first pitch: 7:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chan Ho Park (6-4, 4.29 ERA) vs John Smoltz (6-5, 3.60 ERA)
preview: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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Tough loss Friday night. I kept bouncing back between the game and the season premieres of Stargate: SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis. I really thought once Scott Linebrink got out of that jam in the eighth, the Padres were going to win. But the normally reliable Trevor Hoffman, who is supposed to blow only exhibition games in Pittsburgh, couldn’t nail down the victory.

On the bright side, Adrian Gonzalez enjoyed the first multi-homer game of his career, Josh Barfield collected three hits for the third game in a row (he’s now hitting .553/.585/.763 in 38 AB this month), the three-headed catching monster had four hits and five RBI, and Doug Brocail made his first appearance of the year after having missed the entire first half due to heart problems.

Thankfully the Dodgers also lost, so the Padres remain in first by 2 1/2 games. Tonight Chan Ho Park will try to absorb as many innings as possible to save a bullpen (including a cameo by starter Clay Hensley) that threw 182 pitches on Friday. He’ll be going up against future HOFer John Smoltz, so it won’t be easy. But a win at home sure would be nice.

Go Padres!