Padres Look To Game 2 To Start Season on Right Foot

Okay, the Padres are already moving past game 1 of the 2016 season. They showed up to play in theory for the home opener, though let the debate rage as to whether they actually showed up at all. They mustered just 4 hits – two of those in the 9th – and made errors on the way to the worst home defeat in Petco Park history. Last year after losing to Clayton Kershaw they would have had to follow it up with Zack Greinke; this year they go against Scott Kazmir. Can last year’s Opening Day starter James Shields get the first victory of the year?

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Manager Andy Green was emphatic that Opening Day wasn’t more than anything it wasn’t: one, single game. The Padres throw out another lineup in Game 2, putting out the following lineup:

1. Jon Jay, CF
2.  Corey Spangenberg, 2B
3. Matt Kemp, RF
4. Wil Myers, 1B
5. Derek Norris, C
6. Yangervis Solarte, 3B
7. Alexei Ramirez, SS
8. Melvin Upton Jr. LF
9. James Shields, P

In Game 1 Catcher Derek Norris hit second and Spangenberg was in the 8 spot, and no doubt it will be a while before Andy Green gets comfortable on how he wants his lineup to look like and still will vary based on pitching matchups as well. Yangervis Solarte’s fielding still leaves some finesse to be desired, but he did draw a walk and the only extra base hit for the Padres in the game. Wil Myers looked good at the plate, showing some patience at the plate and also lacing a single in the 9th inning. As much has been made of this off-season, his effectiveness will have a big correlation to the Padres throughout this coming year.

Next: Opening Day Recap and Slideshow

Suprising, Cory Spangenberg made a relay throwing error on Monday (leading to Yasiel Puig scoring on his triple) though unsurprisingly Matt Kemp did as well, misplaying a line drive to right field. Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis was held up at third until Kemp couldn’t field the ball cleanly. The Padres hope they can move past those mistakes and start the year they had hoped to today. James Shields gets the start, who is fired up to prove that with all due respect to Tyson Ross he should be the Padres Opening Day starter. He gets a worth opponent in Scott Kazmir, and it all starts at 7:10 PM tonight at Petco Park.