Game Preview: Game 123 vs. San Francisco Giants

After dropping a close one last night, our Padres need to salvage today's game to avoid the sweep. Clayton Richard will try to end the team's five-game losing streak as well as his own three-game losing streak against the Giants. Richard has found himself on the losing end of all three of his starts against San Francisco this season, posting a 7.64 ERA against them. However, he has been dominant at Petco Park lately, going 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in his last three home starts.

Our makeshift pitching staff worked for a little while, but ever since the Atlanta series it seems like they have come back down to Earth. Starting pitching has given up at least six runs in each of the last five games, and our relief pitchers are taxed from all the extra work they've had to do, coming in early to games so often lately. So a solid start from Richard would be a very welcome sight for both our offense and our bullpen. Thankfully our offense finally broke out of their funk last night when it scored seven runs to end up just short of the win. In the four games prior to that, they had only scored two runs total. Hopefully they can build on that and keep the offense coming today so we can at least end the series on a high note.

San Francisco has a lot riding on this game. They need to win to ensure that they will remain ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West standings before they head to L.A. for a three-game series. Their offense has gone off on Padres pitching so far this series, combining for 18 runs on 29 hits to take the first two games and clinch the series win. They've shown that the loss of Melky Cabrera won't end their season. They'll try to take advantage of the poor pitching situation in San Diego and end the series as strongly as they started it.

The Giants will send Ryan Vogelsong to the mound. He is coming off a loss against the Nationals, who roughed him up for eight runs on nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings. But before that outing, he had gone 10-6 on the season and led the league in ERA. Vogelsong is 1-2 with a 7.31 ERA against our Padres all-time and has been awful at Petco Park. In two prior outings in San Diego (one start and one relief appearance), he has given up nine runs in 2 1/3 innings. However, his last time on the mound at Petco Park was back in 2005. He's a much better pitcher this year and he has redemption on his mind, so he'll be looking to bounce back from his last start and lead the Giants to a sweep.