SD 8, ARI 1: Ross returns to form, Bats follow suit

After an anti-climatic first loss for James Shields yesterday against the Diamondbacks, the Friars were looking to get started on not getting pushed further into fourth place and taking a good chunk out of this three-game series in Arizona. For that, Tyson Ross and a lineup featuring Derek Norris back at first base showed up to get the job done.

The offense might have done their job, but it wasn't going to take much behind the best pitching performance from a Padres starter for the 2015 season. Nine straight innings, only four hits allowed and a run on an RBI double. Six strikeouts and one walk. That's a Tyson Ross we remember, and as a member of a starting rotation reminiscent of last season. It took him 111 pitches, 75 which were thrown for strikes. Ross' fire definitely wasn't helping Arizona handle the already-100 degree heat outside.

Just what the doctor ordered. Great job by Ross! #Padres pic.twitter.com/EgpoQAtY3m

— jesse agler (@jesseagler) June 21, 2015

Snake-killing pitching aside, we also got to see Ross belt out a triple in support of his own cause. In addition to that, Clint Barmes was killing it at the plate today, with an RBI single in the second inning and an RBI double in the sixth. Derek Norris blasted his 9th home run of the season in the third inning on a full count and Melvin Upton Jr. hit is first as a San Diego Padre , a two-run smash into center, in a big fat four-run ninth inning. The other two runs came from those RBI-triples from Alexi Amarista and Tyson Ross.

As far as I can remember, that's the first time two Friar pitchers have tripled in the same inning.

The bow was tied off neatly as Ross recorded the final three outs of the game. Ten hits and eight runs will do the trick.

A game like that will leave you like... pic.twitter.com/rKm4xnTvOp

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 21, 2015

Six of ya showed up, as the charge was led by jodes. LittleJeddyGoesToWar earned the lone rec.