Game Thread: 8/28 Padres @ Diamondbacks

Our Padres will try to avoid their fourth straight loss in today's finale against the Diamondbacks. After going 5-2 in the last homestand, including a four-game sweep and a 14-1 beatdown of the Marlins, it's especially tough to watch our offense go back to its struggling ways. We've scored just one run in this series, and it feels like we have suddenly reverted to that anemic offense in the first half of the season.

Last night, one bad pitch by starter Aaron Harang was the team's downfall. The two-(and later three-)run lead was insurmountable as the Padres were only able to score one run (a Will Venable RBI in the 7th) in support of Harang. He was pegged with the loss, his first on the road this season and the Padres' third in a row.

We're gonna need to find a way to wake up our bats today and give southpaw Cory Luebke some run support. He has pitched well lately, allowing no more than two runs in each of his last four starts. In his last start he gave up only one run on three hits in six innings of work, but he ended up with a no-decision. With Cameron Maybin out of the lineup again, we will need our young guys to step up. Andy Parrino will make his first major league start today in right field while Venable takes over for Maybin in center.

Our offense will be facing Ian Kennedy, who will be going for his 17th win of the season. His pitched a gem in his last start, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing just three runs. He is 3-0 with a 2.40 ERA in five career starts against the Padres. He's won eight of his last nine starts, 10 of his last 12 decisions, and has a major-league-leading .800 winning percentage.

I've heard quite a few people talking about how we should just let the Diamondbacks sweep us to help them stay ahead of the Giants in the playoff race. I just can't understand why any fan would be okay with that. We complain about losing all season and now we think they should lose even more, on purpose? I get that we are in last place, 14 games back in the division, and virtually out of the playoff race ourselves, but the last thing I want to do is to help another team in any way. So let's get the win today. Let's just play our game and root for OUR team. AVOID THE SWEEP!! MUST WIN GAME!!!!

GO FRIARS!! KEEP THE FAITH!!