One inning.
One inning is all it took for the Padres to do just about everything you're not supposed to do if you're trying to win a baseball game. Officially, here's how the bottom of the 2nd inning went down for the Padres in their 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks in Arizona:
- Tomás struck out swinging.
- Lamb walked.
- Owings singled to right, Lamb to second.
- Saltalamacchia walked, Lamb to third, Owings to second.
- Ahmed grounded into fielder's choice to third, Lamb scored on throwing error by third baseman Middlebrooks, Owings to third, Saltalamacchia to second (1-0 AZ).
- Hellickson hit by pitch, Owings scored, Saltalamacchia to third, Ahmed to second (2-0 AZ).
- Pollock singled to left center, Saltalamacchia and Ahmed scored, Hellickson to second (4-0 AZ).
- Peralta safe at second on error by shortstop Barmes, Hellickson scored, Pollock to third (5-0 AZ).
- Goldschmidt singled to center, Pollock and Peralta scored (7-0 AZ).
- Goldschmidt stole second.
- Tomás struck out looking.
- Lamb grounded out to second.
When the dust had settled, the Padres had allowed seven runs on just three hits. The error by Middlebrooks was both physical and metal. With the bases loaded and one out, Nick Ahmed hit a hard grounder right out him.
Instead of going to second base to start a double play or stepping on the bag and throwing across for a double play, Will threw home and pulled Derek Norris off the plate. That option is the worst of the three when trying to turn a double play in the second inning of a scoreless game.
Starting pitcher Andrew Cashner has had bad defense behind him all year, but has also let setbacks get to him and allowed things to snowball, leading to big innings and losses. It really follows the same pattern the Padres have have set forth all season:
When things go well they go really well. When things go poorly they go really poorly.
