The Padres remained winless since firing manager Bud Black, losing 16-2 to the Oakland A’s on Wednesday night.
It’s the second straight loss for new manager Pat Murphy and third straight since Black got the axe earlier this week. Things got so bad on Wednesday, shortstop Alexi Amarista came on to get the last out in the eighth inning.
“I thought I’d pick the guy lowest to the ground,” Murphy joked about the 5-foot-6 Amarista. “You gotta make the decision somehow. Sometimes games happen like this.”
Amarista had one of the lone offensive highlights for the Padres (32-36) with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Will Middlebrooks also homered.
Padres starter Odrisamer Despaigne gave up six runs in six innings, allowing a three-run homer to Billy Butler in the first that got things going for the A’s.
Cory Mazzoni took the brunt of the damage for the Friars’ bullpen, giving up seven runs while getting just two outs.
The two teams finish their series tomorrow afternoon in Oakland.
