Padres Game Recap: ICYMI Padres Win Final Game Before All-Star Break
San Diego Padres 2, Texas Rangers 1
The Padres, behind a strong pitching performance from Tyson Ross and opportunistic offense, took the rubber match 2-1 against the Texas Rangers . The Friars will limp into the All-Star break despite winning the series in Texas, going 4-7 this month.
Ross picked up his sixth win of the season going 6.2 innings giving up just three hits. He didn’t allow a home run which means he extended his MLB leading homerless streak to 86 and 2/3 innings.
Will Venable got the Padres offense going in the second inning. A sharply hit ball that went off of Rangers’ first baseman Mitch Moreland went into right field. Venable hustled all the way around to third base because 2B Rougned Odor didn’t know if the right fielder was going to get it or not and the hesitation cost him.
Odor’s inning got even better with the next batter. This time it was Will Middlebrooks who hit a grounder to Odor with the defense drawn in. Odor tried to get Venable at home but the throw was low and skipped to the backstop as Venable slid in safe, Middlebrooks advanced to second.
The Padres scored a much needed insurance run in the seventh. After Justin Upton was aboard on a fielder’s choice, he stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. Jedd Gyorko delivered a two-out single to give the Pads a 2-0 lead.
Odor’s one positive impact on the game came in the ninth with Craig Kimbrel looking to close the door.
After Adrian Beltre reached on a infield single and advanced to second, Odor took a 2-2 Kimbrel pitch with two outs and singled up the middle to cut the deficit to one. Kimbrel then struck out Leonys Martin to end the game. It was Kimbrel’s 23rd save of the season.
The Padres end the first half of the season with a 41-49 record, good for fourth place in the NL West. Being 10 games back there could be some players on the move before the trade deadline but don’t expect a complete firesale from A.J Preller and the FO.
Hope the Padres can make a run in the second half of the season but if not, at least it was an entertaining season.
Keep the faith?
On Deck:
All-Star Break
Monday, July 13 – Home Run Derby 8:00 pm EST
Tuesday, July 14 – 86th All-Star Game 7:00 pm EST
Nick was born and raised in San Diego where he became a Chargers and Padres fan, attending numerous home games throughout the years with his dad. He then went on to attend college at the University of Arizona. There he earned his degree in marketing and now lives in San Francisco where he dreams of the the sunny beaches of San Diego. Bear Down.
