Offense continues to sputter, Padres lose to D-Backs

Jun 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Jake Goebbert (4) dives but cannot get to a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks pinch hitter Roger Kieschnick (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

High hopes were taken to Petco Park after the Padres took two of three from the first place Giants, but two games into the D-Backs series the Padres have scored a total of two runs, losing both contests. Saturday night’s showdown put the Padres’ offensive woes on showcase, as Eric Stults took his 11th loss in a 3-1 defeat.

San Diego came out swinging to start off the first inning, as Chris Denorfia led off with a double, followed by a grounder from Seth Smith that advanced Denorfia to third. He came home to score on Tommy Medica‘s sacrifice fly and the Pads took an early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Arizona was able to knot the score up. Ender Inciarte singled up the middle, and in an attempt to steal second was able to scamper to third base on Rene Rivera‘s throwing error. The Padres walked Paul Goldschmidt to bring up Martin Prado, and Prado made them pay with a sac fly to bring Inciarte home.

Looking to re-take the lead, the Padres offense struggled. San Diego’s strongest chance at scoring came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Chase Headley roped a one-out single to right field, moving Seth Smith up to second base. Reliever Matt Stites came in to take over for starter Josh Collmenter, and immediately struck out Medica. Following a walk to Cameron Maybin that loaded the bases, Rene Rivera struck out swinging to end the threat.

The Padres were given another chance in the bottom of the eighth, a chance that they didn’t quite earn. Smith struck out to start the inning, but both Headley and Medica reached base safely on errors, gifting Maybin with a chance to tie or take the lead. He promptly struck out. Jake Goebbert came in as a pinch-hitter, but grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, San Diego looked for one last chance to keep the game going. A two-out Yasmani Grandal walk gave a glimmer of hope, but Denorfia grounded into a force out as the Padres lost their third straight game.

To put the terrible offensive output from both teams in perspective, the Padres and D-Backs combined for 10 hits. The Padres on their own struck out 11 times.

The Padres look to take the third game of the series on Sunday afternoon at Petco, as Odrisamer Despaigne will try to win for the second time in two MLB starts.