Luke Gregerson was credited with the win in tonight's 10-inning nailbiter and Will Venable was at the bottom of the dogpile, but this game's MVP was undoubtedly Eric Stults. In his 8 innings, he struck out 12 batters, blowing away his career best of 9. He did that while allowing just one run on three hits. It's unquestionably his greatest start ever, and one of the best starts by a Padre in recent memory. In a different game, Bud Black might have put him out to finish things up in the 9th, but the offense struggled badly tonight.
After Chase Headley's 1st inning solo shot, the Padres came up empty for the next 7 innings. They entered the 8th with just 4 hits. Things looked like they were turning around when a couple singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out, but Everth Cabrera struck out on 3 straight pitches and Headley flied out. And then Huston Street came in to give up a leadoff homerun to Jason Bay.
Thankfully, Tom Wilhelmsen didn't feel like picking up a save tonight. In the bottom of the 9th, he walked Yasmani Grandal on 4 straight pitches and then gave up a single to Jedd Gyorko. Both runners moved up on a passed ball and Yonder Alonso was walked to load the bases with nobody out. Kyle Blanks tied the game with a sacrifice fly, scoring Grandal and moving Gyorko to third. Again, the offense faltered, with Alexi Amarista hitting a pop fly and Carlos Quentin grounding out. Extra innings.
Bonus baseball started with a 1-2-3 inning from Luke Gregerson. Chris Denorfia and Cabrera then started the bottom of the 10th with back to back singles. Headley was intentionally walked, and then Venable hit the game-winning single before being doused with Gatorade by Alonso. The Padres will keep the Vedder Cup for another year.*
Andrew Cashner starts in tomorrow's finale against King Felix Hernandez at 12:40 PM tomorrow. Come to the park and cheer for the downfall of monarchy while dancing to Gaslamp Baller Bobby Cressey's organ music.
* Though the Padres need to win tomorrow to win the season series against the Mariners, as current Vedder Cup Champions, they retain the Cup in the event of a split.