Padres Lose Series, Flirt with Cellar

Jun 29, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin (24) hits an RBI single during the fourth inning in front of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (26) at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres (35-47) salvaged the series by winning Sunday’s finale 2-1 against the Diamondbacks (35-49). For a game, the Padres were in the National League West cellar. The Padres once again struggled offensively, thus losing the series. Odrisamer Despaigne saved the day by pitching 6.2 innings, only allowing 1 run in Sunday’s 2-1 win.

The Padres hit .170 for the series. They scored a grand total of 4 runs in the 3 games. It is much of the same story, good pitching and no offense. Even in the two losses, the starting pitching was solid. The 3 starting pitchers combined for a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings. The bullpen also was stellar, not allowing a single run. Also, Huston Street notched his 21st save, which is 6th in the NL.

Offensively, the Padres were abysmal. However, Yasmani Grandal did reached base in all 3 games, with 2 hits and 2 walks. Cameron Maybin was instrumental in the win with an RBI double. He also had a hit and a run scored in Friday’s loss. The Padres got out of last place with Sunday’s win. That doesn’t change the fact that they are one of the worst teams in the National League, and the entire major leagues. They currently sit one game ahead of the Diamondbacks in the division and 11 games back of the first-place Giants.

The team average is now at .212, which is dead last by far in the MLB. The Cubs are the second worst with a .232 average. The Friars are 7th in the bigs with a 3.33 ERA and 8th with a .241 batting average against. It has been the same story all year. And the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. The Padres have had stellar pitching and horrific hitting, and that has landed them near the bottom. Things must turn around, and soon.