Gyorko’s Bat Slams Padres to Victory

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports=

For Jedd Gyorko, redemption came in the form of a 2-home run game. After an 11^th inning fielding error led to yesterday’s loss, Gyorko hit his second grand slam of his career in the bottom of the sixth inning adding to a 2-run first inning home run. If this is the only game you have watched all season you would be betting on the Padres to win the World Series. Looking at the box score you would not have guessed that the Padres had faced the great Jose Fernandez. Collectively, the Padres finished with a season-high 10 runs on 13 hits on what fans can only hope is a coming out party.

Seth Smith improved his hitting streak to 6 straight games. Smith’s triple in the third was confirmed after Bud Black challenged that it had bounced off the right field wall instead of off Giancarlo Stanton’s glove.

Tyson Ross didn’t disappoint. He pitched 7 innings of 1-run ball. That one run came in the seventh off a solo shot by Marcell Ozuna, one of the three Marlins to have previously faced Ross. Ross finished with 8 strikeouts improving his record to 4-3.

Tim Stauffer and Kevin Quackenbush pitched the final two frames to seal the win.

The Padres improve to a record of 15-21 on the season.

On Saturday, Eric Stults (1-3, 5.40 ERA) will look to build on the exceptional pitching efforts of Ross and Ian Kennedy. The Padres will face Miami’s Nathan Eovaldi (2-1, 2.78 ERA). First pitch is at 8:40 ET.

Keep the Faith.