Padres 4, Reds 2: Venable Has A Pretty Good Night

Mat Latos and Edinson Volquez faced off against their former teams tonight. The former has proven himself many times, while the latter has swung wildly between competent and, well, not. Of course, none of that mattered tonight. Both starters left the game with incredibly similar lines and no decision. This game was decided by the bullpens, and the Padres' relievers excelled. They also had plenty of help from the offense. Will Venable went 3 for 3 tonight, hitting two doubles while picking up an RBI and a run. Yonder Alonso went 2 for 4 against his old team. But the biggest hit of the night was Nick Hundley's two out, game-winning double in the bottom of the eighth.

Volquez and Latos cruised through the first inning before trading runs in the second. The Reds scored on a trio of singles from Jay Bruce, Zack Cozart, and Devin Mesoraco. The Padres did it with a bit more panache. Alonso hit a leadoff single, and Venable followed suit with his first double of the night. Logan Forsythe brought Alonso home on a fileder's choice.

The Reds were hitless for the next three innings, and the Padres didn't fare much better. Runs were traded yet again in the sixth. After two straight walks, Bruce hit another single. Our boys didn't need any free bases to tie things back up. Alonso picked up a leadoff single and came home on Venable's second double. Latos left at the end of the inning, and Volquez only saw two more batters. It looked like things might go into extras, but Venable and Jedd Gyorko picked up back to back singles in the bottom of the eighth. That's when Hundley came up. He'd walked twice already, but his sights were set a bit higher here. He laced the ball down the left field line, knocking in both runners with his game winning double.

That was all she wrote. Huston Street wrapped things up without much trouble, and the Padres have won their fourth game in a row and their third series in a row. Eric Stults will go for the sweep against Homer Bailey tomorrow at 12:40 PM.