Erlin Dominates; Padres Win Third Straight

Sep 20, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher

(41) throws during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres have won 3 straight for the first time this season. The bats continued to flourish while Robbie Erlin kept the Marlins’ bats in check en route to a 5-4 victory. The bats remained hot for the Padres as they have for the past couple days.

Will Venable kicked it off with his first home run of 2014 on Henderson Alvarez‘s second pitch of the game. Then the Padres poured on some insurance runs in the fourth.

Alexi Amarista had an RBI single while Chris Denorfia drove in 2 on a single of his own. Alvarez would finish the inning, but that would be all for the Miami starter making it his second shortest outing and the most earned runs he’s allowed in a start this year.

Robbie Erlin responded to the early lead and protected it through 6 1/3 fantastic innings. His 4.95 ERA compared to his 3.90 xFIP showed he had some bad luck on the mound as well as a .304 BABIP against, but this afternoon everything went right for the lefty.

He didn’t allow a run, a walk, and surrendered just 5 hits in his today’s outing. He also matched his season high of 7 strikeouts en route to his second win of the season. A start like this could help him turn the corner and start posting the kind of numbers the Padres’ expected from him right out of the gate.

The bullpen barely managed to protect the lead Erlin and the offense gave them. Dale Thayer relieved Erlin with one out in the 7th and allowed just the one single, but things got a little dicey in the 8th. Thayer allowing a solo shot from Christian Yelich to lead off the inning. Then a Reed Johnson single would chase him from the game.

Joaquin Benoit came to clean up the mess, but a bloop single and a triple would make it just a 2 run game. Benoit was able to buckle down and got out of the inning with lead intact even though the Marlins were just a run away from tying things up.

Huston Street would come in to close things down, but even the All-Star instilled some panic in the hearts of Padres’ fans. He was able to strand the bases loaded to earn himself his 11th save this year.

Despite the frightening end to the game, this was an encouraging game for the Padres.For the third straight night they tallied 10+ hits and actually found ways to score some runs, averaging 8 a night over this win streak. The bullpen caused some distress, but they’ve been terrific all season so that shouldn’t be cause for concern.

Tomorrow the Padres will get a much needed off day before they begin a 6 game road trip heading to Cincinnati and then Colorado. Hopefully they’ll be able to continue this steak in enemy territory and gain some ground in the division.