San Diego Padres: Week #3 Recap

The full rundown on how our San Diego Padres fared in the regular season’s third week. As we have come to expect, inconsistency remains the theme.

The third week of the new MLB season has concluded with more inconsistency from our young San Diego Padres. The week started with the conclusion of a 4 game sweep at the hands of another rebuilding team, the Atlanta Braves. The final game of the series showed the Padres young hitters unable to show much life against the Braves Jaime Garcia. Rallying against the bullpen, the Padres went ahead in the 8th inning only to see our bullpen surrender the lead in the last half of the eighth and lose the final game 5-4.

Jered Weaver continues to have mixed results in his starts. Able to go 6 innings, he allowed 7 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) while showing that giving up the long ball is his biggest weakness so far this season. But he is doing what the Padres brass signed him to do, provide a quality start and innings to help save the bullpen.

Catcher Austin Hedges began to show signs of life after starting the season 0 for 24 with 2 hits and 2 RBI for the day. Wil Myers batted 2 for 5 to keep his average at .350 for the young season.

San Diego Padres

Tuesday started a home stand and it does seem these guys like their own beds and ballpark. Playing the Arizona Diamondbacks, who rank first in the National League in runs scored, the Padres took 2 out of 3 with  great pitching performances from Jhoulys Chacin (8 IP, 3 hits) and Clayton Richard (6.2 IP, 9 hits and 1 run) to allow the Padres to defeat  the Backs 1-0 and 4-1, respectively. Offensively, shortstop Erick Aybar began showing some signs of life with the winning home run in the second game of the series and a 2 for 3 night by Hedges with 2 runs scored and a home run. Myers continues his torrid hitting with another HR himself in the second game.

The first game of the series became a bullpen game in the 4th inning when starter Jarred Cosart left with a right hamstring strain after allowing 3 runs and the bullpen couldn’t hold the Dbacks down. The Padres were also unable to score more than one run off Backs starter Shelby Miller.

The Miami Marlins hit town on Friday night with Trevor Cahill getting his first home start in front of his family and friends. Signing a San Diego native in the offseason, the Padres assured themselves of a nervous pitcher for his first start at home with the team he rooted for as a young boy growing up. But Cahill harnessed the nerves and pitched 7 innings of 3 hit ball with a run allowed, giving the young hitters a chance to recoup.

Manny Margot went 2 for 4 with a triple and 2 runs scored, Aybar continued hitting with a RBI and Austin Hedges hit another HR going 1 for 4 and driving in 3 with his homer. It was a well played game for the boys and gave them 3 wins in a row to somewhat calm the pain of the 5 game losing streak at the hands of the Braves and Diamondbacks.

Related Story: San Diego Padres: Week #2 Recap

Saturday brought another 6 inning effort from Weaver with 2 runs allowed, again coming on HR balls. Weaver has 23 IP so far this season with 10 earned runs and all on the 7 HR balls he has allowed. He has 13 strikeouts over that span and has had little luck with the bullpen holding up their end. What was supposed to be a strength this season has shown mixed results. Late game hiccups have cost the team a few wins so far this season, despite better than expected starting pitching overall. Adjustments to the roles in the bullpen might be forthcoming if they continue to struggle holding onto games. Although the first extra inning loss at Petco was helped along with poor defense.

The defense in the 11th inning left a lot to be desired with mental lapses from reliever Jose Torres and Yangervis Solarte, who was covering first base on a bunt play. Hunter Renfroe was unable to back up the play cleanly and this led to 2 runs scoring and 2 errors tacked onto the season total.

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Hedges hit another HR, his third game in a row, and now has 5 HR in the last 8 days. Margot had a 2 for 5 game with a single and a double and Myers again went 2 for 5, holding his average at .360 with 4 HR and 11 RBI for the season.

The recurring theme for this group remains inconsistency. The hallmark of a young and inexperienced team is such streakiness. But, the level of play is often exciting and these guys don’t quit. With some shoring up of the bullpen and some tightening up of the defense there should be more exciting games ahead. With a 3-4 record for the week and an overall record of 8-11 this team continues to out perform the expectations and are showing signs of improved offensive production if more of the line up can begin hitting.

Next: What Good is Erick Aybar Doing?

Hey, at least were ahead of the Giants!