Everybody who writes about the Padres really wanted today to be all about Burch Smith. A young guy who throws with power skipping AAA to make his major league debut is great stuff. And it was, for the first inning. Two strikeouts and an easy ground ball had Smith looking good. And then he gave up 6 runs in the second inning. Things turned around in the seventh on a pinch hit grand slam by Jesus Guzman, but the Padres couldn't hold on. Huston Street gave up a 2 out 2 run homer, and that was that. If you're looking for a silver lining to ease the heartache, this is the team's first series loss since April 23.
1st Inning
Smith wasn't the only Padre with a great first inning. Will Venable singled, and then Chase Headley came up and took Jeremy Hellickson deep.
2-0 Padres
2nd Inning
And then the wheels came off. After a leadoff walk to Evan Longoria, James Loney hit the ball so hard it reached orbit. Yes, that sentence is as excruciatingly painful to write as you imagine. The Rays batted around and scored 4 more runs, 3 off of Smith and 1 off Tyson Ross. That was the last run Ross would allow in his 4 innings pitched.
6-2 Rays
7th Inning
A walk to Carlos Quentin and singles by Mark Kotsay and Alexi Amarista put a Padre on every pillow with two outs. Guzman came in to pinch hit for John Baker and made it count. He hit a gorgeous grand slam down the left field line. Then Everth Cabrera reached on an error, Venable got beaned, and Headley walked. That brought Quentin back to the plate. Without swinging, he picked up an RBI on a 5 pitch walk, putting the Padres back on top.
7-6 Padres
9th Inning
But it wouldn't last. With two outs, Street gave Ben Zobrist a free pass. Longoria made him pay for it with a 2 run walkoff homer.
Final: 8-7 Rays
The Padres look to avoid the sweep tomorrow behind Eric Stults. Roberto Hernandez toes the rubber for the Rays. First pitch at 10:40 AM.