Padres Will Take Series Split With Dodgers

After dropping game 3 of the four-game series to the Dodgers, 5-2; the Padres mounted a nice comeback in game 4 that gave them a series split and a big momentum boost going into the weekend series with the Giants.

Down 3-1, San Diego scored 3 runs against the Dodgers’ bullpen in the 8th. Although there was drama in the 9th inning, Heath Bell was able to nail it down for his second save in as many Padres wins. (More details about this later)

As for the past couple of games, I have been pleasantly surprised watching Walter Silva and ”Cy” Correia (as Dodger fans call him) pitch. On Wednsday night, Silva pitched 5 innings in his major league debut, giving up only 2 runs. It was Edward Mujica and the Padres’ bullpen that would give the game away. On Thursday afternoon, Kevin Correia took the mound. He pitched better than I honestly expected him too. I mean, we hit him around when he was a Giant. If our weak offense of years’ past could’ve hit him, then a loaded Dodgers lineup certainly could. I’m still not sold on Correia, who delivered 6 innings this afternoon, giving up 3 runs and certainly keeping the Padres in the ballgame. However, for us to win games, him doing what he did today would be just fine. Ah, that would bring us to the later innings, when the Padres would pull off something that was quite a rarity last year.

It looked like the Padres were going to go down quietly to the hard-throwing Dodgers bullpen again. After Clayton Kershaw left the game, Ronald Belisario pitched 2 lights-out innings for the Dodgers, striking out four and allowing just a hit. In the eighth, it was up to Will Ohman to take care of the Padres’ lefty duo, Brian Giles and Adrian Gonzalez. Ohman retired Giles, but Adrian Gonzalez was a different story. As we know, Gonzalez can hit for power against left-handers; especially to the opposite field. Adrian did just that, driving one deep out toward left-center field. The home run made the score 3-2 Dodgers, and it was the first homer hit by the Padres this season. Older brother Edgar was also an important part of the inning, as Cory Wade found that out with 2 outs. E. Gonzalez tripled out to center field, and represented the tying run at third. Nick Hundley then came through with a clutch single to tie up the game at 3. The go-ahead blow came from Luis Rodriguez, who couldn’t have had better placement on his RBI Double. The ball landed between Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp in right-center field, and Hundley came all the way around to score to give the Padres the lead.

“I just put head down and kept running,” Hundley said. “It’s adrenaline, you have got a chance to score the winning run. You’ve got to get there.”

The drama wasn’t through yet, however. It was up to Heath Bell in the top of the ninth, trying to preserve the Padres’ comeback victory. He didn’t get off to a good start, as Orlando Hudson tripled on a full count pitch to lead things off. With Manny coming up, the Dodgers would HAVE to bring in the run, right??

Wrong.

Heath Bell kept the heat coming, and even a great fastball hitter like Manny can’t hit it if it’s in the right spot. Bell jammed Ramirez with an 0-2 offering, and Manny grounded to shortstop. Hudson was forced to hold on third base. With one out and Hudson still on third, Bell walked Andre Ethier. It was probably a smart move, considering Russell Martin had been struggling all series long. (Just ask Dodger fans) On an 0-2 pitch, Martin hit a ground ball to second base. The ball wasn’t smoked, and Eckstein knew he had to hurry. They couldn’t have turned it any better. Heath Bell was fired up after the game-ending double play, and PETCO Park erupted.

The Padres are back to .500, and a series win against the Giants could be quite possible, with Jake Peavy and Chris Young both pitching in the series.