I haven't checked yet, but I'm pretty sure Yonder Alonso is not Inspector Gadget. He's not Plastic Man, either. If he was, the Padres would have had a good shot at beating the Marlins on Saturday night.
Instead, the Padres lost 4-1, continuing a trend of losing close games. San Diego is now 4-14 in games decided by 3 runs or less.
In the 8th inning of a game tied 1-1 at PETCO Park, two different throws pulled Alonso off the bag at first base, allowing a runner to reach safely.
Starting pitcher Clayton Richard threw the ball well to home plate. His problem was a throw to first. Emilio Bonafacio laid down a sacrifice bunt. Richard's throw to first was a shade wide, Bonafacio was safe.
Dale Thayer replaced Richard and immediately got a double-play ball from Hanley Ramirez. But, Orlando Hudson stepped on 2nd and threw wide to first again. Two outs they should have had. Two outs the didn't get. They led to two runs in the inning, and a 2nd straight loss to Miami, a team the Padres had beaten 8 straight times.
Marlins starter Mark Buehrle, who was Richard's mentor when both played for the White Sox, tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on a Chase Headley RBI single. The Padres are 9-19 on the season.
