first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chris Young (2-0, 2.95 ERA) vs Pedro Martinez (3-0, 3.66 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
As much as any team can need a win in April, the Padres needed that one Friday night against the Mets. Rich Campbell at San Diego Spotlight breaks it down nicely, noting the solid play of youngsters Josh Barfield and Adrian Gonzalez on the right side of the infield.
Also, there was no small amount of redemption for the bullpen and Geoff Blum, who had been the goats in Thursday night’s heartbreaking loss. To get six shutout innings from Trevor Hoffman, Scott Cassidy, and the eventual winner Brian Sweeney was huge. Same with Blum scoring the game-winning run moments after finally collecting his first hit of the season.
Speaking of redemption, how about Woody Williams? After not making the rotation out of spring training, Williams has jumped back in and looked better with each start. He kept Mets hitters off balance for eight innings Friday night, and if the Padres hadn’t been so intent on stranding runners (16 in all), he would’ve gotten the victory. Regardless, not a bad start for a 39-year-old pitcher coming off a disappointing season.
But wait, the news gets better. For the first time in 2006, the Padres expect to have their starting center fielder in the lineup. Mike Cameron played six innings at Lake Elsinore Thursday night, and a full nine on Friday. Ben Johnson has done a solid job in his place the past few days while Dave Roberts reacclimated himself to left field (and he looks very comfortable in left), but the whole complexion of the outfield defense will change with Cameron out there. I’m pretty psyched about his return.
The other good news is that the Mets bullpen has been very busy the first two games of this series, working three innings in the opener and eight innings Friday night. The downside, of course, is that tonight’s starter, Pedro Martinez, frequently doesn’t need a bullpen. We’ve seen some outstanding starting pitching so far in this series; expect more of the same on Saturday.
On a personal note, I didn’t get out to Elsinore last night like I’d hoped. I’ll be up there tonight to get my first look at Chase Headley and Mike Ekstrom, among others. In other words, you’re on your own this evening. Talk it up, and go Pads!
re: Pizza Feed in 2006 … just exchanged email with Paul Swydan @ BP … here’s what he said …
Look for an an announcement sometime in the next couple of weeks.
… which is GREAT news … ie. sounds like we’ll have another Pizza Feed @ Petco this year! Stay tuned!
Also, AskBA’s column this week lists Jim Callis’ Top 20 for this years draft … and #19 is a fellow youse guyse can go take a look at some Friday evening …
19. Justin Masterson, rhp, San Diego State
The breakout player in the Cape Cod League summer starts for the Aztecs but projects as a reliever
… over at Tony Gwynn Stadium! Next opportunity is next Friday, April 28th vs TCO … http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/sched/sdsu-m-basebl-sched.html … go give ‘em a Ducksnort cheer! (we have one, don’t we? )
SandyA chat’d yesterday at mlb.com … http://tinyurl.com/mzzmz … didn’t really say much … but I like the concept …
Linked a story about Pedro Martinez from America’s Finest News Source.
Ramon Castro and Chris Woodward will be at C, 2B respectively. No tear on Beltran but he’s out tonight, Endy Chavez will play CF.
In order to keep an extra arm for today, Cameron will be activated tomorrow. Not a bad idea. Plus Cameron is 5/25 lifetime v. Pedro.
Lifetime avgs. v. Pedro
Met lineup:
Reyes-Woodward-Delgado-Wright-Floyd-Nady-Castro-Chavez-Pedro
Padres:
Roberts LF 4/7 2B, 2 3B
Barfield 2B first time
Giles RF 4/16 2HR 3RBI
Piazza C 7/20 3HR 5RBI
A. Gonz 1B first time
K Greene SS 1/4 HR 2Ks
Blum 3B 1/3 3B 2Ks
Johnson CF first time
C. Young P first time
notables
V. Castilla 3/28 (.107) 1 BB, 14 K
Cameron (to be activated tomorrow) 5/25 2HR 5RBI
EY 3/11 2B, 3B, HR, 2RBI, 3 BB 2Ks
Dave Magadan 2/15 2BB, 5K
Tony Gwynn 11/35 4RBI
Cameron is being left on the DL for another day. Because the extra innings burned more pitchers, Pads elected to keep another pitcher through tonight’s game. I guess that answers the question about who goes down when Cameron is activated — a reliever.
Right now it looks like Chris Young is struggling a bit, he’s getting ahead but he’s not doing what he did on the road, finishing hitters.
Just listening to the radio cast, it doesnt seem as if he is struggling. He forced a popup out of Reyes, gave up a seeing eye single to Woodward, pitched carefully to Delgado with first base open and walked him, struck out Wright and got Floyd on a routine fly out.
Woodward singled on 1-2. Delgado was down 1-2, and Young let him off the hook (though you’re right Hank-Woodward’s steal probably allowed Young to pitch around him there).. Young set up Wright inside well.
right down broadway. dang!
WTF!!!
wow, I leave for 5 minutes. it’s 2-0 .. what the heck Chris Young?
well CBS sportsline says it’s 4-0. .apparently they think Met homers count for 2 runs each.
There maybe that will pick this offense up.
Young didn’t have it tonight and he got punished by the bottom met hitters, which a lot of other teams will realize that you just can’t do.,
Whoa! you go Dewon!!
nice relief job..
Dewon needs a sports psychologist, it would seem.
let Brazelton throw and maybe send him down?
even with nothing on the line this team screws up a bases loaded situation with nobody out.There’s no real explanations for all this .. I mean , come on..
I give credit the mets are a good team but still this Padre offense has been: offensive
offensive (adj).. causing anger or annoyance, unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses, nauseating: causing or able to cause nausea