Top 10 Padres Games of 2015

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As the Padres 2016 season begins with pitchers and catchers reporting next week, here is one last look at 2015. That season had its ups and downs. It was overall a disappointment but there were some fun times.

Let’s take a look back at the top 10 best Padres games from last season.

May 2, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris (3) singles during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

10. April 20th, Padres Crush Rockies with 14 runs

The Padres took on veteran lefty Jorge De La Rosa at Coors Field. Odrisamer Despaigne pitched into the 7th inning, allowing just two runs. It was the offense that was the story. Right off the bat in the top of the first, the Padres put up five runs thanks to doubles by Matt Kemp, Derek Norris and Jedd Gyorko. They piled on four more in the 2nd with a triple by Will Middlebrooks and a few more big hits.

It was 9-0 before the Rockies could blink. They pulled De La Rosa after just two innings. The Padres had another five-run inning in the 5th. Will Venable hit a home run. Matt Kemp finished 3 for 4 with 4 RBI. The Padres won 14-3 in the Mile High City with 17 hits.

Jun 20, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross (38) celebrates with catcher Austin Hedges (18) after beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

9. June 20th, Tyson Ross Strikes Out 9 in Complete Game vs. D-backs

Ross had one of his best pitching performances as a Padre. He threw a complete game against Arizona, only allowing one run on 4 hits. He struck out 9 Diamondbacks. Ross was not short on run support thanks to home runs by Derek Norris and Melvin Upton’s first as a Padre. Clint Barmes also pitched in with three hits including two doubles and two RBI.

Ross had four 1-2-3 innings including the last two innings of the night. Ross capped his good night with his only career triple and his first RBI of the season.

Aug 18, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Andrew McKirahan (52) reacts after giving up a two run home run to San Diego Padres center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. (background, left) during the seventh inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Games 8-6

8. August 18th, Padres Hammer Braves, Melvin Burns Former Team

The Padres acquired Melvin Upton from the Braves along with Craig Kimbrel. He had been pretty quiet for most of the season. That is, until this game against his former club. The game started slow, with the first run coming in the bottom of the third with a sac fly by Matt Kemp. It was 2-0 after four thanks to an RBI single by Upton. Things opened up in the bottom of the 6th.

Justin Upton led off with a double before two consecutive outs. Melvin then lined a shot into left center, zipping over the wall for a two-run homer, driving in his brother and giving the Friars a 4-0 lead. Brett Wallace walked and Alexi Amarista singled to set up Yangervis Solarte‘s three-run bomb to seal it, putting the lead at seven. The Padres weren’t done yet as Norris led off the 7th with a double. Melvin Upton came up again and laced another home run in a similar spot to his first, pushing the lead to 9-0 and giving him three hits and 5 RBI for the night. The Padres would eventually win by that same score, crediting James Shields with the win.

May 24, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Will Venable (25) hits a single in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

7. May 24th, Padres Pound Dodgers With 20 Hits

James Shields pitched a solid 7 innings while striking out 7 against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. He got plenty of offense to back his good start. It was 9-0 after three innings thanks to Justin Upton. He hit a grand slam in the first then hit a bases-clearing double in the second. Will Middlebrooks added a home run in the 3rd.

The Friars ended up with 11 runs on a season-high 20 hits as they defeated the NL West champion Dodgers 11-3. Upton finished with 6 RBI and Cory Spangenberg added three hits of his own. It was a good night, watching the Padres slam our rivals from the north.

Sep 3, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Colin Rea (29) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

6. September 8th, Padres Walk-Off on Rockies After Blown Save

It was shaping up to be a nice win for Colin Rea, the Padres newest pitching prospect. He was making his 6th career start. He went 7 scoreless innings, striking out 4 and allowing just two hits. Thanks to a Wil Myers solo shot, the Padres were riding a 1-0 lead into the top of the ninth.

Craig Kimbrel made a mistake to All-Star Nolan Arenado, which he sent over the wall for a game-tying home run with two outs. With the score 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Corey Spangenberg led off with a double. Barmes got a bunt down to move Spangenberg to third. Brett Wallace then came up and hit a dribbler up the middle to score the speedy Spangenberg for the walk-off win. It erased the blown save that took the air right out of Petco Park.

Apr 11, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks (11) hits an RBI single during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Games 5-3

5. April 11th, Padres Clobber World Series Hero Bumgarner

It was just the sixth game of the season but after this game, there was a buzz throughout San Diego about their baseball team. The hated Giants were in town and were throwing their ace and MVP of the previous year’s World Series Madison Bumgarner. Many thought this would be a win for the Giants as many are with him on the mound. This night was different. The Padres jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first with key RBI hits by Justin Upton and Will Middlebrooks.

