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After Thursday’s brawl game made national news, Friday’s pregame brought out media from everywhere, which can certainly be a distraction. But the mood in the clubhouse was one of determination, as the sputtering 2-7 Padres prepared to take on the Colorado Rockies in a game that appeared to look overshadowed from the remaining dark clouds of the game the night before.
But once the teams took the field, it was business as usual. The National Anthem was still played and people still stood and the flags still flew, and San Diego Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco threw out the first pitch and the Padres took the field.
And a baseball game was played.
Tyson Ross opened the game by walking Dexter Fowler, who was thrown out attempting to steal second base. With one out, Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross issued a walk to Josh Rutledge. Carlos Gonzalez then doubled to right field, with Rutledge taking third base.
Troy Tulowitzki hit an infield single which scored Rutledge and moved Gonzalez to third, still with only one out. Michael Cuddyer hit a fly ball that somehow found a spot between left field, center field, and shortstop that fell in, scoring Gonzalez.
Todd Helton loaded the bases with a ground ball to right field, still with only one out. Willin Rosario struck out, and Ross also caught Chris Nelson looking at a strike three. The Padres escaped down only 2-0 to the Rockies in a half-frame.
The Padres got even in their half of the first inning. With one out, Chris Denorfia drew a walk, and then Yonder Alonso smacked a Jon Garland fastball over the center field fence and the game was tied, 2-2.
It was all zeros until the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Dexter Fowler hit a 0-1 Tyson Ross fastball over the center field fence and the Rockies took a 3-2 lead over the Padres.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Padres had ideas of their own. Nick Hundley opened up with a double into the left field corner, and Will Venable plated Hundley with a single and the Padres tied the Rockies 3-3.
Tyson Ross was finished after five and one-third innings, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks with eight strike outs. Manager Buddy Black was pleased with the performance.
“He had a high pitch count in the first, and from that point he started making some pitches. Change-up came into play, again he got some outs with the change which is great to see so he had the three pitch mix working. I really like the fact that he dotted some fast balls, threw some fastballs in some good spots, good sliders as well,” Black said postgame.
Thatcher relieved Ross and allowed a base hit and then Dale Thayer relieved Thatcher. Thayer pitched one and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball, striking out four of the five batters he faced.
The Padres struck again in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Jedd Gyorko singled to right field and Nick Hundley tripled into the gap to score Gyorko.
Will Venable came up and singled home Hundley and the Padres found themselves with the lead for the first time in the game. After seven innings, the Padres led 5-3 over the Rockies.
Luke Gregerson entered the eighth inning and gave up a walk to Carlos Gonzalez, then Troy Tulowitzki ground into a fielder’s choice with Gonzalez out at second base.
Michael Cuddyer reached on an error by Jedd Gyorko, moving Tulowitzki to second, and then Todd Helton doubled for his third hit of the day, scoring Tulowitzki with Cuddyer taking third base. Willin Rosario ground out to first base, scoring Cuddyer, and the game was tied again, 5-5.
In the top of the ninth inning, Huston Street entered and after getting Reid Brignac to fly out, Dexter Fowler took Street deep to right field for a home run. Carlos Gonzalez follow with a monster solo shot to left, which made it 7-5 Rockies over the Padres going into the bottom of the ninth.
Rafael Betancourt came in for Colorado and shut the Padres down in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to notch his fourth save. With the win, the Rockies improve to 6-4 while the Padres fall to 2-8.
Notes:
Prior to the game, the Padres announced the call-up of pitcher Thad Weber from AAA Tucson. Weber, 28, was claimed off of waivers from the Detroit Tigers last August. He appeared in two major league games with Detroit and has yet to pitch with the major league Padres organization. In Tucson Weber started one game, going five innings and giving up a run. Cody Ransom, in the corresponding move for the 40-man roster, has been designated for assignment and will have to clear wavers in order to remain with the organization.
Chase Headley (disabled list, broken thumb) went on a rehab assignment with single-A Lake Elsinore Friday night in the designated hitter’s spot. Headley was 1 for 3 with a double. Chase will come back to San Diego to appear on Saturday in a pregame ceremony at Petco Park to receive his Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards for the 2012 season. He will then return on Sunday to complete his minor league rehab.
Saturday, the Padres will again play Colorado in the second game of a three-game set. Jhoulys Chacin (1-0, 1.35) will go for the Rockies and will face the Padres Edinson Volquez (2-0, 10.00). Saturday is Chase Headley bobblehead night and the first 25,000 fans entering the gate will get one. Game time is at 5:40 PM PDST and will be carried on radio 1090 AM and televised on Fox Sports San Diego. And if you have Time Warner Cable, just forget it. FSSD and Time Warner Cable broke off talks again this week and it doesn’t appear they’ll happen anytime soon.
After Thursday’s brawl game made national news, Friday’s pregame brought out media from everywhere, which can certainly be a distraction. But the mood in the clubhouse was one of determination, as the sputtering 2-7 Padres prepared to take on the Colorado Rockies in a game that appeared to look overshadowed from the remaining dark clouds of the game the night before.
But once the teams took the field, it was business as usual. The National Anthem was still played and people still stood and the flags still flew, and San Diego Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco threw out the first pitch and the Padres took the field.
And a baseball game was played.
Tyson Ross opened the game by walking Dexter Fowler, who was thrown out attempting to steal second base. With one out, Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross issued a walk to Josh Rutledge. Carlos Gonzalez then doubled to right field, with Rutledge taking third base.
Troy Tulowitzki hit an infield single which scored Rutledge and moved Gonzalez to third, still with only one out. Michael Cuddyer hit a fly ball that somehow found a spot between left field, center field, and shortstop that fell in, scoring Gonzalez.
Todd Helton loaded the bases with a ground ball to right field, still with only one out. Willin Rosario struck out, and Ross also caught Chris Nelson looking at a strike three. The Padres escaped down only 2-0 to the Rockies in a half-frame.
The Padres got even in their half of the first inning. With one out, Chris Denorfia drew a walk, and then Yonder Alonso smacked a Jon Garland fastball over the center field fence and the game was tied, 2-2.
It was all zeros until the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Dexter Fowler hit a 0-1 Tyson Ross fastball over the center field fence and the Rockies took a 3-2 lead over the Padres.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Padres had ideas of their own. Nick Hundley opened up with a double into the left field corner, and Will Venable plated Hundley with a single and the Padres tied the Rockies 3-3.
Tyson Ross was finished after five and one-third innings, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks with eight strike outs. Manager Buddy Black was pleased with the performance.
“He had a high pitch count in the first, and from that point he started making some pitches. Change-up came into play, again he got some outs with the change which is great to see so he had the three pitch mix working. I really like the fact that he dotted some fast balls, threw some fastballs in some good spots, good sliders as well,” Black said postgame.
Thatcher relieved Ross and allowed a base hit and then Dale Thayer relieved Thatcher. Thayer pitched one and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball, striking out four of the five batters he faced.
The Padres struck again in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Jedd Gyorko singled to right field and Nick Hundley tripled into the gap to score Gyorko.
Will Venable came up and singled home Hundley and the Padres found themselves with the lead for the first time in the game. After seven innings, the Padres led 5-3 over the Rockies.
Luke Gregerson entered the eighth inning and gave up a walk to Carlos Gonzalez, then Troy Tulowitzki ground into a fielder’s choice with Gonzalez out at second base.
Michael Cuddyer reached on an error by Jedd Gyorko, moving Tulowitzki to second, and then Todd Helton doubled for his third hit of the day, scoring Tulowitzki with Cuddyer taking third base. Willin Rosario ground out to first base, scoring Cuddyer, and the game was tied again, 5-5.
In the top of the ninth inning, Huston Street entered and after getting Reid Brignac to fly out, Dexter Fowler took Street deep to right field for a home run. Carlos Gonzalez follow with a monster solo shot to left, which made it 7-5 Rockies over the Padres going into the bottom of the ninth.
Rafael Betancourt came in for Colorado and shut the Padres down in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to notch his fourth save. With the win, the Rockies improve to 6-4 while the Padres fall to 2-8.
Notes:
Prior to the game, the Padres announced the call-up of pitcher Thad Weber from AAA Tucson. Weber, 28, was claimed off of waivers from the Detroit Tigers last August. He appeared in two major league games with Detroit and has yet to pitch with the major league Padres organization. In Tucson Weber started one game, going five innings and giving up a run. Cody Ransom, in the corresponding move for the 40-man roster, has been designated for assignment and will have to clear wavers in order to remain with the organization.
Chase Headley (disabled list, broken thumb) went on a rehab assignment with single-A Lake Elsinore Friday night in the designated hitter’s spot. Headley was 1 for 3 with a double. Chase will come back to San Diego to appear on Saturday in a pregame ceremony at Petco Park to receive his Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards for the 2012 season. He will then return on Sunday to complete his minor league rehab.
Saturday, the Padres will again play Colorado in the second game of a three-game set. Jhoulys Chacin (1-0, 1.35) will go for the Rockies and will face the Padres Edinson Volquez (2-0, 10.00). Saturday is Chase Headley bobblehead night and the first 25,000 fans entering the gate will get one. Game time is at 5:40 PM PDST and will be carried on radio 1090 AM and televised on Fox Sports San Diego. And if you have Time Warner Cable, just forget it. FSSD and Time Warner Cable broke off talks again this week and it doesn’t appear they’ll happen anytime soon.