On a day when San Diego saw torrential rains, San Francisco’s 8th-inning deluge against a key bullpen arm spelled defeat.

Tom Cosgrove gave up six earned runs and only recorded one out in the game.

That is not to say that the Padres didn’t provide a little squall of their own in the bottom of the ninth, but they were too waterlogged to pull it out in the end.

The game started as the past two have, with the Padres down early.

Newly acquired Dylan Cease gave up three total runs in 4.2 innings but did add six Ks to his night before leaving in the top of the fifth. On the other hand, Jordan Hicks put up a quality start for the Giants as he begins his career, much like Seth Lugo, from reliever to starter. Hicks threw five innings of one-run ball to earn the win.

The game completely broke open in the 8th as the Giants scored six runs against the normally reliable Tom Cosgrove. The lefty managed to record the first out of the inning but failed to get anyone else out. He gave up a solo shot to Jung Hoo Lee, a pair of run-scoring singles to Matt Chapman and Wilmer Flores, and finally a grand slam to Michael Conforto. The lefty gave way to Enyel de los Santos, who ended the inning for the Padres.

If there’s a positive to take, it’s that the Padres, yet again, did not go quietly into the stormy night.

Down 9-1, the Padres instead put together a stunning rally that had Petco believing in miracles before Easter Sunday. The Padres started with a two-run home run from Eguy Rosario, followed shortly by Graham Pauley‘s first major league hit, a three-run shot that hit the right field pole to cut the lead to 9-6.

No. 8 @Padres prospect Graham Pauley’s first MLB hit is also his first big league homer! pic.twitter.com/q59qHMd35o

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 31, 2024

However, that would be it, as Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth grounded out to end the comeback attempt. While the team is showing that it won’t go down without a fight, something not seen last year, they continue to give up runs early and struggle to play catch-up.

The Padres have now lost two straight against their rivals from Northern California.

They will try to earn a series split on Sunday, with former Yankee Michael King making his first start for the Friars.

Loren Casuto

A Native San Diegan, Loren has spent his entire life not only as a fan but an active participant in San Diego’s sports world. In 2006 Loren joined two other die hard Charger fans to create Bolttalk, where Loren was a co-host and regular columnist from 2006 until the Chargers left in 2017. After that he started another podcast, The Grid Podshow, from 2020-2021 with his former co-host and colleague, speaking about the local sports community and popular culture.

When he’s not giving his opinion about San Diego sports, Loren is an adjunct professor at San Diego State and an attorney.