Our Padres are back home tonight after an abysmal road trip. After paying tribute to Tony Gwynn, the team will take the field to face the Mariners for the third night in a row after losing the first two matchups in Seattle.
We'll get to see an incredible pitching matchup tonight with Andrew Cashner taking the mound for San Diego and Felix Hernandez going for Seattle. In his only previous start against the Mariners, also against King Felix, Cashner gave up four innings in six innings of work in the loss. He had a similar performance in his most recent start, giving up four runs in six innings at Citi Field.
That game was one of eight the Friars have lost in their last nine tries. They also go into tonight's game riding a three-game losing streak, during which they've been held to one run per game. And tonight's task doesn't look to be any easier.
Not only is Hernandez off to the best start in his career, going 8-2 with a 2.29 ERA this season, but he's also undefeated (5-0) with a 1.54 ERA in his last six at Petco Park. Four of those starts saw him going eight innings or more. He suffered a loss his last time out despite throwing 8 1/3 innings of one-run ball.
Tune in tonight at 6:45 PDT for the Tony Gwynn tribute and then at 7:10 for the game.