Padres Game Recap: Padres Avoid Sweep Win 3-1
The San Diego Padres came into today needing a win against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. To lose this last game on Sunday and be swept by the Dodgers would be devastating to both the Padres record and their psyche.
The four game losing streak is nothing but a bad memory now. Everything fell in the Padres favor on Sunday as they got out to an early lead and had their bullpen well rested to close out the game.
Alexi Amarista got the scoring started with his first homer run of the year. A towering smash on a 3-2 count off of Dodgers starter Scott Baker in the third inning.
The Padres followed that by putting up another run in the fourth with a pair of doubles from Derek Norris and Matt Kemp. Norris also smacked his first home run as a Padre in the seventh inning and that was all the Padres would need.
Brandon Morrow was on today and would have been perfect except for a fifth inning home run by Alex Guerrero. Morrow settled down and went seven strong innings only allowing one run on five hits while striking out four batters. He has really been solid thus far for the Padres and could be in store for a huge year in the National League.
Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect eighth and ninth inning for the Friars. The Padres now are only one game behind the Dodgers for first place. So despite the losing streak, all seems well in Padreland.
GAME NOTES
Jedd Gyorko made a start at second base and went 0-3 on eight total pitches. His tail spin continues. Yonder Alonso went 0-3 to drop his average down to .354 on the season. Yangervis Solarte left the game with a sore wrist after running into Dodger catcher Yasmani Grandal at home plate. Bud Black indicated after the game that Solarte would be alright. Justin Upton followed his two home run game on Saturday going 0-3 with the 3 strike outs. The Padres made a roster move after the game by sending Chris Rearick down to Triple-A El Paso and they called up pitcher Cory Mazzoni who was acquired from the New York Mets for Alex Torres in spring training. Dodgers placed Yasiel Puig on the 15 day DL with a hamstring issue.
UP NEXT
James Shields (2-0 3.24 ERA) takes the mound Monday as the Padres get their first inter league game of the season. The Houston Astros come to town for a three game series. Collin McHugh (3-0 2.41 ERA) takes the mound for the Astros.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.