Game 76 Preview: 06/26 Padres vs. Diamondbacks

The Padres are back in San Diego tonight to kick off a five-game homestand after losing back-to-back series against division rivals on the road. One of those rivals comes to Petco Park this weekend to try for a repeat series victory, but hopefully the Padres can get even instead.

San Diego is coming off one of the most frustrating games of the season. After digging themselves out of a seven-run hole and pulling to within one run of the Giants in the top of the 8th yesterday, relief pitching turned around and gave most of those runs back in the bottom of the inning, resulting in a heartbreaking 13-8 loss. James Shields had an uncharacteristically awful start, allowing the seven earned runs to the Giants that went unanswered until late in the game, and lasting only four innings (plus two batters in the 5th) on the mound, leaving the Padres relievers to the final four innings. Hopefully tonight's starter for the Padres can give the taxed bullpen a break and build on his most recent appearance.

Tyson Ross takes the hill in the opener of the three-game set against the Diamondbacks tonight. He pitched the best outing of any Padres pitcher this year his last time out, also against the Dbacks: a one-run, four-hit complete game. It was the third time this season he struck out nine batters. For the sake of the Padres bullpen, hopefully Ross has another long outing in him tonight.

In a repeat pitching matchup from the June 20th game, Robbie Ray will once again get the start for Arizona opposite Ross. Ray, who is 2-2 with a 1.78 ERA this season, has been a solid addition to the Dbacks staff, allowing only six earned runs through his first five starts. Half of those runs, however, came against these same Padres in that last outing, his weakest of the season so far. The three earned runs (plus one unearned) and six hits were both season-highs for the southpaw; however, so were the seven strikeouts he collected through his 5 2/3 innings of work.

Game time: 7:10 pm PT
TV: FSSD, Fox Deportes San Diego (Sp.)
Radio: The Mighty 1090, La Ponderosa 860 (Sp.)

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