Fansided

Padres Week in Review May 11th-17th: Can’t Get on a Win Streak

By Daryll Dorman |
3 of 5
Next

May 13, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher

Craig Kimbrel

(46) shakes hands with catcher

Derek Norris

(3) after the final out of a 4-2 victory against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Introduction

The San Diego Padres finished their road trip with their single yearly trip to the Pacific Northwest city of Seattle before heading back home to face the World Series favorites Washington Nationals. Though they managed to win one game against the Nationals, the other three games did not have the Padres pairing up well with the pre-season World Series favorite Nationals. The starting pitching had two horrible starts with Odrisamer Despaigne on Friday and Ian Kennedy on Sunday. Tyson Ross managed to pitch five innings despite a two hour rain delay Thursday and while Andrew Cashner did get a quality start in his loss Saturday, to say he dominated while allowing 9 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings would be an over-statement. The late game bullpen combination of Brandon Maurer, Dale Thayer, Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel all showed signs of returning to reliability this week, but questions remain with Shawn Kelley and a left-handed option.

As the end of May approaches, the Padres still sit right around the .500 mark and questions abound for this team. Is Bud Black the right man to pilot the ship? Is a change needed at shortstop? Who should be starting second base between Jedd Gyorko, Corey Spangenberg, and Yangervis Solarte?

So what happened this week with the Padres and what is coming next for the Friars from San Diego? Read on to find out.

More from Friars on Base

May 13, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop

Alexi Amarista

(5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Mariners Series Recap

After a off day Monday, the Padres started part one of the manufactured rivalry Tuesday night. By virtue of just a two game series, the Padres were able to avoid seeing Felix Hernandez this time around. Though the way Ian Kennedy pitched Tuesday night – they could be playing against Anthony Young and lost the game. Before you could blink Kyle Seager hit a three run homer and the Mariners were up 4-0. Logan Morrison added his own homer that just cleared the fence in the 3rd and it was 5-0. The Padres managed to load the bases twice, once in the 2nd on 3 walks and again in the 4th but came up empty in the runs department both times. James Paxton would go 6 for the M’s allowing only 3 hits and 0 runs despite walking 5 for the win. Shawn Kelley would allow 2 runs on 4 hits in an inning and a third in relief. Final score Mariners 11, Padres 4.

Wednesday the Padres sent unbeaten James Shields to the mound against Taijuan Walker for Seattle. Shields logged another very solid outing going 6 innings allowing 1 run and 6 hits while striking out 9. What has been fun to watch with Shields is his will to fight through tough nights. Wednesday was a good night, and it showed in the results as he improved to 5-0 and lowered his ERA to 3.91. Definitely not the best ERA on the staff but he is the staff leader in Wins (5), Innings Pitched (48 1/3), and Strikeouts (64). Ironically he also leads in homers and hits allowed, but the games won is the real start that matters right?

Offensively Wil Myers sat out with a wrist injury and Will Middlebrooks homered with Corey Spangenberg going 2-3 to pace the offense in the victory. Craig Kimbrel allowed another run in the 9th but was able to get out of the inning to record his 10th save. Brandon Maurer and Joaquin Benoit did their thing in the middle innings to finish off the Padres 4-2 victory and a split in part one of the Vedder Cup.

More from Friars on Base

May 15, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder

Bryce Harper

(34) singles during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

 Nationals Series Recap

The Padres brought some of the famous PNW rain with them when they came for Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals even if they had no rain in Seattle. Go figure.

It was only the fifth rain delay in Petco Park history and this one was delayed after Tyson Ross got one out in the first. Nearly two hours later the game resumed and Ross was able to go into the 6th inning allowing just two runs on five hits. The bullpen continues to work its way back into prime form with Dale Thayer pitching an inning of scoreless relief. He was followed by Kevin Quackenbush who couldn’t quite go two innings, but Brandon Maurer was able to come in for the final out of the 8th and finish up the 9th when the game was out of hand. Derek Norris homered and tripled early prompting thoughts he might be able to hit for the cycle, but he finished 2-3 with a walk and 5 RBI. Corey Spangenberg hit two homers in this one too and the Padres took the opener 8-3.

