first pitch: 4:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Brian Lawrence (2-3, 5.19 ERA) vs Brandon Claussen (1-3, 5.60 ERA)
game preview: CBS
The Padres, fielding their projected Opening Day starting lineup for the first time all year, mounted an improbable comeback victory in the series opener at Cincy. And although he went 0 for 3 in his return from the DL, Khalil Greene was a welcome sight out on the diamond Monday night. Pads have closed the gap on LA and are now just two games out of first place. With the Dodgers battling in St. Louis, the Friars have a good opportunity to gain even more ground.
Tonight’s matchup:
AB BA OBP SLG
Lawrence vs current Reds 98 .296 .355 .469
Claussen vs everybody 372 .304 .378 .481
The only Reds who have faced Lawrence much are Adam Dunn (.267/.389/.600 in 15 AB) and former Padre Rich Aurilia (.333/.333/.458 in 24 AB). Each has a homer against Lawrence, as do Wily Mo Pena (3 AB) and Jacob Cruz (2 AB).
Claussen is making his 20th big-league start. No current Padre has ever faced him, so I’ve listed Claussen’s career numbers. Although he’s a southpaw, lefties (.367/.466/.617) have had much better success than righties (.281/.343/.434) in his limited time in the Show.
Lawrence has been two entirely different pitchers so far in 2005. He’s made three starts each at home and on the road:
IP H HR BB SO ERA AB BA OBP SLG
Home 23.0 15 0 4 14 1.57 83 .181 .227 .229
Road 11.2 23 3 8 6 12.34 54 .426 .500 .722
His road starts have been at Wrigley, the BOB, and Busch, so we can’t even blame Coors Field. Here’s hoping this is nothing more than a small sample anomaly and Lawrence can buck the trend in Cincy.
For the Pads, over the past 7 days it’s been all Brian Giles (.370/.485/.741 in 27 AB) and Ryan Klesko (.290/.353/.774 in 31 AB), with a dash of Ramon Hernandez (.348/.348/.565 in 23 AB) thrown in for good measure. The bullpen has worked 31 innings over that span, so now would be a good time to have the starter go deep into the game.
Other Stuff
These don’t really belong here, but there wasn’t enough to justify a separate post, so here they shall be:
- Thompson promoted to Double-A (NC Times). Sean Thompson is headed to Mobile. Southpaw has fanned 10.22 batters per 9 over 284 1/3 pro innings. On Monday, in the Love Boat thread, I said it would be “interesting to see how well his success translates to higher levels once he’s deemed ready.” Well, he’s been deemed ready. Go get ‘em, kid! Also of note: Michael Johnson is on the DL with “inflammation in his right hand.” He expects to be back later in the week.
- Also, as Dave mentioned in the comments to Monday’s In-Game Discussion, Rickey Henderson will be playing for the San Diego Surf Dawgs of the independent Golden Baseball League. The Surf Dawgs play their home games at Tony Gwynn Stadium, and the opener is Thursday, May 26, against the Long Beach Armada. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty psyched at the prospect of seeing Rickey here in San Diego again.
Lawrence working Claussen’s pitch count … tit-for-tat
Jimenez has been better than Aurilia at the plate this year (and last, by a lot last year).
Jackson is forcing Claussen to throw quite a few pitches.
That was ball four that DJ got rung up on…
Mark Grant is right, though. Too close to take.
9 in a row retired by Claussen. Somebody should remind him that he sucks.
Another weak inning by the Padres in the third.
Just noticed: Giles leads Padre regulars in EQA (.304).
Fick leads the team (after only 7 PA) with a .427 EQA.
That was a goofy looking play. Nevin chased him down.
Got Junior looking on three pitches. Wow.
Off to eat again, testing my theory that they play better when I am not watching.
Let’s hope the test is successful.
Leitner just answered one of my two questions: Burroughs has a bad hamstring.
Stay gone, Bruce!
Make it a 40-course meal, Bruce!
Aflac trivia: what Reds reliever was born in Saigon?
Hint: it’s Danny Graves
Top of 4th … here we go …
- B. Giles doubled to center
Pitcher’s stats …
Pitches-strikes – B Lawrence 47-27; B Claussen 49-31.
Ground balls-fly balls – B Lawrence 5-3; B Claussen 3-4.
Batters faced – B Lawrence 14; B Claussen 11.
40-course meal? There’s no evidence to suggest the Padres play any better when Bruce is dead.
Another pop fly by Nevin… Enough already.
.300 BABIP against Lawrence tonight. (4 out of 10 reached base, though)
Maybe make it two trips to the dessert bar, then?
Claussen took that off the face or something!
Just the arm. Whatever… Looked bad, though.
Richard has the early lead on “line of the night”…
He hurt his left ankle getting out of the way (which he failed to do).
We get to see the Reds bullpen in the fourth inning? That is too sweet.
Todd Coffey is in.
Hey Geoff,
While we’re in this injury delay, do a Google on the band Manic Hispanic. Saw ‘em Saturday. Great show. Worth a trip up the 5 to see.
No Padre has faced him.
Coffey’s FRA: 11.25
AFLAC trivia question: Danny Graves answer confirmed
Lawrence gets double play ball, but not double play.
Sweet. Thanks for the tip, Brian.
Second double play ball actually results in double play.
Hi everyone..2nd time here..nice turn on that double play ball by Nevin and Loretta
For the encore, they were joined by Jello Biafra to sing the Dead Kennedys’ “Let’s Lynch the Landlord”. Ah, the memories that brought back.
What’s a “FRA”?
After 4 full innings …
Pitches-strikes – B Lawrence 55-34; B Claussen 65-41; T Coffey 2-2.
Ground balls-fly balls – B Lawrence 8-3; B Claussen 3-5; T Coffey 2-0.
Batters faced – B Lawrence 17; B Claussen 14; T Coffey 1.
Hey Mark. Welcome!
13.75 NP/IP for B-Law tonight. He should be able to pitch into the 8th before hitting 100 NP if he maintains that pace.
FRA: “Fair” RA (includes inherited/bequeathed runs prevented)
RA: Run Average
Run Average: runs allowed, earned or otherwise, divided by innings pitched, times 9.
Bruce is going to be diappointed when he gets back from his dinner.
Thanks…quite a site y’all have here..
Was that a Pretenders song Grant was “singing”?
Ground rule double.
40% (2 of 5) of hits allowed by B-Law have gone for extra bases.
.333 BABIP v. B-Law tonight (6 of 15 have reached base)
B-Law strikes out Sean Casey looking. 1-2 count. Sean Casey then hits a double.
That’s not good
Mark, that’s you from the Padre board?
Yes it is