SD 4, SEA 2: Shields, Middlebrooks, bullpen get the job done

After a harsh beatdown last night that highlighted some holes in the San Diego Padres sails, it was crucial that the team bounce back and salvage the 2-game series with a split. Tonight, it was up to James Shields to be our hero, and a recently-lazy lineup to start popping off. Both roles were on point, and the Padres pushed themselves above .500 and one game closer to the Doyers with their loss to the Marlins.

Coming into the game, the Padres had taken the league lead for the most home runs given up. A hard-earned title. Today, Shields added to that giving up a solo home run to Brad Miller on a 3-1 count. And that was it. For the whole night. One earned run over six innings pitched, allowing only six hits, three walks, and striking out nine of those Seattle suckers. He worked himself out of a tough 6th inning with a strikeout and an induced double play after walking the two lead hitters.

The scoring for the Friars started off in the third, with a Will Middlebrooks solo jack, breaking his awful hitting slump. Alexi Amarista followed up with a double, and a pair of sacrifices from Abraham Almonte and Cory Spangenberg would end up plating the little ninja, putting the Pads up 2-0.

The last home run to come from Middlebrooks was the 19th of April. This one was a no-doubter.

That solo HR from Miller came in the 5th, and was all the Mariners had to respond with as Almonte made it up with an RBI-single, taking things to 3-1. A wild inning in the 8th had the Spangy quickster scoring on a wild pitch with Yangervis Solarte up to bat. Things would end up staying 4-1 until Craig Kimbrel came in and allowed a wimpy lone RBI before slamming the door shut for a 4-2 Padres victory.

Abraham was shwingin' the shtick tonight with this RBI poke into right field.

Almonte went 1-4 with an RBI, and Spangy went 2-3 with a ribby and a run. Matt Kemp broke his slump tonight with a hard-hit line drive single. Justin Upton went hitless, despite creaming a ball to the warning track and drawing a walk. Will Venable had himself a 2-4  game today, and Jedd Gyorko pinch hit to draw a walk.

Source: FanGraphs

The pen absolutely shut it out today, with Brandon Maurer and Joaquin Benoit coming in for some solid relief only giving up 1 hit and striking out 3. By the time things hit the 7th inning the Padres had it in the bag.

Today EBParker led the winning game thread with discussion, while hashtagtroll and jthunder93 shared some rec cupcakes.