Another Day, Another Shutout For Padres

It’s not like they never had chances. Kyle Hendricks, the opposing pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, had control issues early on. Yet hitters were too aggressive on bad pitches and let him off the hook. It’s a story that’s becoming written too often, with a historically bad offense trying harder and harder to put themselves in the record books in the worst way.

In the first, San Diego managed two runners on with just one out. A promising start for the offense never led to fruition, thanks to a strikeout and fly out. Facing a pitcher who was seemingly on the fritz, again the Padres let him off the hook by allowing three quick outs in the second. The Friars had base runners as the game wore on, but never had another opportunity like the first and made sure that Hendricks, despite a terrible start to his career, pitched like an ace tonight.

The Cubs had similar opportunities, but did this thing called “scoring runs.” Eric Stults isn’t the kind of pitcher to deter teams from doing so, and only giving up three earned is almost a success for him. He let up a run in the first, after a big rally surrounding a few walks, and another later, by a huge blast off the bat of Anthony Rizzo.

Later in the seventh, usually reliable Blaine Boyer allowed a straight up blast to rookie Arismendy Alcantara, the second of his career. That wasn’t enough for Boyer, who let up a consecutive jack to Rizzo, his second of the night.

The final score ended up 6-0, though the game was much closer than that might indicate. Despite a lackluster offensive showing, there were plenty of chances for them to bring the game back within reaching distance or even tie it. But it wasn’t in the cards tonight, and the team just never came through. It’s becoming repetitive, but this team is still headed towards the record books in a bad way. And with the Chase Headley trade happening and an impending rebuild, it doesn’t look to get any better.