I guess my Padres didn’t want to travel to Houston in a school bus.

Chris Young started the game, going six innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts. He had a great outing, he was battling hard.

On the other side, Dan Haren was doing a great job as well. He went six innings, giving up eight hits and three runs with two walks on four strikeouts.

In the third, the Diamondbacks struck first. After a single from Chris Snyder, Dan Haren of all people hit a double to help his own cause. He got to third on an error, and touched the plate on a sacrifice fly.

In the fifth, the Padres found a crack in Haren’s armor and were actually able to take advantage of it!

With two outs, Chris Young walked, Brian Giles singled, and Edgar Gonzalez drove in CY for our first run. Scott Hairston came to the plate and check-swinged on a pitch. Except the ball hit the bat and went into right field to drive in Giles. It was pretty bizarre!

In the sixth, the Diamondbacks added a run to take the lead. But in the bottom of the inning, we got that run right back.

With one out, my boy Kouz hit a single. Nick Hundley then doubled, and Kouz ran all the way home. I love this dude, but he’s really slow. It’s almost painfully to watch. He’s not as bad as say, Henry Blanco the Galapagos tortoise, but he’s still slow. So he almost got thrown out at the plate. But he scored safely, so that’s all that matters.

The game stayed tied for a long time. The Padres bullpen was able to hold the game, though. Barely.

Edwin Moreno came into the seventh, and got a few runners on with no outs, including two walks. I’m telling you, this guy is going to be on the bus to Triple-A very soon unless he stops walking people like he does. We just can’t have that, especially when he walks the first batter in a tie game. No no no.

Thankfully, Luke Gregerson came in and cleaned up Moreno’s mess, keeping the game tied. He also pitched a scoreless eighth.

Heath Bell took the ninth, allowing nothing and striking out one. Man, he’s sharp!

In the bottom of the ninth, Scott Hairston singled, but Adrian Gonzalez grounded into a double play.

Onto extra innings for the second time this week!

Cla Meredith pitched the top of the tenth, throwing five pitches to get three outs. He was sharp!

In the bottom of the tenth, it was time to close this thing down. Jody Gerut started it with a strikeout, but then Kouz doubled. Nick Hundley walked, and Chris Burke came to the plate. 

Burke had a great at-bat. He fouled off six pitches, keeping the count full for a long time. He made the pitcher throw ten pitches before finally taking ball four to load the bases. That at-bat was crucial to winning the game.

Next, Hyun Young’s boy David Eckstein came to the plate. He only needed to take a strike and a ball before lining a single past the first baseman to score my boy Kouz. 

We win!!

It was such a great game! We did leave 13 runners on base, which was very frustrating, but we were able to get some clutch hits and win the game.

I was very pleased with our pitching, especially the bullpen. They didn’t give up a run, which is so rare!

My boy Kouz had THREE hits, two singles and a double. He’s definitley been scuffling, so it’s great that he was able to have a good game like that. 

We had 13 hits total, which we haven’t had in a long time. I am so glad that we were hitting!

It was a great win for the Padres and their fans, but apparently the Diamondbacks aren’t too happy with their 12-17 record. Arizona fired manager Bob Melvin today. They’re replacing him with A.J. Hinch. Interesting…

Manny is a jerk. Unfortunately, the Padres are only going to play the Dodgers twice during his suspension. 

“It would have been nice if this had happened in spring training,” pitching ace Jake Peavy said. “I wouldn’t have had to face him.” 

The Dodgers finally lost last night. They built up a six run lead, but blew it and lost 11-9 against the Natinals. Of all teams. Wow. 

Well, I can’t say I’m entirely disappointed that Manny was suspended or that the Dodgers lost. My Padres are now only 7.5 games behind, third place in the NL West!

Well boys, I hope you enjoyed your luxury flight to Houston!

 

Tonight Chad Gaudin is pitching against Wandy Rodriguez. It will be a very interesting game…

GO PADRES!!

(photo credits: Union-Tribune, flickr.com)