Padres Offense Comes Through Again in 9-5 Win Over Rockies

Last night, for the fourth time in their last eight games, our Padres scored at least seven runs to earn themselves a win. Our offense has been riding hot bats lately and getting the job done at the plate, looking like a completely different team (actually, they almost ARE a completely different team) from the one that began this season by going 7-17 in April.

Our boys put up a 3-spot in the second inning to take an early lead. It started with a leadoff homer by Carlos Quentin. Chris Denorfia then singled and came home on a double by Yasmani Grandal. A couple of defensive misplays (a wild pitch and an E6) by the Astros put Grandal and Yonder Alonso at the corners for Everth Cabrera, who delivered with a single to bring home the third run.

The excitement of the early lead was short-lived, however. In the top of the 3rd, Jason Marquis gave those runs back, and then some, when he gave up a grand slam to Carlos Gonzalez. Two of those runs went unearned because of an error by Logan Forsythe, but the damage was still done and our Padres would have to battle back.

But battle back they did, and they wasted no time to do so. In the bottom of the third, Chase Headley and Quentin hit back-to-back leadoff singles. Chris Denorfia followed up with a bases-clearing triple to get the lead back. The next batter, Grandal, then hit a 2-run homer to score the third and fourth runs of the inning, and our Padres would lead for the rest of the game.

Colorado tried to make it interesting in the 5th, scoring a run with the help of a throwing error by Marquis and cutting their deficit down to two runs. However, Mark Kotsay hit a pinch-hit single to lead off the bottom of the 8th and then his pinch-runner, Cameron Maybin, came home on a sac fly by Logan Forsythe. Finally, Chase Headley added on with a solo homer to give our Padres the 9-5 lead. With a 3-uo, 3-down inning by Huston Street, the victory was ours.

Now 11-5 in July and 21-15 since June 9th (tied for 2nd best in the National League over that span), we find ourselves 3 1/2 games ahead of the Rockies in the division standings, and 13 games back from the first-place Giants. Tonight we'll have the chance to clinch our third series in a row.

Friar Fever blew everyone out of the water last night, almost tripling the next-highest commenter.

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