In four outings since July 24th, the Padres righty is 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA, with opponents batting.
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Tommy Pham, who had his first three-hit game, doubled with one out in the inning and pitcher Carlos Martinez, enjoying a multi-hit game, beat out a grounder behind second with Pham stopping at third.
“We had a potential for a double play that gives us two outs and nobody on and it looks like a completely different inning”, manager Mike Matheny said. The Padres have scored 20 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in six of their last eight.
Beniot is likely the more important piece for San Diego’s future, as despite the Padres’ rough season he has continued to be one of the best late-inning relievers in baseball.
NL-leading St. Louis (77-43) begins a 10-game West Coast trip having won 10 of 14 and surrendered only six runs in taking two of three from San Francisco. He has a 2.26 ERA and 0.85 in 53 appearances this season, pitching 51⅔ innings, allowing 27 hits and 17 walks while striking out 47, and would obviously appeal to several contenders. Carpenter barked at Segal and quickly was ejected. Kennedy struck out Carpenter and Piscotty to end the inning. The Cardinals have scored seven runs in their last three games and three or less runs in five of their last eight. His hitting streak is at a season-best 13 games and he is hitting. Only seven pitchers have made starts for San Diego this season, and one of them, Brandon Morrow, is on the 60-day disabled list. Norris then went to his knees before coming out. The strikeout pitch deflected off Norris and bounced away, allowing Bourjos to take first.
Cardinals: Although RF Jason Heyward started his second straight game, the team is being cautious about his sore hamstring.
Ian Kennedy, who had a 2-5 record and 8.31 earned run average in his career against the Cardinals was making like Walter Johnson for the first three innings Saturday night.
Martinez also flashed some leather in the Padres’ second, snaring Travis Jankowski’s comebacker with two runners on base. The right-hander who has had all kinds of tough luck was saddled with another unearned run in the first inning after an Alexi Amarista error. That not being enough, the 24-year-old outfielder followed it up with another hit in the 5th inning for his first multi-hit game.
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Nick McClintock and Jim Ahart will take you up to the game with Sportstalk starting at 6 p.m. Listen live on WJBC and WJBC.com. I know, I know, it’ll take another 10 or so straight wins to get back in to playoff contention, but stranger things have happened.
