Padres 3, Marlins 1: Ian Kennedy improves to a nice 6-9 on the season

The biggest story in all of baseball today, especially among pitchers with connections to San Diego, was that the Padres won the third game of their series against the Marlins behind one of Ian Kennedy's best starts of the season. Kennedy went 6+ innings, shutting out Miami for six innings before allowing a solo homer followed by a triple in the 7th inning, at which time he was pulled from the game.

All in all, Kennedy allowed the one run on seven hits and a walk while collecting seven strikeouts, a feat which I recreated in cookie form following the game.

The Padres bullpen followed Kennedy with three scoreless innings - one each from Brandon Maurer, Joaquin Benoit, and Craig Kimbrel for save number 28.

But all of that solid pitching would have been for naught if it wasn't for the Padres offense putting up some much-deserved run support. It all started in the first inning with back-to-back-to-back one-out singles from Yangervis Solarte, Matt Kemp, and Justin Upton to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from Yonder Alonso brought home one run, but that was all for the Padres in the inning as Derek Norris struck out to end it.

You guys, Yonder Alonso is my favorite Padre of 2015.

— Jodes Paranal (@jodes0405) July 26, 2015

They added on a second run in the 2nd inning. Kennedy helped himself by bringing the two-out thunder in the form of a double.

XBH for IPK

— Jodes Paranal (@jodes0405) July 26, 2015

Ian Kennedy is the first #Padres pitcher with 2+ doubles in a single season since Jason Marquis (3), Clayton Richard & Eric Stults in 2012.

— Friar Figures (@FriarFigures) July 26, 2015

Will Venable followed up with an RBI single to bring home the pitcher and give the Friars a 2-0 lead.

The Padres got their third and final run of the night in the 7th inning by playing small ball. Clint Barmes led off the inning with a single and Abraham Almonte moved him all the way to third base with a sac bunt. Dan Jennings then brought in his lefty specialist Mike Dunn, but Pat Murphy countered with pinch-hitting righty Melvin Upton, Jr., who singled to bring home Barmes. M-Up would go on to steal his sixth base of the season, but eventually got stranded at second as his brother struck out to end the inning.

Miami starter David Phelps was only responsible for the first two Padres runs (on six hits and a walk), with the third credited to reliever Sam Dyson.

The victory guarantees at least a series split for San Diego. But they'll try to finish the four-game set on a high note with a win in tomorrow's finale against former Friar Mat Latos. Odrisamer Despaigne will get the start for the Padres.