Game Thread: 07/08 Padres vs. Reds

Our Padres will wrap up the series against the Reds today in an attempt at a four-game split. Bud Black will make it interesting by sending Jason Marquis to the mound on three days' rest to try to get us a victory going into the All Star Break. Marquis tossed 6 1/3 innings on July 4th, giving up four runs on eight hits. This will be the seventh time in his career making a start on only three day's rest, and in those games he is 1-2. With Marquis, we can expect a lot of strikeouts (he's struck out 39 batters in 38 2/3 innings since joining the Padres rotation) and hopefully he'll have enough stuff to shut down the Reds offense.

And, hopefully our Padres can put together enough offense to back up Marquis. But Reds pitching has been fantastic as of late, with each pitcher throwing a quality start in their past ten games. Today's starter, Johnny Cueto, has thrown seven quality starts in a row and will be going for his 11th win of the season. He is coming off back-to-back losses, but he didn't pitch horribly in either of those starts. Cincinnati's offense hasn't been all that supportive of its pitchers, going .500 on their current road trip despite some wonderful pitching by the rotation.

We need to end the first "half" of the season on a high note, and a win today will do that. Also, Johnny Cueto is a bitch so we need to beat him.

GO FRIARS!! KEEP THE FAITH!!