-back game after they were drubbed 14-1 by the Rockies on Monday night.  The trouncing must have inspired something in the Padres on Tuesday evening, because San Diego’s bullpen and lineup led their team to a 7-5 victory over the Rockies in game-two of their three-game series.

Down 4-1 when the top of the second rolled around, the Friars’ lineup were in a hole once again to play catch-up.  Thankfully, they were much more productive last night.

Will Venable, who has done his best to fill in at the top of the Padres’ lineup recently, led the hit parade against the Rockies with three hits in five at-bats.  Although Venable was the most productive, kudos must go to the rest of San Diego’s starters.  In fact, every starting position player except Chase Headley recorded at least one hit!

I will say that it was a good thing that the Padres’ lineup came out firing and responded to the Rockies’ early-inning runs, especially because Eric Stults only lasted 4.2 innings before he was pulled.  Luckily for San Diego, their hitters put up four runs in the top of the second, one in the top of the third, and another in the top of the sixth.

The biggest knocks during that span were the home runs off of the bats of Nick Hundley and Jedd Gyorko, and both of those dingers helped the Padres erase the Rockies’ three-run first inning lead.

This offensive explosion in turn provided the Friars’ bullpen with an adequate cushion, and Tim Stauffer, Nick Vincent, Luke Gregerson, and Huston Street took full advantage of it.  Colorado did mount a scare in the bottom of the eighth when Dexter Fowler was at-bat as the tying run, but Street forced him to ground out and the Friars exited the inning unharmed.

Final Thoughts

Although Stults was shelled, it was nevertheless nice to see the Padres play error-free in the field.  Moreover, it was also awesome that the bullpen pitched 4.1 scoreless innings on their way to a victory.

The Friars will send Andrew Cashner to the mound in this afternoon’s rubber-match.  Tonight was a solid win for San Diego, and it was definitely positive to see them overcome a sizable early-inning lead on the road.  Hopefully Cashner can hurl a gem to his team back to Petco Park on a high note.

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