With Cards Stacked Against Them, Padres Lose Series

Aug 2, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal (8) at bat during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2 L, 4-2

The offense was again held in check by yet another talented Cardinals pitcher. Lance Lynn surrendered only one run in 6 innings while striking out 6. The Padres were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Padres finally got to Lynn in the 5th inning as Will Venable doubled home Jace Peterson. Then all was quiet until the 8th inning when Oscar Taveras put the game seemingly out of reach when he singled home a run in the bottom of the 8th, making the score 4-1.

Yasmani Grandal did hit a pinch-hit home run in the top of the 9^th off of the All-Star reliever Pat Neshek to make it 4-2, but that would end up being the final score. That was Grandal’s 10^th home run of the year and 2^nd of the pinch-hit variety. Tyson Ross did not have his best stuff, surrendering 3 runs and walking 4 in 6 innings. His first inning is what sunk the Padres as he threw 32 pitches and walked 3, as the Cardinals got 2 runs early. That ended up being the difference. The Friars stranded 8 runners in the game. The Cardinals took advantage of Ross’ command issues, getting 3 hits with runners in scoring position.