first pitch: 5:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: David Wells (2-5, 4.80) vs Jeff Suppan (12-7, 4.07 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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The Padres head to St. Louis in a matchup of the two NL division leaders that are still looking to clinch a playoff spot. The Padres’ magic number is 6, while the Cardinals’ is 5. The Friars also are up 2 1/2 games on St. Louis in the battle for home-field advantage in the first round.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
David Wells remains in search of his first win since returning to the Padres. Right now he is easily the weakest link in the rotation, and it’d be nice to see him get into a groove. The good news is, he hasn’t looked terrible in his four starts for San Diego. The bad news is, “hasn’t looked terrible” doesn’t really cut it when you’re gunning for the playoffs.
Current Cardinals are batting .293/.321/.537 against Wells in 147 at-bats. Scott Rolen (.444/.444/1.222 in 9 AB), Jim Edmonds (.314/.351/.629 in 35 AB), and Juan Encarnacion (.292/.320/.583 in 24 AB) have been the chief culprits.
Meantime, Jeff Suppan continues to excel at getting the maximum out of the minimum. He allows a ton of hits, he doesn’t have impeccable control, and he doesn’t strike people out. All he does is win games and post respectable ERAs. And unfortunately for the Padres, he’s got a couple other things working for him: Suppan has a 2.97 ERA over 97 innings at home this year, and a remarkable 2.04 ERA over 83 2/3 innings since the All-Star break. Difficult to explain, but there it is.
Current Padres are batting .326/.379/.624 against Suppan in 178 at-bats. Mike Piazza (.533/.533/1.533) has five homers in 15 at-bats. Dave Roberts (.667/.700/1.111 in 9 AB), Geoff Blum (.571/.571/.714 in 14 AB), and Brian Giles (.273/.370/.545 in 24 AB) also have enjoyed success against the finesse right-hander.
Big series at Busch begins tonight. Go Padres!
Nice piece o’ hitting, Rob Bowen! Let’s get some margin here…DR needs to hit a double so Giles can’t come up with the oh-so-tempting DP sitting there. (“Must…ground out…to second….”)
Padres could help the Cardinals collapse in this series.
151: It’s funny because it’s true.
uh oh – prove me wrong Brian
Uh oh. Dave Roberts on first base with Brian Giles coming up. Less than two outs. Here we go.
Wikipedia:
Many still believe that gout is caused by a combination of dietary factors and “laziness”. In particular, many believe that gout develops following several years of excessive alcohol consumption combined with an ongoing lack of physical activity and a diet completely lacking in purine-neutralising foods, such as berries, as well as other specific fruit and vegetables.
thank you doc, now the obligatory gb to 2nd doesn’t kill 2 birds
Roberts: 45 steals
Manny Alexander with the chance to hit into the DP… Mr. Hoffman warming up in the bullpen..
here’s where some bench depth would be good, can’t stomach having Manny hitting third in the lineup….ahhh…there’s my man. Muscles Branyan, let’s get it on!
That’s the most by a Padres player since Bip Roberts had 46 in 1990.
Would be a great time to see that “freakish power” from Branyan..
trying to work RB on the o/s corner…a good idea, unless you miss over the middle
as far as freakish power goes, did look like he hit that a mile in the air
dammit. how does doc get gunned out at home? really thought Liney helped himself out there
So who plays 3B in bottom of 9th?
Scott Linebrink, professional hitter…
dammit.
Branyan at 3rd in the 9th..
That makes no sense…Pinch hit for Manny Alexander and then not pinch hit Linebrink.
I understand that we want to keep Scotty in the game to close and I fully agree, but why depress your defense if you are not going to go all the way through with it?
It just seems if you are going to play for 1 run, you really should play for 1 run. Hopefully this works out, but I just wonder sometimes…
not a good start
Yikes. And now Pujols is going to come up.
I was hoping we’d get to see Pujols.
A double play ball would be quite nice right here.
c’mon, nice easy ground ball here…
ok – I’m going on record right now – this CANNOT happen again to us, no way no how
(meaning some ridiculous walkoff HR)
Can we bring Meredith back in to pitch to Pujols?
I agree with Matty…He went.
3-0, just give him 1B, you’ve lost this AB
I don’t like this…not at all…Rolen may be struggling, but he deserves his rep…
No, you can’t walk him like that. Now the run scores on a single. Although I’d have to say those first two pitches looked like strikes to me.
prove me wrong, please!
WoooHooo
Phew!
HUGE! That is a full 2 game lead folks…
YES!!!
And regarding my post #169…just b/c it works does not mean it was the right thing to do.
No sweat. Easy inning.
Whew, just got done taping a radio segment in time to see Scotty close it out. That was a little nervewracking.
Prince Albert’s attitude when he plays the Pads reminds me of the organ that a Prince Albert also refers to…remember the sucker punch on Bennett?
2 games with 6 to play! That’s 2 games over both Philly and LA. Good work yet again by the bullpen. And that go ahead run featured two of the luckiest hits I’ve seen, but I’ll take it.
All I can say is I’m glad that you guys weren’t managing today! Based on the comments on the board, if Bochy heeds your advice, Pads lose 7-4.
BTW, great win! Thanks, Boch!
Walking Pujols was the right thing to do. Every day of the week. They never “lost” that at-bat, because their intention was to walk him to the entire time. It was an unintentional intentional walk.
Magic number: 5
Whew…nailbiter, especially on the dialup!
The past week in Padres baseball:
A San Diego pitcher two outs away from a no-hitter.
An all-time major league record broken.
A single from Scott Linebrink.
Which of the above is the most amazing?
What, no love for Piazza’s triple?
192 … well said!
So that makes the Magic Number 5, right?
re:194 yep, I always think I’ve done it wrong…so I’m glad you’re confirming it…