Game 2 did not go as well for the Padres. Odrisamer Despaigne was pounded for 7 runs in 3 innings, Bryce Harper homered for his MLB leading 13th, and the Padres were held scoreless in a 10-0 thrashing. Shawn Kelley gave up another run in 2 innings of relief, and Frank Garces went three innings and allowed 2 more runs (1 unearned) in the loss. Dale Thayer was the only pitcher who didn’t allow a run on the night. A.J. Cole of the Nationals went 3 IP for the save, taking advantage of a clause of the save rule that doesn’t make sense in a 10-0 ballgame.

In Saturday’s game, Andrew Cashner was hoping to keep in tact his streak of 21 straight home starts allowing 2 or less earned runs. That streak would not survive the night. Unfortunately he would also not be able to have a start where unearned runs would bite him. Max Scherzer struck out 11 Padres in 7 innings and allowed 0 runs and 4 hits. The bullpen for the Padres finished up 3 scoreless innings but the offense was unable to muster any sustainable offense against the Nationals. Final score Nationals 4, Padres 1.

Sunday the Padres got demolished by the Nationals 10-5. The Padres actually got on the board first with a RBI single in the first and third on a homer from Justin Upton. Bryce Harper started things off with a triple. Danny Espinoza homered to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead and they wouldn’t look back. Kennedy pitched to three batters in the 6th but walked the first three batters of the inning. Frank Garces came on in relief and allowed a RBI single to Bryce Harper. He was pulled for Dale Thayer who allowed a double but was able to get out of the inning. The Nats upped their lead to 7-2 at this point though and the game was essentially out of reach. The Padres got two runners on in the 6th and squeaked out a run but the threat was ended. Justin Upton hit another homer in the game but the Nationals continued their hot streak.

More from Friars on Base

May 8, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Brandon Maurer against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The Padres defeated the Diamondbacks 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Friar of the Week

The Padres had another one of those frustrating weeks where they didn’t exactly play badly but they also didn’t bust out and seize control of at least second place in the NL West. While Justin Upton continues to pound the ball and Matt Kemp ended the week on a solid note, the offense seems to be all or nothing. Early on the bullpen was a big struggle for the Padres. While this week was not exempt from issues, one man has really stepped up to stabilize the bullpen. Brandon Maurer. In the month of May, Maurer leads the Padres bullpen in appearances (tied with Dale Thayer) and innings pitched with 8 and 9 respectively. In that span he has allowed 0 runs and just 4 hits. Between himself and Kevin Quackenbush who has only allowed 1 run in 8 1/3, at least in games they lead it has now stabilized what was becoming a liability.

Maurer made several starts last season for Seattle and it will be interesting to see if the Padres do turn to him if rotation options keep on struggling. Kennedy has struggled in several starts now and looks more like his 2012 Arizona version than the 2014 version that led the Padres in innings pitched. Despaigne has turned in two straight clunkers and if the Padres are counting on injury risk Josh Johnson to stabilize this rotation it could lead to trouble. What about working Johnson in slowly by being in the bullpen and giving a few spot starts to Maurer? Robbie Erlin is also waiting in AAA for his recall, but he isn’t exactly tearing it up with an ERA over 5. Maurer could fill the spot that Tim Stauffer filled for the Padres the last few years giving versatility between the bullpen and rotation.

More from Friars on Base

May 17, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman

Kris Bryant

(17) hits a single during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Week Ahead

After a disappointing start to the home stand, the Padres welcome the Cubs to town after an off day Tuesday and then head to LA for three against the Dodgers. The Cubs boast one of the most talked about young infields in all of baseball with rookie superstar-in-the-making and USD Graduate Kris Bryant. Add him and 2b call-up Addison Russell to SS Starlin Castro and 1B Anthony Rizzo and you have a strong core all under 25 years old. They will enter San Diego with a 21-16 record and on a nice 7-3 run in their last 10 games.

The Dodgers face some rotation questions of their own but not in regards to Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke, both of whom have been great this year. In fact Greinke has been even better than Kershaw in the early going. Jimmy Rollins has struggled at short and Yasiel Puig is still hurt from the injury he sustained last time his team played the Padres, but they are still a formidable offensive force. With closer Kenley Janssen back in the fold, the bullpen gets automatic closure as he proved in his return striking out 4 in an inning after one strikeout wild pitch allowed the hitter to reach first. I predict a tough week ahead for the Padres as they attempt to stabilize themselves and see some positive momentum for the first time this month.

Current Record: 19-20

Current Standings: 3rd place, 6 GB of 1st place LA.

Weekly Prediction: 3-3

More from Friars on Base

Next
Home / Padres News

Schedule