Padres Rally Falls Short in Arizona

Friars can't overcome big early deficit

The Padres are reportedly talking with the White Sox about a trade for starting pitcher James Shields. The Friars would like to shed that $21 million salary and get a few prospects back.

They also would not mind parting ways with outfielder Matt Kemp and all of a sudden he might be building some trade value. In the first inning of Saturday night’s game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, Kemp went big fly for the second straight game, this time against his old Dodgers teammate Zack Greinke. His blast put the Padres up 1-0 but the lead only lasted about 10 minutes.

In the bottom of the first, Jeremy Lamb singled in a couple of runs off San Diego starter Cesar Vargas to put the Diamondbacks up 2-1. In the 2nd inning Kemp showed why he would be awfully appealing to an American League team looking for a designated hitter. For him defense is not just a job, it’s an adventure.

With the bases loaded Jean Segura lofted a fly ball down the right field line where Kemp made a nice sliding catch. However, he proceeded to get up and make a wild throw to the plate instead of hitting the cutoff man, allowing two other runners to advance in to scoring position and removing the possibility of an inning-ending double play.

Sure enough Michael Bourne followed with a single to bring in two runs and put the DBacks up 5-1 and the next batter, Paul Goldshmidt, turned a baseball in to Jell-O. He hit a two-run laser to left to put Arizona up 7-1.

But give the Padres credit for chipping away. In the 9th inning Arizona’s lead was 8-4 when Yangervis Solarte and Melvin Upton Jr. singled. Derek Norris pounded one down off the plate and the ball took a huge hop. Pitcher Brad Ziegler tried to rush the throw and it went wide, allowing Solarte to score and cut the lead to 8-5.

Hector Sanchez stepped in to pinch-hit and lined a 2-run single to right and suddenly the Padres had the go-ahead run at the plate with one out. Problem is, that run was in the form of Alexi Amarista, who grounded in to a game-ending double play.

Arizona escaped with a 8-7 win but the Padres can win the series on Sunday afternoon when Drew Pomeranz takes the hill against Archie Bradley.

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