Through five innings, the offense was having yet another awful day, this one against former Yankee Ian Kennedy. But starting in the sixth inning, the Yankees had started to piece some hits together and score a couple runs. Problem was, they had already given up six runs, thanks mostly to the pitching of one Philip Hughes. Hughes' day ended in the third inning and left the Yankees in a hole their offense struggled to get out of. That allowed the Padres to come away with a 6-3 win to finish up the series in San Diego.
The Padres got on the board first with a couple runs in the bottom of the second. Will Venable led off the inning with a single. He stole second during Chris Denorfia's at bat, and moved to third when Denorfia hit a single. The single wasn't enough to score Venable, but Mark Kotsay's sac fly was. Venable scored easily of the fly ball to center which gave the Padres a 1-0 lead. Nick Hundley then drew a walk. Ian Kennedy laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third with two outs. Phil Hughes quickly went up 0-2 in the count against Everth Cabrera. But a very Hughesian thing happened when Cabrera battled back to 3-2 and then dropped a two-run single into right field. The inning ended when Cabrera was caught stealing, but the Padres had opened up a 3-0 lead.
The Padres then tacked some more an inning later. Alexi Amarista led off the inning with a single. Hughes then walked Chase Headley, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Yonder Alonso grounded one to Robinson Cano. After the ball deflected off Cano's glove, the only play was to first for out number one. