San Diego Padres

Well, that sure was bad, wasn't it? What was the worst part, do you think? Edinson Volquez imploding in the 5th inning? Anthony Bass imploding in the 8th? The offense imploding in general? In fairness, the Cardinals are the best team in baseball right now, and Adam Wainwright is one of the best pitchers in the league. If you expected this to be easy or a guaranteed win just because the Padres have been part of so many sweeps, you're an idiot. But let's look at the good stuff. We scored on Wainwright, and we did it early! Jedd Gyorko picked up a leadoff double in the 2nd and moved to second on a Chris Denorfia single. He scored on the next play as Alexi Amarista grounded into a double play. Amarista also grounded into a double play to end the game, but we're focusing on the good here. The good guys picked up one more run in the 9th on a pair of singles from Yonder Alonso and Gyorko and a throwing error by Daniel Descalso. Thus endeth the good stuff. Edinson Volquez was looking pretty good through the first four innings. He had some tough luck in the 3rd as Descalso reached first when Alonso knocked a sharp grounder down but couldn't complete the play. Descalso scored on a Matt Carpenter double deflected by Amarista. But it was just one run, and Volquez recovered to sit the Cardinals down in order in the 4th. Unfortunately, he imploded in the 5th, allowing 6 of his 8 hits and 4 runs. He'd pull it together for one more inning after that, but the damage was already done. Despite avoiding the walks that have typically been his Achilles' Heel and picking up 5 strikeouts, Volquez left the game having allowed 5 runs, all of them earned. When Anthony Bass came in to relive Volquez, he sat the Cardinals down in order and picked up two strikeouts. The 8th inning wasn't as good. It started badly as Matt Holliday struck out but reached first anyway on a wild pitch. It got worse when Allen Craig singled. With one out, Bass intentionally walked Jon Jay to load the bases and set up a double play. Descalso made him pay by hitting his second grand slam of the year. Even Tyson Ross didn't come out of tonight's game unscathed. He came in for the 9th inning and gave up a run on two singles, an error, and a sacrifice fly. Not that it mattered at that point. Burch Smith will try to pick up his first career win against Tyler Lyons, who will be making his major league debut. A win tomorrow gives the Padres a series win and a winning record on the homestand. First pitch at 7:10 PM. 21 - 24 Games Back: 4.5 Streak: Lost 1 Games Left: 119 Final - 5.21.2013 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E St. Louis Cardinals 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 4 1 10 13 1 San Diego Padres 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 1 WP: Adam Wainwright (6 - 3) LP: Edinson Volquez (3 - 5) Complete Coverage >

Padres Burch Smith faces Cardinals Tyler Lyons, who is making major league debut

Padres infield maturing into one of the National League's best

Padres and Cardinals both 16-8 over their last 24 games

Clayton Richard will be starting for the Tucson Padres this evening in his second rehab appearance since coming down with a nasty case of the brownwater. He'll be caught by a familiar face as Yasmani Grandal, also with the TuPads on a rehab stint, is in the starting lineup for the third time in four games. Richard pitched well in his first rehab start, allowing only one run on four hits over six innings against Iowa last Thursday. He threw only 85 pitches, striking out eight batters and walking none. He got stuck with the loss but that doesn't really matter since won-loss records are garbage. Since joining Tucson Saturday for a ten-game tuneup before he can rejoin the major league Padres, Grandal has seen action in three games, starting two. In that time he has gone 3-9 with a double, a run, and three RBI. Hopefully both players will continue their progress and carry that into their major league returns. They are both set to come back next week, providing neither of them shits the bed, figuratively or literally. As always, you can listen to the game online for free via 1290 AM: The Source. Padres in Omaha, gametime 4:35 pm - Anna 4/Robertson 9/Petit 6/Grandal 2/Allen 7/Galvez 5/Rivera 3/C. Decker DH/J. Decker 8/Richard P. — TucsonPadres (@TucsonPadres) May 21, 2013

National League MVP contender Joey Votto is on quite the hitting streak.

You wouldn't realize it just looking at the teams' records, but the Padres and Cardinals have been equally hot lately, each going 16-8 in their last 24 games. The Padres have bounced back from a dismal 5-15 start to the season and now find themselves just two games under .500. The Padres also have the best record in the NL West this month, tied with the Diamondbacks at 11-7. They'll look to improve on that tonight and clinch the series win with Edinson Volquez on the hill. Volquez was riding his own little hot streak, going 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA over four starts, before his most recent outing against the Nationals. But Washington tagged him for five runs in five innings on Thursday, giving him his first loss in five starts. The right-hander has struggled against St. Louis in the past. He has a lifetime 2-4 record with a 5.32 ERA against the Cards. Matt Holliday has gone 7-for-17 with two homers and Carlos Beltran is 5-for-12 against Volquez. Ty Wigginton, who may make the start at third base again tonight for David Freese, is 4-for-12 with two homers off Volquez. But the Cards offense had trouble getting production at the plate last night. They combined for just four hits and one of their runs scored only because of an error by Chase Headley. Jon Jay was the star of the night for St. Louis, going 2-for-4 to improve his average to .354 since moving out of the leadoff spot in the lineup. Since April 22nd, he's hit mostly in the 6-spot, collecting 15 RBI during that stretch. He's also hit safely in 15 of his last 16 starts. However, the Padres offense has been on fire as of late, and is looking to give the Cards another run for their money. They lead the NL in runs scored (92) over the last 19 games, including last night's three-run five-hit performance against one of the stingiest pitchers in the league in Shelby Miller. They've especially thrived in San Diego, wining 12 of their last 15 played at Petco Park and hitting 21 homers in 23 total home games this season. But tonight they'll face another tough opponent in Adam Wainwright. He's 5-3 this year with a 2.51 ERA and is coming off a start in which he struck out eight batters while issuing just one walk against the Mets. He was tagged with the loss in that outing, however, as he yielded three earned runs (four total) on six hits through six innings of work. Prior to that, he tossed a two-hit shutout against the Rockies that took 120 pitches. Wainwright has a career 3-2 record against San Diego in five starts while boasting a miniscule 0.97 ERA. Next Game St. Louis Cardinals @ San Diego Padres Tuesday, May 21, 2013, 7:10 PM PDT Petco Park Adam Wainwright vs Edinson Volquez Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 65. Complete Coverage >

