first pitch: 1:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Brian Lawrence (3-6, 4.78 ERA) vs Freddy Garcia (6-3, 3.51 ERA)
Great comeback win Saturday night against the White Sox. Rookie Tim Stauffer allowed a first inning run but otherwise matched Mark Buehrle pitch for pitch. But with one out in the bottom of the ninth, and with Jeff Brantley’s favorite closer on the hill, Ramon Hernandez launched a solo homer into the left field seats to tie the game, 1-1. Four batters later, Damian Jackson punched a grounder past the drawn-in infield to plate Sean Burroughs with the winning run.
Stauffer threw strikes early and often, showing excellent command of the breaking ball and working smart sequences. He was efficient, throwing just 92 pitches (65 for strikes) in seven innings.
The Padres look to take the series in a Sunday afternoon affair that marks the end of their longest homestand of the year. The breakdown:
AB BA OBP SLG
Lawrence vs current White Sox 62 .306 .368 .468
Garcia vs current Padres 84 .286 .362 .357
Juan Uribe (.375/.400/.667 in 24 AB) has faced Lawrence the most, and done the most damage. For the Padres, Robert Fick (.455/.500/.455 in 11 AB) and Ramon Hernandez (.368/.368/.474 in 19 AB) have had the most success against Garcia. Phil Nevin (.071/.188/.071 in 14 AB) hasn’t done much. Given Nevin’s recent general lack of production, today might be a good time to give Fick the start at first base.
This is no good.
There goes the ERA.
Hawk just said it was a “Ducksnort.” Was that a plug?
Yeah, it shot up to 2.35.
Why didn’t they send Konerko?
This is REALLY not good.
Can we get Hammond?
Well, that was ugly. It’s on Aki, now.
Tall order now for Aki.
We get Otsuka.
Burroughs, Greene Otsuka in the bottom of the 8th if we ever get out of the top of the 8th.
1-2 count. None of Aki’s inherited runners have scored this year.
Yossha!
Aki worked Crede over. He needs to keep it up.
Fooled the hell out of him.
I see no reason to walk Timo. Hate putting more runners on in this situation.
It creates a force at any bag and sets up the DP. That being said, I think Aki could strike the guy out.
2-0 count. Bases loaded. Uribe has some pop…
I know, but it sets up the game-tying walk.
3-1, now. This doesn’t bode well.
Full count. Gotta put him away here.
Where did that miss?
Aki’s lost it.
That was strike three as much as Mark Langston had strike three on Tino.
Tino was out.
That sucks.
Podsednik is going to be a tough third out.
It would seem Bruce was right about walking Perez. I don’t necessarily like the call, but I’m not sure if it was wrong.
Burroughs, Greene, Otsuka coming up…
Not a bad job to get out of that jam, giving up only the one run. Linebrink left him holding a bag of you know what.
If Ojeda pinch-hits instead of Nady…
I’m really impressed with Aki. It would have been easy to fall apart after getting Langston’d.
Can I get some Chris Hammond, please?
Walking Perez was the right call by the book. It sets up the inning ending double play in an ideal world. But it still sets up the potential of walking in a run. Perez would have been a matchup loser against Aki. I would have taken my chances with Timo in that situation.
That sounds about right.
Martin Lawrence gets Burroughs swinging…
First pitch pop-up by Greene. What’s with that?
Whazzup! It’s Nady!
Hey its Nady.
Anyone think that if there were runners on, Bochy might have gone with Ojeda?
Do you throw Hammond or Hoffman in the ninth?
Way to take one for the team X!
Way to take one for the team, X.
Ups that on-base percentage.
DJ should drop a bunt down.
Hey, Bruce. Quit it.
I take Hammond. Bunch of lefties coming up.
And DJ flies out harmlessly to right.
I think Bruce and Rich have been cheating off each other’s paper.
Richard, that is strange.