Marlins 4, Padres 0: Offense goes MIA in Miami

Someone should check with the Padres equipment manager and make sure the bats actually made it on the plane yesterday, because they were nowhere to be found tonight as the Marlins shut out the Friars. Eric Lauer didn’t have a great night, giving up three runs over five innings, but there was no way for him to pick up a win because half the lineup went hitless. Eric Hosmer and Jose Pirela did their best to contribute, as each went 2-for-4, but the middle of the order was silent.

Lauer’s worst inning was the fourth. It started with a walk to Justin Bour, and old friend Cameron Maybin put him on third with double. A one-out sacrifice fly advanced both runners, scoring the only run that would matter. Lauer intentionally walked Yadiel Rivera, which didn’t work out so well. Caleb Smith hit a first-pitch single to plate Maybin. Lauer gave up a third walk after that to load the bases, but he was able to strike out Brian Anderson to end the inning.

The walks were an even worse problem in the fifth. Bour and Maybin hit back-to-back one-out singles, but Lauer bounced back to punch out Miguel Rojas. And then he walked the next two batters to send Bour strolling home. Robbie Erlin would give up one more in the sixth on a couple singles and a ground out, but nothing really mattered after that first run.

Tyson Ross will toe the rubber tomorrow night as the Padres will try to even the series. First pitch at 1:10 PM.