ICYMI: Padres battle, drop series opener
When looking at the pitching matchup for Friday night's game it would have been easy to assume that the fans at Petco Park were in store for a pitching duel. And for the most part, it was a pitching duel between Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and Padres righty Odrisamer Despaigne. While both pitchers threw valiantly on Friday night, neither one factored into the final decision of the game despite each hurler earning a quality start. Despaigne earned a no-decision after surrendering two runs (only one earned) on six hits while also striking out five, and unfortunately saw his good work go for naught after a see-saw battle ended in a 4-3 Padres loss at home.
The Padres trailed for most of the game, looking at a 2-0 deficit early on in the fourth inning. The tides would change, however, after the Friars rallied in the seventh to put together three runs to grab ahold of a short-lived lead. In the top half of the seventh, Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was ejected after arguing balls-and-strikes with the homeplate umpire just after grounding into an inning-ending double play. In the home-half, shortstop Clint Barmes launched a solo home run off of Kershaw to effectively put an end to the southpaw's night while catcher Derek Norris followed up with a two-run shot of his own to score Wil Myers and give the Padres a 3-2 lead. The Dodgers immediately responded in the top half of the eighth by scoring two runs off of reliever Dale Thayer, however, and those would stand as the final runs scored on the evening.
The Friars will take another swing against the Dodgers in game two-of-three, which will come in a later-than-usual Saturday evening start at 7:10 pm. Righty Ian Kennedy will face the Dodgers Zack Greinke and will hope to even up the series while also evening up the Padres' season record.
In case you missed it, here are some stories and highlights that you may not have seen on Friday:
Padres post-game recap: Norris homers, but Padres can't hold lead
Middlebrooks makes a web-gem play in the top of the 2nd inning:
Video: LAD@SD: Middlebrooks dives to snag a liner at third
Despaigne recovers from a comeback liner to make a slick play in the 5th inning:
Video: LAD@SD: Despaigne recovers to nab Pederson at first
Barmes launches a solo home run 375 feet into left to put the Padres on the board:
Video: LAD@SD: Barmes drives a solo shot to left-center
Norris blasts a two-run home run into left to put the Friars on top in the 7th:
Video: LAD@SD: Norris puts the Padres ahead with a home run
Wil back to normal but not out of the woods yet: Myers anticipates wrist surgery in offseason
Luebke slated for rehab at Lake Elsinore on Saturday: Luebke will work out of bullpen upon return
Weekly fan forum keeps Friar Faithful in the loop: Padres Fan Chat with Bill Center: June 12th, 2015
Down on the farm: Bolstered El Paso defeats Sacramento
Buddy's Bullets: Infield practice alignment interesting as Black speaks
Game Notes vs. LAD (06.12) Padres Kick off Homestand as Dodgers Roll into Town
Happening Homestand Report: June 12th - June 16th
Looking forward:
Friar Forecast: Kennedy hopes to build on last outing against Greinke and LA
Saturday's probable pitchers: Ian Kennedy (3-5, 6.48 ERA) vs. Zack Greinke (5-1, 1.92 ERA)