SD 6, ARI 4: Friars seesaw into extra-inning victory

As if this season hasn't been emotional enough already, the Padres decided today would be a good night to give fans a collective heart attack as they conceded runs, fought back, gained leads, lost leads, saved leads, and eventually won. Some defensive gems from Wil Myers at 1B and Jedd Gyorko at 2B, clutch hitting from Derek Norris, Yangervis Solarte, and Justin Upton, and some solid pitching from Tyson Ross and scary pitching from Craig Kimbrel.

But most importantly, a Win for Gwynn.

Tony Gwynn would have turned 55 today. Happy Birthday, #MrPadre. You are truly missed. pic.twitter.com/zqNSYxFI7j

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 9, 2015

The Pads started off hot as usually, adding a run to their already-huge pile of first-inning runs on a Matt Kemp sac fly to drive in Myers. Tyson Ross was tearing the Dbacks lineup apart until the 4th, where a David Peralta RBI-triple would even things up 1-1, and then an RBI-single from pitcher Chase Anderson to put the snakes up 2-1. Solarte and Norris weren't having that, and rallied in the 8th to knock the Friars up 3-2.

The Norse pops one oppo, producing clutchyness with his beard and driving home the go-ahead.

Joaquin Benoit popped in to sit the Dbacks down 1-2-3, and then Justin Upton piled on an insurance run to make things 4-2. The Kimbrel was called in to shut things down, and any person who isn't going absolutely crazy would imagine that's how things would have played out. Instead, Kimbrel gave up a walk, a single, advanced the runner on an errant pickoff attempt, and gave up the RBI-double to tie things 4-4. That's not what's supposed to happen. And with what would have been the game-winning hit was denied by Gyorko.

Gyorko wins over hearts and minds by literally saving the game with this inning-ending double play.

So after 2 more extra innings, Justin Upton decided the night had gone long enough and Chase Field, despite having its roof open, was feeling a bit musty and blasted the go-ahead line drive home run into left field. Oh thank god. The Padres were up 5-4, and so Alexi Amarista showed up to give Kevin Quackenbush (who shut the Snakes out in the 11th) the opportunity to do what Kimbrel couldn't. And he did. And the Padres won.

Yeah, no. Leave a pitch like that for Upton and he'll funk you up.

Tyson Ross was on it today, and in six innings only gave up two runs on five hits, striking out six. Just about everybody who started for the Friars had a hit today, and the club strung together 14 of 'em. Myers was killin' it at first base, with Yonder Alonso down on the DL.

Myers' "put me in coach" versatility is both defensively consistent and sexy.

Source: FanGraphs

If you thought last night was a roller coaster, oh boy take a ride on this win projection for the night.

At least 6 of you GLB'rs kept the faith tonight with 10+ comments. Christopher Hondros won the rec game, but Jodes said something about boners.