Padres Series Recap: Padres Surprise Bucs & Take 2 of 3
This series against the Pittsburgh Pirates was not what I expected, and that’s more than a good thing. If you read my series preview for this 3 game set against the Buccos you will know that I did not expect the Padres to take this series.
You can’t expect a team who lost three out of four in Philly to win two out of three against the Pirates but that’s Baseball for you. There were a lot of positives to take from this series with both the hitting and pitching. The only negative really was this last game and I mean there were really no positives to take from this game. There were some things to notice here and there though. Overall this was a great series for the Padres, whenever you can win a series against a team you’re not supposed to that’s just great for team moral.
Game 1: Just like Big Mac Used To Do
A lot of positives to take from this first game. First off the pitching, Colin Rea had a good game only allowing three runs in five innings of work, as well as striking out six and only allowing one walk. Although this was a solid start for Rea there are still some concerns here and there as he did allow seven hits. The bullpen would look solid yet again only allowing a run in four innings. Fernando Rodney would also earn his second save of the season and continue to look sharp out on the mound.
The offense came alive after Andy Green got his first career ejection. Green was ejected in the third inning of the game and Mark McGwire would take over as manager for the first time in his coaching career. The players would do just as Big Mac Used to do and belted three total home runs for a grand total of five runs. The dingers were off the bats of Wil Myers, Derek Norris, and Adam Rosales. Another very good performance at the plate would come from Jon Jay as he would get three hits and a walk in four at bats. Those five runs would be enough to secure the game for the Padres 5-4.
Game 2: Is this really Petco Park?
Game two brought some of the same positives we saw in game one but in a much more extreme fashion. To start it off Drew Pomeranz looked absolutely amazing in his first start at Petco Park this year. Pomeranz pitched 6.2 inings only allowed an unearned run and struck out 10.
The 27-year-old had yet another great start and looked better than ever. The final score would be 8-2 so the bats would come alive for the Padres in a much more extreme way this time. Seven different players would get an RBI in the game including a home run by Matt Kemp which would be his fifth of the year. Other contributors would be Alexei Ramirez who had a great game with two RBI’s and a triple. Adam Rosales, Jon Jay, Will Myers and recently called up Jemile Weeks had big games. Even Drew Pomeranz snagged an RBI, helping out his own cause. The Padres would overall just look tremendous in this game and would put on a great show for the fans to take the series.
Game 3: Close But No Broom
Well actually no, the Padres weren’t really that close to getting a sweep in this series as they were beaten 11-1 in the final game. There was a lot of negatives to take from this game and not a whole lot of positives. Gerrit Cole would pitch an absolute gem in this one going six innings, striking out seven and only allowing a mere four hits with no walks.
James Shields seems to be in the same dilemma as Colin Rea. Just like Rea he didn’t look too bad, but at the same time there are some flaws in there you just don’t want to see. Well it wouldn’t matter anyways as recently called up Leonel Campos would go in the game and really not look sharp. He allowed five runs to cross the plate and ended the day with a 135.00 ERA. The standout performer in my opinion for the Padres in this game would turn out to be Melvin Upton Jr. As he would get a hit steal a base and make a really good catch in the outfield something he had already done in game one of this series.
Upton continues to perform and is looking solid in this 2016 campaign for the Friars. As far as for the Pirates the standouts would obviously be starting pitcher Gerit Cole and Josh Harrison who absolutely killed us this game both defensively and offensively. Harrison would get two runs and two RBI’s and steal a base as well. He would also make an amazing play to rob the Padres out of an RBI. Another standout this series in general would be Chula Vista Native John Jaso who would go two for four in this last game with an RBI double. Jaso will leave San Diego with a higher BA than he arrived with at .368 quite a nice homecoming for the Southbay Native.
Despite this last game this would turn out to be an amazing series for the Pads as they would take their first series at home and do it against a team which they shouldn’t be beating in the Pirates. The Padres will have another big challenge over the weekend as the Cardinals will be in town for a three game set, but it looks like the Padres are more than up for the challenge. Go Padres!
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.