Padres Waste Strong Start by Colin Rea

Colin Rea struggled with his control last time out in Colorado, but rebounded nicely Wednesday with 7 innings against the Phillies in a losing effort. He allowed 2 runs but that was all the Phillies would need on their way to a 2-1 victory to guarantee at worst a split of the 4 game series. After leaving Colorado, the Padres have more the most part fallen back into their scoreless ways, breaking a string of 19 straight until Brett Wallace drove in a run in the 9th inning.

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The Padres had a chance to score in the 8th inning when they loaded the bases with one out, but Matt Kemp and Wil Myers were both struck out to end the threat. Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff baffled the Padres with his breaking pitch. Said Phillies Manager Pete Mackanin:

“It can be an unhittable pitch, he’s got that ability to get a real tight rotation with good depth. … He threw two curveballs back-to-back to strike out [Melvin Upton Jr.]. If you can do that, you’re a Major League pitcher.”

Offensively Alexi Amarista did go 2-3 and steal third base and Melvin Upton Jr.doubled to bring his season average to .296

The Padres would certainly agree with that statement as Eickhoff got 9 strikeouts in his 7 innings of work. The Padres have now once again lost two straight and in this one they made 3 errors in the infield. Adam Rosales, Alexi Amarista, and Corey Spangenberg all made errors of different types and it was Spangenberg’s throwing error that led to an unearned run. That type of play got the ever-optimistic Green frustrated: “It was sloppy baseball there for a little bit, It’s nothing we’re pleased with, it’s nothing we practice. … We’ve got to be better in all facets of the game right now.”

Next: Tyson Ross a Padres Trade Option?

The Padres finish off the 4 game set tomorrow as Drew Pomeranz hopes to improve upon his very good first start for the Padres in Colorado. One aspect of Wednesday’s game that was encouraging was Rea getting through seven innings. The bullpen has gotten a lot of work to start the year and if Pomeranz were able to go 6 or 7 innings that would do wonders before heading home for three against Arizona at Petco Park this weekend.