Padres Offense Sputters in Complete Game Shutout to End Win Streak

Coming into this series, if you were asked which Reds pitcher was most likely to toss a complete-game shutout against our Padres, you probably would have guessed Mat Latos, who came into his start on Thursday night fresh off two in a row. Your last guess would have probably been Bronson Arroyo, who, despite five attempts, hadn't won a game against our Padres since 2008. But while Latos did put up seven scoreless innings against us on Thursday, it was Arroyo who put an end to our season-high six-game win streak last night, allowing only three hits and a walk while striking out eight on his way to a complete-game shutout.

Our Padres could not figure him out. Yasmani Grandal, Will Venable, and Chase Headley hit the only three Padres hits, all singles, of the game. Combined with a walk to Yonder Alonso, that was all the offensive production our boys could muster last night. The Reds, on the other hand, were able to get their offense going. Their 12 hits of the night included home runs from Zack Cozart, Ryan Hanigan, and Todd Frazier, although they really didn't need that much to win against our unproductive bats.

Kip Wells kept us in the game for most of his start. He gave up one run in the 1st inning before tossing five scoreless. But a walk to Frazier and Hanigan's home run in the 7th put an end to his night. Our bullpen gave up three more runs and it was just way too much for our offense to make up for, despite a recent trend of late inning offensive bursts and pinch-hit home runs in three straight games before last night.

Hopefully this break in the momentum won't be too much for our Padres to overcome. With two games left in the series, we still have time to get another win streak going before the All Star Break and send Huston Street to Kansas City to represent a Padres team that is on the upswing.