first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Clay Hensley (2-3, 4.37 ERA) vs Jeff Suppan (5-3, 4.50 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
Albert Pujols is coming to town just as I’m leaving. I’ll be here if anyone needs me:
first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Clay Hensley (2-3, 4.37 ERA) vs Jeff Suppan (5-3, 4.50 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
Albert Pujols is coming to town just as I’m leaving. I’ll be here if anyone needs me:
gee thought u might be staying at 5 *s in the Island, but an open field is cool…I guess.
five star hotel is what I meant, damned thick fingers. Enjoy GY, assume Ms. GY is going. Expect both of you to return healthy, tan, happy.
Have a training buddy going over to Hawaai for the Honu HIM. http://www.honuhalfironman.com/, but I expect your all to have more fun.
BTW, if the pads start winning this week, you and the Ms will have to take more trips to the island.
Rough top of 1st for Hensley …
- D. Eckstein flied out to left
- S. Spiezio doubled to deep right center
- A. Pujols intentionally walked
- S. Rolen flied out to deep center, S. Spiezio to third, A. Pujols to second
- J. Edmonds grounded out to first
Pitches-strikes – C Hensley 24-13.
Ground balls-fly balls – C Hensley 1-2.
Batters faced – C Hensley 5.
Roberts … *DONG*!
Bottom of Cardinals order is much less testy …
- J. Encarnacion lined out to second
- G. Bennett struck out swinging
- A. Miles grounded out to pitcher
… and, if careful, Clay will get a free-out to lead off top of 3rd
Pitches-strikes – J Suppan 14-8; C Hensley 35-21.
Ground balls-fly balls – J Suppan 1-2; C Hensley 2-3.
Batters faced – J Suppan 4; C Hensley 8.
Blum, Hensley, Camy … all swingin’ clutch lumber!
- K. Greene doubled to deep left
- A. Gonzalez grounded out to first, K. Greene to third
- G. Blum singled to center, K. Greene scored
- J. Barfield grounded into fielder’s choice, G. Blum out at second
- C. Hensley doubled to deep center, J. Barfield scored
- D. Roberts singled to center, C. Hensley to third, D. Roberts to second advancing on throw
- M. Cameron singled to center, D. Roberts and C. Hensley scored
- M. Cameron stole second
- B. Giles grounded out to shortstop
… it’ll be interesting to see how Clay does after hustlin’ on the bases!
(and I like Cameron doing the SB thang!)
I’m outta here … somebody turn out the lights for GY … aloha!
Nice, nice game. A few minor critiques:
I guess it builds character, but I did not like leaving Clay in to get up to ~110 pitches with the heart of the order. It was a bit scary, but it worked.
I would have PH Bard for Piazza following Giles bloop double. You get the L vs. RHP, Piazza has been raking, but that was against Suppan, and you get the LIDR for Piazza as well. We ended up not needing the run, but these little things can add up.
Sloppy missed DP on Spezio, would have saved ~8 pitches on Clay’s arm.
The good:
Solid at-bats; yes 3 bombs supplied some runs, but deep into the count.
Cameron’s D is fun to watch. Anything near him in the air is a potential out.
Blum played some nice D at 3rd. I would not mind a platoon with Vinny.
Great start from Hensley.
DR could not denied. I think he reached every PA.
Nice win against a very good team. Maybe the day off helped. It was the first true day off in a long, long time. They had a travel day between PHX and SEA, but that is not really rest.
clay, if you’re not encouraged you can be a good starter with this outing, I don’t know what to tell you.. Hensley can be a good starter for this Padre club for years to come and the Padres came out and dominated this game.
Couple other minor things, to go with my other minor things.
I thought Adkins got squeezed in the 9th. He threw 5 balls, 4 of them were very borderline. Nice to pick up 3ks after walking the lead-off guy. I have been liking him more and more.
It was nice to see Bennett up there not in a Padre uniform; him and his .525 OPS. If only he could play 3B he could start for our club. Gritty veteran like that would get loads of PT.
Jay – “gritty veteran” … nice crack