ICYMI: Diamondbacks Rock Ross, Padres In Blowout

Perhaps San Diego Padres’ ace Tyson Ross is finally wearing down. After all, he’s carried the starting rotation for much of the season, as mainstay Andrew Cashner has battled elbow and shoulder issues all season, and has found himself spending more time on the disabled list than he has in the Padres’ starting rotation in 2014. Ross was selected for the All-Star Game, didn’t get to pitch, and coming into his start Saturday evening at Chase Field, he was within striking distance of joining Jake Peavy, Kevin Brown, and Clint Kirby as the only Padres’ hurlers to strikeout at least 200 hitters in a single season. Ross also had a streak of double-digit quality starts–also a team record, snapped his last time out. Tyson Ross was hoping to get back on track against the D-Backs, and what he found instead, was a buzzsaw, intent on tearing him apart early, and that’s exactly what happened in the second game of the weekend series in Arizona. [related-content]

Ross lasted only 58 pitches, equaling 3 innings-plus, giving up 6 runs in the first two innings (4 earned), and the D-Backs rolled Tyson Ross and the Padres 10-4. The Padres did score 4 runs on 8 hits, but it was too little, too late, as Ross had a rare misfire during the 2014 season. Ross scattered 5 hits, struck out 4, and walked a pair in what was easily his worst outing of the current campaign. Recovering Joe Wieland came on in relief of Ross, tossing 1 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run in his stint. Four other relievers finished out the contest for the Padres.

Infielders Yangervis Solarte and Alexi Amarista each had a pair of knocks for the Friars, and Yasmani Grandal, who is still on the road to recovery from his surgically-repaired knee, hit his 13th home run of the season, a solo shot off of D-Backs’ starter Chase Anderson in the 4th inning. The Padres even had a triple by catcher Rene Rivera reviewed by crew chief Angel Campos. Rivera was ruled safe after the review. The Padres struck out 10 times as a team, and left 11 runners on base.

The series finale kicks off tomorrow 1:10 p.m. PDT, as Odrisamer Despaigne (3-6, 3.55 ERA) takes the bump for San Diego, and he’ll be opposed by righty Trevor Cahill (3-11, 5.23 ERA). Despaigne has gotten knocked around during each of his starts on the road this season, so it should be an offensively-packed game for the D-Backs.

Keep the Faith.