Padres' Pitching Chaos Costs Fernando Tatis Jr. in Series Opener Loss to Giants
The San Diego Padres dropped their series opener to the San Francisco Giants in a 4-1 loss, with Fernando Tatis Jr. notably absent from the lineup.
The Padres' "Pitching Chaos" approach backfired after JP Sears allowed three runs over 3.2 innings. The San Diego offense struggled to keep up, scoring just one run in the loss. Daniel Susac was the Giants' top performer, knocking in three of the four runs for the Giants.
Manager Craig Stammen was seen taking JP Sears out of the game during the fourth inning at Petco Park. Sears lasted 3.2 innings, while Wandy Peralta pitched 0.2 innings in relief. Randy Vasquez pitched the final 4.2 innings of the game on Thursday, saving multiple bullpen arms.
The Padres' lineup was not much help, with Manny Machado going 0-for-4, Ty France going 0-for-3, and Fernando Tatis Jr. not even making an appearance. The team will need to regroup and improve if they want to even the series.
The Padres' pitching woes are not new, and the team has been experimenting with different approaches. Bradgley Rodriguez got the start for San Diego, assuming a more traditional opener role. The right-handed rookie has a 2.33 ERA this season, but has had some ups and downs in recent outings.
The Giants are sending left-hander Carson Whisenhunt to the mound for just the fourth time this season. He has a 2-1 record with a 4.60 ERA, and has recorded 13 strikeouts over 15.2 innings. The Padres' right-handers in the lineup should be able to take advantage of a young pitcher, but Whisenhunt has shown promise in his limited appearances.
Randy Vasquez's performance in relief was a bright spot for the Padres, allowing only three hits over 4.2 innings and no runs. The majority of the Padres' bullpen should be available for the next game, minus Rodriguez who is making the start.
The series is now tied at one game apiece, with the Padres looking to bounce back and even the series tonight. The team will need to regroup and improve if they want to take the lead in the series.
Source: Yahoo Sports