Padres Waste Gem From Kennedy, Drop Game To Dodgers

July 12, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (22) watches game action during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not unusual to see the Padres get in pitching duels and come up on the short end of it. However, Saturday night’s walkoff 1-0 loss to the Dodgers will sting a little bit more as the Padres had both strong pitching and ample scoring chances.

Scoreless headed to the ninth, San Diego got an opportunity to scrape a run across and steal the game. Seth Smith singled to right field, and Carlos Quentin singled on a rocket past third base that put two runners on base with two outs. Yasmani Grandal couldn’t convert on the chance though, striking out to end the threat.

Los Angeles faced only their second pitcher of the night as Kevin Quackenbush (1-2) came in to take over for Ian Kennedy in the ninth, and LA found immediate success. Adrian Gonzalez doubled to open the inning, and after Quackenbush struck out Matt Kemp he intentionally walked Andre Ethier, bringing up Juan Uribe, who worked a walk. With the bases loaded and under two outs, AJ Ellis needed to just get a ball to the outfield to win, and that’s what he did. Ellis’ sacrifice fly to right scored Gonzalez and ended the game as the Padres lost another heartbreaker.

The loss ruins an absolutely stellar start for Ian Kennedy. The right-hander dominated the Dodgers to the tune of eight scoreless innings to go with three hits allowed and