The Padres tried to finish off another dismal year of interleague play on a positive note–and they did. With a fantastic pitching performance by Chad Gaudin, the Padres finished interleague play with a 5-10 record. This 2-0 win over the Rangers also gave them their only interleague series win. Things seemed bleak after the Rangers destroyed us 12-2 on Friday night, but the team managed to turn it around–thanks to the two hottest Padre starting pitchers.
It would have been hard to follow up Kevin Correia’s great outing from yesterday. Correia went 7 innings, allowing 3 runs in the Padres 7-3 victory. However, Chad Gaudin was able to top it on Sunday night, going 8 shutout innings. He allowed just one hit, walked only two batters, and struck out nine in the Texas heat. All of this coming after his best start as a Padre against the Mariners up in Seattle, a performance in which he struck out 11.
There’s no doubt Kevin Correia and Chad Gaudin have shown flashes of good pitching, but it’s been amazing how they have been able to step into the ace roles that Jake Peavy and Chris Young had before getting hurt. With Young possibly not coming back until after the All Star Break, and Peavy out at least into August, these two guys are going to have to keep up the good work if the Padres want to have any say in the playoff hunt. (Yes, i said it)
Other Notes:
- Scott Hairston drove in both runs for the Pads on Sunday evening. The first came on a solo home run to left field in the fourth. Then in the sixth, he singled past a drawn-in Rangers infield to score Cabrera. Thanks to Gaudin and closer Heath Bell, that’s all the Padres needed.
- Heath Bell recorded his 21st save of the season, tied for first in the majors.
- Kyle Blanks recorded his second multi-hit game in as many nights against the Rangers.
- The Padres host the Houston Astros for a 4-game series starting tomorrow night. Hopefully we can avenge for the sweep the Astros handed us back in Houston. The first task: Roy Oswalt.
