SD 5, STL 3: Home runs do the trick in 11

The Friars caught a plane early after a hazy series against the Mariners at home. Blanked for two straight games, the Padres were going to need a lot more juice to take on the first place Cardinals. Luckily, we have Tyson Ross starting on the mound today, and in Tyson we trust.

Ross was lookin' just as good as the other guy. After his win Friday against the Diamondbacks, Ty went a good six innings keeping things squared up at only 3 earned runs for the Bird-folk. His pitchers were all over the place, though, as he walked 5, with 69 of his 115 pitches being strikes. His arm wasn't the only thing working full-time today, as he popped off his very first home run of the season. Not just his first of the season, but the first of his career.

In the 5th, @TysonRoss went opposite field for his first big league home run. Watch: http://t.co/dLwGa2rCa8 pic.twitter.com/WriTukpvTt

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 3, 2015

Tyross' home run is what got the Pads up to 3, with a Yangervis Solarte home run and an Austin Hedges RBI-single adding the other two runs. Solarte would end up being thrown out in the middle of the game after lamenting over a check-swing, which was one of those Mudcat "If he hit it, it would have been a double" type check swings. Alexi Amarista would go to fill in his spot at third.

Alexi Amarista has now played six defensive positions this season (2B-SS-3B-CF-LF-P). #Padres

— Friar Figures (@FriarFigures) July 3, 2015

The back-and-forth would go on all the way to the 11th. With the Padres leaving 8 men on and going 2-for-10 with RISP, and the Cardinals upping that with 13 left on base going 1-for-13.

Strong Padres relief pitching and solid defense won today's extra-inning fight. Derek Norris had a diving stop at first base with one out and runners on first and second to save a potential walk-off for the Cards. Then Brandon Maurer, Joaquin Benoit, Shawn Kelley (earning the win), and Craig Kimbrel (earning the save) followed up to tie a neat little bow on the win.

Carlos Villanueva became a testement to the bullpen importance (a bullpen that was unnecessarily mocked today by opposing commentary), after giving up a two-run blast to Will Venable.

This pinch-hit go-ahead home run is brought to you by Carls Jr and National University.

A shot that would earn the Friars the win, and allow the Kimbrel to come in and slam the door shut. A Friar victory to start off the 10-game road trip is a hell of a good thing.

Shouts out to jthunder93 for carrying a ton of game threads lately. Friar Fever won the rec game though.