Padres News: Week in Review – June 22-28th

Jun 23, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants manager

(15) takes the ball from starting pitcher

(40) after he was removed from the game during the eighth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Giants Series Recap

The Giants continue to hum along with any real production to speak of from Hunter Pence, who tried to come back too soon, got hurt again, and now is a big bat just waiting to contribute for the second half. Meanwhile, fill in’s like Matt Duffy are establishing themselves as legitimate major league players and Brandon Crawford continues a breakout 2015 alongside veteran and leader Buster Posey. So much for missing Pablo Sandoval, who surely also checks the score of the Giants games while browsing twitter in the bathroom, right?

Game 1 of the series with the Giants was the best one from the Padres perspective, as they were able to squeak out a few 8th innings when it mattered most to tie the game and win it in extra innings. Brandon Maurer threw two perfect innings of relief for the 3-2 victory.

In Game 2, a 3rd inning grand slam was just about all the Giants would need against Ian Kennedy, who fell to 4-6 on the season and Ryan Vogelsong pitched 6 strong for the shutout victory.The Padres managed 5 hits in this one but that was about all and lost by a final tally of 6-0.

Game 3 was almost a huge victor for the Padres. The Giants jumped ahead early and often and took a 7-0 lead into the 7th inning. The Padres finally got to rookie and no-hitter throwing Chris Heston for two runs, but the Giants got those right back in the bottom half to maintain a 9-2 lead. In the 8th inning after a lead-off double, Matt Kemp hit a long center field home run for his 5th homer that gave the Padres some life. Three straight singles later and the Padres had the tying run on 3rd base but were unable to get it across. Unfortunately in the bottom of the 8th Shawn Kelley started things off allowing some base runners. Brandon Maurer, who has been incredible for the Padres of late – faltered for the first time in awhile – perhaps not yet recovered from his two inning stint just two days ago? – and the Giants scored 4 to get right back in the game and win 13-8. It was unfortunate to waste a 6 run inning like that but again – that is how the first half seems to be going for the Padres.

All in all after an opening series sweep of the Giants, the Giants have been improving and the Padres look about the same. When will that second gear come?

Next: Diamondbacks Series Recap