first pitch: 5:35 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Clay Hensley (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs Josh Fogg (2-0, 4.76 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN.com
The Padres look to clinch a winning road trip with a victory this evening in Denver. If they do, it will be behind young right-hander Clay Hensley, who makes his first start of the season. After serving as one of the key setup men down the stretch in 2005, Hensley has gotten off to a rough start in the same role this year.
But with Dewon Brazelton reverting to form after a strong spring, Hensley gets the call. The good news is, he’s enjoyed great success as a starter in the minor leagues, posting a 3.60 ERA over 472.2 innings while averaging better than 7 K/9 every step of the way.
It would be nice if Hensley could make his first start of the season somewhere other than Coors Field. On the other hand, there is something to be said for throwing a guy into the fire and seeing how he responds. I don’t know why, but I have a good feeling about this one.
Lineups slightly different even though Boch said Barfield would only hit #2 v. Lefties but he’s #2 tonight
Padre lineup:
Roberts 7
Barfield 4
Giles 9
Piazza 2
Gonzalez 3
Greene 6
Castilla 5
Johnson 8
Hensley 1
This is also good for Roberts cause he’ll move from CF to LF to prep for Cameron’s return.
Padres only see 11 pitches in the top o’ 1st …
Facing Todd Helton @ Coors Field must be a VERY intimidating experience … Hensley walked him … but came right back 0-2 on Atkins before he flied out for the 3rd out in 1st …
Pitching details thru 1 …
Pitches-strikes – C Hensley 14-8; J Fogg 11-7.
Ground balls-fly balls – C Hensley 0-2; J Fogg 1-2.
Batters faced – C Hensley 4; J Fogg 3.
2nd inning, Padres see 11 more pitches … not a good trend …
Hensley issues walk #2 … but then gets GIDP …
Pitching details thru 2 …
Pitches-strikes – C Hensley 22-12; J Fogg 22-13.
Ground balls-fly balls – C Hensley 3-2; J Fogg 2-3.
Batters faced – C Hensley 7; J Fogg 6.
.. what happened to Coors Field???
Hmmm, only 11 more in top of 3rd
For any other Yankee haters out there … Big Unit got rammycackled tonight … http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=260418114
Hensley with walk #3 in inning #3 … but so far, no damage …
Thru 3 …
Pitches-strikes – C Hensley 34-18; J Fogg 33-20.
Ground balls-fly balls – C Hensley 5-2; J Fogg 3-5.
Batters faced – C Hensley 11; J Fogg 9.
Thats a Tripple not an Error
Sledge to Portland, Adkins up to Padres
Im glad they sent sledge and not johnson
How did helton get to third? Gameday is not answering my question.
Looks like a good pitch sequence from Hensley on Atkins.
I’m surprised they sent Sledge down, but I guess I’d rather have Johnson.
Sledge got off to that horrific start a couple of seasons ago, and ended up doing pretty well.
LM
Include me in as a Yankee hater. Nice to see Johnson get walloped today. I’ll have some good material for Yankee fans at work tomorrow.
Helton got to third nia a wild pitch
That’s what I figured Steve, thanks
Piazza really is awful at throwing out runners. Slow release, bad form and he spikes the throw on top of it. Hopefully he’ll get on track at the plate and make up for it.
has belhorn not struck out with runners in scoring position this year?
Why did Bochy PH for Hendsey? 62 pitches — the kid’s been a starter his whole life. At least let him go five . . .
because johson was on 3rd would have looked like a good move if belhorn would have made contact
Heh, not to bash Bochy but Bellhorn is not the ideal guy if you just need someone to make contact.
Lordy, that looked like a strike 3 on Piazza.
The TV announcers are crying foul on the interference call on Giles.
Grow up, guys. It was a good call.
I’d rather that he got away with it, and many times, he would – but it was interference.
OK. If they called Khalil out for interference by Giles, it becomes a dead ball. But the runners were already at second & third. I hate the interpretation, but I can’t say it is 100% wrong without going back to the rulebook.
I hate the call anyway. I understand that it is a judgement call, but I despise when an umpire punishes a player for playing hard-nosed old school baseball. We should be rewarding that if we really want our game to remain high in popularity. How many of us did not move forward in our seats when we saw that slide by Brian?
There’s hard-nosed baseball and then there’s an all-out slide tackle or clip. Sure, Ardoin’s a scrub, but that’s the kind of play that ruins careers. Giles could have sold the play a bit more.
Khalil’s one of my favorite players, but his at-bats are really pretty to give me an ulcer.
whoa, nice typo clyde.
Oh, it was an all-time take out move. But if done to me, I would have just taken it as part of the game. He was within range of the plate, and I can’t see that being called at second. But then I am also in favor of plunking a guy if necessary and when I got hit in my first at bat after a home run I just tossed my bat and went to first…so I may be biased.
“Obviously, we’d like to start getting some pinch hits,” Bochy said.
How about not putting Bellhorn to PH everytime, Boch? And not starting EY so he can PH.