Padres Celebrate Trevor Hoffman But Lose Series vs D-Backs
The Padres struggles continued this weekend as they lost three out of four vs the NL West leading Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres have now lost six of seven, all at home.
The series began on Thursday night as the Padres offense was shut down by Arizona starter Clay Buchholz who tossed a complete game, five hitter. He was backed by a five run top of the first as Padres starter Jacob Nix struggled in his second career start. Hunter Renfroe got the Padres on the board with a solo home run in the eight but the story of the game was Buchholz who pitched his first complete game since July 4th, 2015 when he was with the Boston Red Sox.
Following the 5-1 loss on Thursday night, the Padres dropped a 9-4 decision on Friday. San Diego fell behind early on a two run home run by Paul Goldschmidt in the top of the first. After an RBI groundout by Renfroe cut the lead to 2-1, the D-Backs added two more in the second to take a 4-1 lead. Eric Hosmer cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third only to give the run back in the top of the fourth. Hosmer homed in the fifth the make it a 5-3 D-Backs lead.
However, Arizona scored three more in the sixth on a RBI doubled and added another run in the 8th on a solo homerun to make it a 9-3 game. Manny Margot homered in the bottom of the 8th cut lead the lead to 9-4 but Arizona shut the door from there as the Padres were defeated.
San Diego responded with an exciting 7-6 win on Saturday night as the Padres celebrated Trevor Hoffman's hall of fame induction. They fell behind early once again and found themselves trailing 3-0 after 3 innings but tied the game up with a three run fourth innings aided by a two RBI single by Freddy Galvis. After Arizona scored two and took a 5-3 lead in the 5th, the Padres scored three more in the bottom half of the inning to take a 6-5 lead. However the D-Backs tied the game in the seventh.
With the score tied at 6 in the bottom of the ninth, Christian Villanueva stepped to the plate with two on, two out and singled home the game winning run to give the Padres a 7-6 walk off win.
The Padres were on the losing end of a tough 4-3 score on Sunday afternoon. Renfroe gave the Padres a 2-0 lead in the first with his 14th home run of the season. Arizona tied the game with runs in the second and third innings but Renfroe delivered again for the Padres with a go ahead RBI single in the sixth.
Daniel Descalso tied the game in the top of the eight and the Padres had a chance to take the lead in the bottom half of the frame but Cory Spangenberg struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning. A. J. Pollock homered in the top of the ninth to give Arizona a 4-3 lead and Brad Boxberger shut the door in the bottom of the ninth to give Arizona the victory.
The Padres will now head on a six game road trip to take on the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers. Robbie Erlin (2-3, 3.33 ERA) is expected to start on Tuesday with Jacob Nix (1-1, 6.75 ERA) taking the mound on Tuesday.
