Bird in the hand, Padres take first game with Cardinals 3-1

Tyson Ross earns his 10th victory of the season as he and and Friars down St. Louis.

For the first time since June 3, the Padres fielded an infield that started Yonder Alonso, Jedd Gyorko and Everth Cabrera. The trio was called into action early when a leadoff walk helped set up a 4-6-3 double play. Walks would become a theme for Tyson Ross. The All Star right handed starter had avoided them in most of his recent start but they plagued him this evening. He allowed five to reach base on balls in the first 3 innings and with a single also given up in the second inning, he had 2 baserunners in each of the first 3 frames. He escaped all three with the scoreboard unscathed, but the tight rope, high wire act was on.

The Padres would not quietly let Tyson Ross' first attempt at a 10th win on the season fail. In the bottom of the 3rd Rene Rivera reached base on a throwing error that got him to 2nd base. He then advanced on Everth Cabrera's first offensive contribution since his activation from the DL earlier that day. Rivera put the Padres up 1-0 when he scored on a medium fly ball from Alexi Amarista. Not the most glamorous of rallies, but it put the Padres up.

To maintain the lead the Padres would need some good defense, a more settled Tyson Ross and insurance runs. They would get the good defense right away when Cabrera made an over-the-shoulder grab for the first out of the 4th. Ross looked more settled with a 1-2-3 inning in the 4th, but the 5th finally scathed that scoreboard. Cabrera just missed on a diving attempt and the leadoff man got on. Matt Carpenter lined a double to left field. All it took after that was a Kolton Wong sac fly to tie up the game. A little tapper to Yangervis Solarte by supposed slugger Matt Holliday allowed the 3B to throw home and get Carpenter out at the plate. Carpenter tap danced around Rene Rivera at home, but was tagged out after not touching home plate. The throw took Rivera into the runner's lane, but the play was upheld even after a challenge, the tie game preserved and a lot less pressure on Ross with only a runner left on 1st with 2 outs. He would escape even after giving up another hit with a nick pick and throw to second by Everth Cabrera (who has now been mentioned 5 times in this recap).

The Padres would attempt to strike back in the bottom of the 5th and it led to a scary moment. Jedd Gyorko led off and got hit by a pitch. Then Rene Rivera lined a full count pitch to RF for a single. With runners at 1st and 2nd, pitcher Tyson Ross was bunting, but with two strikes took a ball off the hand that was ruled a foul ball and a strikeout. The rally would die on the vine, but concern about the game and Ross shifted to the pitcher's throwing hand.

Ross would turn out to be fine for the time being. Not damage in the 6th, but Ross' pitch count would chase him from the game. The Padres would also buoy Ross by making noise in the bottom of the 6th. Solarte would lead it off with a walk and Seth Smith would follow with one of his one. Lance Lynn's control was getting shaky, but would get the next two out as Will Venable popped up a bunt and Yonder Alonso softy flew out. Jedd Gyorko, however, would wait for his pitch and lined a single to LF that Solarte used to beat a throw home and make it 2-1. The rally looked to continue after a Rivera walk, but pinch hitter Yasmani Grandal struck out on a full count after getting 3 balls to start.

The Padres would finally get an insurance run in the bottom of the 7th. Blaine Boyer came on and kept the game at 2-1 in the top. Then in the bottom of the 7th with two outs Yangervis Solarte would Petco Porch a solo shot to make it 3-1. Kevin Quackenbush would follow Boyer's lead and hold the Cards in the 8th.Joaquin Benoit would finish them off in the 9th to earn his 3rd save as a Friar.

As for the Gaslampball game thread, the Ozarks, El Caminos, a TWSS and, of course, a WBHITB were mentioned so it was a good day.