In the bottom of the 3rd, things got away from Bumgarner. With two runners on, Derek Norris, Middlebrooks and Jedd Gyorko had back-to-back-back singles to score three runs. Bumgarner only lasted three innings while allowing five runs on 10 hits. The Padres added on and eventually won 10-2. Matt Kemp went 4 for 5 and every Padre in the lineup (including Shields) had a hit.

Jul 30, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder left fielder Justin Uptons (R) celebrates after hitting a three run home run in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

4. July 30th, Down Big in Driving Rain, Padres Storm Back vs. NL Champs

Summers in New York can be wet and humid. This game was no exception. The New York Mets got off to a 7-1 lead after six innings due to a shaky outing from Andrew Cashner. Down by 6 in the soaking rain late in the game, things looked bleak for the Padres. But in the top of the 7th, the tide turned. Yonder Alonso led off with a double. After a walk and a single, Derek Norris came up with the bases loaded and launched a grand slam down the left field line. The Mets lead was cut to 7-5.

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The lead held into the top of the 9th and the eventual National League champion Mets had their closer Jeurys Familia in for the save. He got two quick outs and the game seemed over. The fans that had waited through the rain were heading for the concourse. Then Norris and Kemp had back-t0-back hits to bring up Justin Upton as the go-ahead run. He delivered. He went the opposite way for a go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth. The Mets had blown a six run lead and were shut down in the bottom of the ninth by Craig Kimbrel for one of the best comebacks in recent memory.

Sep 24, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Alexi Amarista (center) is chased by teammates after hitting a walk off RBI single against the San Francisco Giants to win 5-4 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

3. September 23rd-24th, Padres Get Back-to-Back Walk-Off Wins

OK so it’s not one game but this two day stretch was fun for Padres fans in the middle of a disheartening end to the season. They were out of contention and playing the rival San Francisco Giants. In the first game, the Padres got down by two runs early in the 1st. Cashner struggled with two walks before a Brandon Crawford single scored both runs.

The Padres tied it in the 7th with a two-run double by Solarte. Jarrett Parker took the lead back for the Giants with a home run to make it 3-2. The Padres tied it up in the 8th and it was tied heading to the bottom of the ninth. Kemp had a one-out double and Jedd Gyorko singled him home to win the game 4-3.

The next night, the Padres were down 4-3 heading into the 8th. Matt Kemp doubled home the tying run. In the bottom of the ninth, Norris led off with a double. After a bunt and a walk it was up to Amarista. He lofted a single to left for the walk-off hit and the Padres had their second straight walk-off win.

May 29, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris (3) watches his walk-off grand slam against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Next: Top 2 Games

2. May 29th, Derek Norris Walks It Off in Grand Style

The Padres were playing the tough Pirates and stumbled to a 2-0 deficit. James Shields had a tough 3rd inning, giving up two singles to start the inning then hitting a batter with a pitch. Then Pedro Alvarez singled in two runs. Shields was able to regroup and pitch 6 good innings. The Padres were able to tie it up in the 7th with a two-run double by Abraham Almonte. The score remained tied into the bottom of the ninth.

The inning started with two walks and an error, loading the bases for Derek Norris. Norris had endured a rough night, striking out four times. The winning run was just 90 feet. Norris decided to take it into his own hands and launched a 1-0 pitch deep into left-center for a walk-off grand slam. The Padres won 6-2 in one of the most exciting moments of the entire season.

Sep 24, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Alexi Amarista (5) gets a pat on the head from right fielder Matt Kemp (27) after driving in the winning run on an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

1. August 14th, Kemp Hits For Padres’ First Cycle

Did you expect anything else?

Matt Kemp was riding a hot streak into Coors Field that day. Kemp started with a bang, hitting a two-run homerun in the first inning. He then singled in the 3rd and the Padres had a 3-2 lead heading into the fourth. The Rockies tied it in the 4th before Norris gave the lead right back to the Padres with a solo shot. Kemp broke the tie in the 7th with a double, scoring Solarte.

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There was some doubt as to whether he would get one more chance as he was 3 for 4. He did get one more chance in the top of the 9th with the Padres leading 8-5. Many Padre players have fell a triple shy of the cycle. That is the most common way to fall short as the triple is the rarest of the four feats needed. However, Kemp drove a 1-0 pitch to dead center, over the head of Charlie Blackmon. It was off to the races. The ball rattled around the warning track, allowing Kemp with decent speed to race around second and slide into third for the first cycle in San Diego Padres history. The announcers went crazy and the few Padres fans in attendance and even some Rockies fans stood up and cheered as they witnessed history. It was easily the most memorable moment for the 2015 Padres.

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Top 10 Games of 2015

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