first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Darrell May (0-0, 5.53 ERA) vs Victor Santos (2-4, 3.02 ERA)
previews: ESPN | CBS | SI | Padres.com
The Pads completed the sweep of the Giants in San Francisco Sunday afternoon and have now won 20 of their last 25 games. Only St. Louis has put more runs on the board in the NL this year than the Friars. With the Dodgers beating Arizona, the Padres are now up by 2 1/2 games in the NL West.
Phil Nevin still hasn’t gotten it going (would you believe that he and Damian Jackson have the same number of walks?). On the positive side, Brian Giles and Ryan Klesko are back to their old tricks, and Dave Roberts is having a career year (he already has 16 extra base hits; his single-season high is 25). Jake Peavy is his dominant self, and yesterday’s starter, Adam Eaton, appears to have stepped his game up a level. The bench and bullpen are improved over last season, and the club is looking like a serious threat.
The Padres return to Petco tonight to start their longest homestand of the year against Milwaukee. The Pads have the best home record in baseball, but will be put to the test Monday behind nominal fifth starter May.
AB BA OBP SLG
May vs current Brewers 48 .271 .304 .604
Santos vs current Padres 35 .286 .419 .429
Small sample, but a .331 ISO? Yikes. Of the 13 hits May has allowed to these guys, 9 are for extra bases. Carlos Lee (.250/.318/.650 in 20 AB) has faced May most often. Presumably former Padre Jeff Cirillo (.091/.231/.091 in 11 AB) won’t get the start tonight. Cirillo, who is still on the Pads’ payroll this year, is hitting .277/.376/.406 for Milwaukee. One of the Brewers’ most productive hitters so far has been USD alum (go Toreros!) Brady Clark, who is batting .335/.396/.478 and who leads the league in runs scored with 39.
For the Friars, not too many have faced Santos, with Nevin having the lone homer. Opponents are hitting .257/.381/.514 against Santos in the first inning this year.
X Factor
Xavier Nady got a great view of a great game Sunday afternoon but did not participate in the contest.
They’re still wrong, though. Khalil is the elf that wants to be a dentist.
You were born *after* Fast Times? Oh, I feel old.
Yeah. That picture of me on my blog is from prom last year.
Richard, I’m not seeing the Hermey thing, but in the spirit of that same movie: “You eat what you want, and I’ll eat what I want.”
The home plate ump isn’t endearing himself to San Diego.
Roberts swings at ball four. Tough pitch to lay off.
I just hope Greene brings enough pizza for the whole class.
Blummer!
Ojeda vs LHP: .214/.313/.286
RUN, BLUMMER!
GAME OVER!
Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo!
Padres are now 25-10 in games Dave Roberts plays in.
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m almost surprised Jenkins didn’t catch that.
21 wins this month, best ever. The bench and bullpen do it again.
Ojeda vs LHP (updated): .267/.353/.400
What a game!
Jeebus, what a game!
(first time posting, an espn watching former San Diegan in rural Nevada… and about the only Padres fan in this region)
Nice one Richard! Wow that was a fantastic finish. Blum has perhaps not run faster in his life!
Speaking of Padres fans in faraway places. I’m in North Carolina, as some of you may now. I went to the bar tonight to watch the NBA game, and I met another Padres fan. Crazy. He said he latched onto Tony Gwynn when he was eight.
I get … and VERY much agree with … the Hermy thing
Ojeda just got a pie in the face on the postgame.
They showed the replay – Peavy got him.
Peavy got Ojeda good in the interview.
Sam, glad you could join us tonight! This is a real fun team to watch right now. Go Pads!
Khalil Greene made the play of the game tonight.
It’s been great following them… I’m a native San Diegan and grew up in Serra Mesa, I remember walking down the hill to watch games in my youth… still the only thing I REALLY miss about life in a city is catching games… But I am sneaking in on Thursday to torment family and catch 2 of the games against the cubs!
Padres, by my numbers, improve to 13-4 in 1-run games and 17-4 at home.
Looking down at the farm …
Tagg played 1B for the Beavers today (0-for-3) … Knott with HR #10 …
McAnulty with a couple of hits for Mobile, now hitting .302 …
Peavy’s pitching tomorrow. I like our chances of stretching the winning streak to six.
Here’s the AP story:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=250530125&prov=ap
I’m going to go update the Division Race graph.
Richard … post a link to “the Division Race graph” …
It’ll be a few minutes.