Royals Spoil The Padres’ Chance For Another Walk-Off Win

May 5, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal (8) watches a three-run home run to tie the game in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Following a night when the San Diego Padres beat the Kansas City Royals in 12 innings, both teams needed extra innings, yet again, to determine who came out on top.  However, this time it would be the Royals that pushed across two runs in the 11th inning to seal up the win and even up the three games series at a game apiece.

Both Padres Robbie Erlin and Royals Jeremy Guthrie  were extremely sharp Tuesday night making it difficult for both clubs to manufacture any runs. Erlin bounced back after two shaky starts  to pitch his best game of the season allowing one earned run over seven strong innings. Although he walked four and hit a batter, Erlin allowed only three hits while striking out five.

Guthrie was even better giving up one run on three hits over eight innings in the no decision. He kept Padre hitters off balance most of the night with his change up forcing them into ground ball outs.

The Padres struck first in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Yasmani Grandal, arguably the Padres’ hottest hitter, took Guthrie’s change up deep into the right field seats. Grandal has now homered in consecutive games after connecting with a three-run shot the night before. Over his last 5 games, he’s hit three homers and collected  seven RBI over that span.

The Royals had a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth inning with a runner on third base and less than two outs. However, Lorenzo Cain‘s pop fly into foul territory was caught by Padres first baseman Kyle Blanks who made an over the shoulder catch and doubled up Alcides Escobar trying to score from third base to end the threat.

Kansas City would strike in the 11th inning when first baseman Eric Hosmer doubled to left and later scored on Alex Gordon‘s single. Billy Butler added another run with an RBI double to score Gordon, making it 3-1.

The Padres were unable to even it up in the bottom half of the 11th after Will Venable was thrown out trying to steal second. After blowing the save night before, Greg Holland notched his eighth save of the year, getting Everth Cabrera to strike out.

Both teams will send out their aces to battle it out tomorrow afternoon in the rubber game of the three game series beginning at 3:40 pm PDT. Andrew Cashner (2-4, 2.72) takes the mound against Royals ace James Shields (3-3, 3.11). In his last start, Cashner was a victim of the Padres offense who were shutout in his last outing.