It's probably pretty meaningless, but I was curious how the 2013 Padres rank among other Padres teams if you just ignore the first 20 games. They're actually tied for 2nd place all time. The thing is they're better than the 1998 team and way better than the 1984 team, so obviously it doesn't matter too much how well you play in 24 games after your first 20. Still... Padres record from games 21 to 44 Year Wins Losses Win % 2005 17 7 70.83 2001 16 8 66.67 2013 16 8 66.67 2006 15 9 62.5 1985 15 9 62.5 1996 14 10 58.33 2010 14 10 58.33 1976 14 10 58.33 1980 13 11 54.17 1990 13 11 54.17 1998 13 11 54.17 1989 13 11 54.17 1992 13 11 54.17 2004 13 11 54.17 1975 13 11 54.17 1978 13 11 54.17 2002 13 11 54.17 1970 13 11 54.17 1986 12 12 50 2007 12 12 50 1995 12 12 50 1981 11 13 45.83 1974 11 13 45.83 2009 11 13 45.83 2011 11 13 45.83 1991 11 13 45.83 1983 10 14 41.67 1982 10 14 41.67 1997 10 14 41.67 2012 10 14 41.67 1993 10 14 41.67 1979 10 14 41.67 1977 10 14 41.67 1973 9 15 37.5 1984 9 15 37.5 1971 8 16 33.33 2000 8 16 33.33 1999 8 16 33.33 1972 7 17 29.17 1969 7 17 29.17 2008 7 17 29.17 1988 6 18 25 1987 6 18 25 2003 6 18 25 1994 6 18 25

Scan recaps the first of a three game set against the Cardinals. Marquis pitches well, Venable homers as Pads take down N.L. ERA leader Shelby Miller.

May 20, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Jason Marquis (21) throws during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports And all the chips as well after 9 innings of play in a fine San Diego night, hosting one of the hottest teams in the NL in St Louis.  The Padre hitters have also been hot as of late, but tonight, the game played out more like Petco of old, with a solid pitching backed up by familiar mainstays in the bullpen.  Jason Marquis had a marquee night, going 6 innings, and striking out 3, walking 4 and earning 2 double plays.  Well, marquee maybe a bit of stretch, but I’ve been dying to use that for a while now.  Considering the tough match up against rising Cardinal star Shelby Miller, and the stress of facing a strong and balanced Cardinals lineup, marquee may very well be an apt description.  Jason held his composure even when stressed early with a bases loaded scenario and a rare run scoring miscue by Chase Headley.  Jason was able to keep the Cardinals looking uncomfortable all night, throwing a heavy diet of hit me sinkers and sliders.  Jason threw 58.1% sinkers, 38.7% sliders, and 3.2% change ups.  No four seamers for Cards until the bullpen, and it seemed to wear on the Cardinals who may have been more used to hitting, as well as pounding the high heat.  Jason now leads the Padre starting pitchers with 6 wins and sports a 3.27 ERA. Padre hitters also held their own tonight, tagging 3 earned runs against Shelby Miller.  Miller is at this point in his career, essentially a fastball pitcher with an effective curve.  In fact, Miller started off the first inning by only throwing fastballs to the Padres, going 24 straight at one point.   In a way, it was interesting to watch Marquis only throwing sinkers, while matched by Miller only throwing fastballs.  I suppose you ride the horse that gets you there.  The Padre hitters were able to pick away at Miller and eventually chased him in the 6th, before pushing through the bullpen.  Overall a great game by the Padres for a solid win, and not backing down against the NL elite. With a quater of the season already over(yes it passes by quicker than you think), I can’t say that I’m happy with 21-23.  I’ve been pleased with their play of late, but we should expect a lot from the Padres.  It is ok to expect more, and still be pleased with the fighting spirit that the Padres have exuded to hold on for dear life in the division.  Catcher Yasmani Grandal is nearing return – for all that’s been said and done, I see his return as helpful and should be construed as a positive.  And for all the early adversity that the Padres have faced, may spin into a positive if we can survive long enough to contend.  The Padre players seem to be more comfortable than their opponents while in stressful situations.  It has become like second nature for the friars.