first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Brian Lawrence (1-3, 7.65 ERA) vs Shawn Estes (2-1, 3.96 ERA)
game previews: ESPN | CBS SportsLine | SI | Padres.com
AB BA OBP SLG
Lawrence vs current Diamondbacks 196 .255 .308 .398
Estes vs current Padres 224 .259 .356 .379
Lawrence has done a good job of neutralizing some of the key guys: Craig Counsell (.231/.259/.269 in 26 AB), Luis Gonzalez (.216/.256/.324 in 37 AB), Shawn Green (.235/.304/.373 in 51 AB). Green has two homers against Lawrence; Tony Clark and Chad Tracy are the only other players on the active roster to take him yard.
Of the Padres regulars, Ryan Klesko (.364/.440/.636 in 22 AB) has had the most success against Estes; Xavier Nady (.364/.364/.636 in 11 AB) and Jesse Garcia (.571/.625/1.000 in 7 AB) have done well in limited time. Ramon Hernandez (.063/.167/.063 in 16 AB) has struggled against Estes; after catching all 15 innings Friday night, tonight rather than the traditional Sunday afternoon might be a good time to start Miguel Ojeda.
Padres are 6-3 at Petco this year, outscoring the opposition 41-24 in the process. Last night was the first time an opponent had scored as many as four runs in a 2005 Padres home game. The Friars (.284/.368/.387) are outhitting the opposition (.205/.275/.290) at Petco. The pitchers have an ERA of 1.88.
Is it just me, or is Bochy’s Klesko for Hyzdu antics driving anyone else crazy? This is twice in three games where Bochy pulled Klesko only to Hyzdu have to hit with the game tied or with Padres in their final at bat. Klesko is our best hitter. Until I see a late inning fielding disaster by Klesko, I remain convinced Bochy is just making the odds higher that we will substitute our best hitter for one of our worst in a tight spot.
Ironically, in both cases, Hyzdu got a hit, but that is just luck. I hope he starts to learn, though unlikely.
Split-related gripes about Bochy:
1/4 of Roberts at bats are against lefties, though he has .120 OPS difference; not crazy different, but I see no reason not to substitute Nady whenever a leftie comes in to face Roberts. Nady’s splits are fine in case this triggered a pitching change.
Time to consider platooning Nevin with Sweeney or Nady? Nevin has a staggering .400 OPS split; crushing lefties, ugly against righties. Sweeney’s OPS against righties is .853. Given our offense is a bit sluggish, I vote for squeezing every good match up out of the AB’s that we can.
Speaking of gripes, if Klesko is sitting this one out for a reason other than being injured/ill, I have one.
anybody watching on MLBtv?
Richard: Radio guys said Klesko is a little banged up from last night’s collision with Blum.
Kotsay wins game in the 10th for Athletics.
Hey, Geoff, I put up a picture of Anna on Padres Nation.
Lawrence is looking very solid. Good movement.
Sean Burroughs hits a bomb. Sweet!
Sweet. That’s Burroughs’ first. He just tied Ken Griffey.
Jay: I think it’s a little early to think about platooning Nevin. He’s still one of our best hitters and he’s been very hot of late (.320/.346/.720 over last seven days). Nevin also got off to a horrible start against RHP this year (.045/.087/.045); since then he’s hitting .308/.341/.538 against them. I do agree that Nady needs to get as many PAs as possible.
11 consecutive shutout innings vs. D-backs.
Kevin: Nice photo! No disrespect to Alderson, but this is much better.
Thanks. Beauty over brains, in this case.
What is Lawrence’s pitch count? I wonder if he gets to finish this after Hoffman’s performance last night. …
12 consecutive scoreless innings.
First real trouble of the night for Lawrence. First and second, nobody out. Green swings at the first pitch and grounds into a 4-6-3 DP. Tracy hits a line smash back at Lawrence, who snags it to end the inning.
ESPN has Lawrence at 87 pitches. Seanez and Reyes were throwing that inning.
Damn, Ramon crushed that pitch. Wrong part of the park.
Burroughs: .324/.397/.382 ($1.7M)
Griffey: .244/.315/.366 ($10.4M)
13 consecutive shutout innings.
Lawrence is at 97 pitches. Trevor’s warming up.
Brace yourselves.
Hoffman was, of course, the last Padres pitcher to give up a run.
The Arizona broadcasters said the Padres might have the best bullpen in the majors. I sure wish they would start pitching like it.
I think with only 99 pitches thrown, B-Law should be allowed to finish this game himself. I have faith in Trevor, but I think it’s still Lawrence’s game.
Hoffman also has *never* blown back-to-back saves. Hyzdu draws a walk.
Lawrence’s line: 8 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO.
I would agree. Hoffman is the man. But the D-backs are dying to get rid of Lawrence, so why pull him?
due up vs Trevor in the 9th:
Counsell: .143/.200/.214 (14 AB)
Cintron: 0 for 3
Gonzalez: .273/.360/.500 (22 AB)
Hell’s Bells.
Loretta is so clutch. Great job by Roberts to avoid being tagged until after Hyzdu crossed the plate. Trevor has two runs to work with now.
One out. (Death)
Two outs. (Taxes)
Trevor is dealing. That change he threw to strike out Cintron was filthy.
Three outs. (Hoffman)
And there it is. Tomorrow we go for the sweep. Great way to finish up April.
Game time: 1:58. Wow!
What a short game.
They’re talking to Lawrence. He altered the grip on his breaking ball, getting better movement. Grant always asks good questions.
Pads finish April with a better record than the Yankees.
2-0. Outstanding performance by Lawrence tonight. Nice to see Trevor bounce back and shut up the critics.
This one was not on MLB Extra Innings, so missed it, but B Law seems amazing. Nice bounce back. Geoff, thanks for the update on Nevin. The recent numbers do suggest his OPS splits will return to his historical .300 or so, which is OK I guess (last 3 years: LHP: 1.032; RHP: .732).