Padres cannot solve Buehler in 4-1 loss

Chavez Ravine- Los Angeles, California

After splitting the first two games of the series, the Padres sent out Cal Quantrill to make a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Quantrill has pitched very well as of late and looked to continue that against a tough Dodger’ lineup. The first two innings went to plan as Cal looked sharp, retiring all six batters faced. Alex Verdugo started off the third with a ground ball to the second base side. Greg Garcia made quite the effort to knock it down. However, in the process, the ball was knocked away from him, allowing Verdugo to make it to second. In the following play, the tough breaks continued as Machado fielded a ground ball towards foul territory, Tatis nor Quantrill were able to cover third, allowing Verdugo to advance on the throw. Cal Quantrill was able to work out of the jam, striking out fellow pitcher Walker Buehler and getting Joc Pederson to fly out to Hunter Renfroe in right field.  

Cal Quantrill held the Dodgers scoreless through three innings until Justin Turner took him deep with one out in the fourth inning.  

Will Smith, the baseball player, lead off the 5th inning with a double followed by a single by Verdugo. With no outs and runners on first and third Greg Garcia was unable to field Matt Beaty’s groundball cleanly only getting the out at second base.  Will Smith scored on the play. Eric Hosmer was charged with a throwing error allowing Walker Beuhler to reach safely. That made two outs given away by the Padres defense in the 5th inning alone. Joc Pederson popped out to Manny Machado highlighting the opportunity to get out of the inning only giving up the one run. Max Muncy and Justin Turner made the Padres pay for their mistakes with RBI singles making it a 4-0 Dodger lead.  

Michel Baez came in for Quantrill in the 6th inning.  Baez turned in another scoreless two innings; the young hurler is yet to be charged with an earned run. Strahm held the Dodgers scoreless and hitless in the 8th. 

Padres offense left much to be desired. The only run scored was a pinch-hit solo home run by Manuel Margot in the 8th inning. Walker Buehler went the full nine innings only giving up five total hits and 15 strikeouts. As a team, the Padres were 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position. The best opportunity for the Padres to score came in the 4th inning. Myers reaches on a Corey Seaver error and Manny Machado singled to center. Eric Hosmer strikes out and Hunter Renfroe grounds into a double play. 

In the bottom of the 6th Hunter Renfroe was able to make the runner catch of Alex Verdugo’s liner and doubled off Will Smith at first.  It was his 11th assist of the season.

Padres offense had little answers for Walker Buehler.  Andy Green substituted Francisco Mejia in for Austin Hedges to no avail. 

Unfortunately untimely defense and little to no offense did the Padres in. This brings them to 51-59 on the year. The Padres close out the series tomorrow with Chris Paddack expected to start against Maeda.  

Alex Yeargan

Lifelong Padre fan born and raised in San Diego, currently living in Temecula. The editors make me sound smart.