Top 10 Games of 2015

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.

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.

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.

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