Kennedy Looks To Put Padres Back on Track

Jul 25, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop

(left) steals second base as Milwaukee Brewers shortstop

(right) reaches for the ball in the 1st inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres try to bounce back after last night’s 4-3 loss to the Brewers in Milwaukee. Padres ace Andrew Cashner (2-2) struggled and looked average against the Brewers high-octane offense and National League best 15-5 record to open the season. Cashner allowed four earned runs over six innings but striking out only four against a Brewers team last in the league taking walks.

The Padres offense continues to struggle. They went  1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and squandered opportunities throughout the game against starter Wily Peralta and  the Brewers bullpen. Despite Chris Denorfia‘s homerun in the seventh, the club could not capitalize on closer Francisco Rodriquez’s ninth inning walk.

In the second game of the three game series, Padres Ian Kennedy (1-3) takes the mound to slow down the highest scoring team in baseball. Kennedy has not pitched bad to start the season and comes off a solid performance against  the Colorado Rockies taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning before a hit off third base led to the go-ahead runs. Padres pitchers have had an awful lot put on their shoulder to start the season with their anemic offense  struggling to  put runs on the board. Despite Kennedy’s 4.13 ERA, he is still giving the Padres a chance to win in every outing. He is pitching late into games and keeping the score close allowing for chances late in games.  The Brewers will send out ace Yovani Gallardo (2-0, 1.46 ERA) whose opened the season strong. If the Padres are going to win this game, they need to capitalize on Gallardo’s mistakes and get those key hits with runners in scoring position.