Padres Week in Review: April 20-26th

Apr 24, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third base coach

(30) hits grounders to warm up the infield before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers Series Recap

There was a lot of anticipation heading into the weekend series with the Dodgers coming to Petco Park for the first time this season. They had a nearly even record heading into it and whoever won the series would end up in sole possession of first in the NL West.

Game 1 pitted Zack Greinke against Andrew Cashner who has been the victim so far this year of unearned runs despite pitching well himself. Friday was no different unfortunately for Cashner. He struck out 6 in 7 innings and only allowed 2 runs. This time no unearned runs for once. Adrian Gonzalez was held in the park this time but Carl Crawford hit a solo shot in the 7th off of Cashner. Greinke however pitched 7 innings and struck out 7 without allowing a run. Dynamite performance from the #2 starter of the Dodgers shows why they are always a favorite in the NL West. Kevin Quackenbush made his season debut and allowed a run in 1 1/3 inning of work and Cashner fell to 1-3 as the Padres lost 3-0.

For Saturday’s game, Ian Kennedy made his return to the rotation after Odrisamer Despaigne pitched very well in his absence in the rotation. Things did not get off to a good start as the Dodgers scored three in the first after Andre Ethier hit a home run filling in for Yasiel Puig who would go on the DL from a hamstring strain he suffered Friday night. The Padres were able to tie things up in the bottom half of the inning as Wil Myers hit a lead-off homer and Justin Upton hit the first of two homers to tie up the score. The Dodgers came right back though scoring three in the second after another Adrian Gonzalez home run. It was his 7th of the year and 6th off of the Padres. In the 5th the Dodgers went up 10-3 to seemingly put the game away before the Padres scored 4 in the bottom of the 6th but ultimately falling short. Brandon McCarthy struggled and left with an injury but got the win with Kennedy taking the loss as the Dodgers wound up winning the wild one 11-8.

 Sunday’s finale finally got the pitching we expected to see in this series but from unlikely sources. Brandon Morrow followed up a bad performance at Coors Field with a 7 inning performance allowing only one run. Called up Saturday for the game for the Dodgers was Scott Baker, who pitched 7 innings and allowed 3 runs but that is all the Padres would need. Derek Norris went 2-3 with his first homer of the year and Alexi Amarista hit a rare home run as well to lead the Padres to victory. Benoit and Kimbrel finished out the game and the Padres salvaged the series with a win 3-1.

Next: Padres Offensive Spotlight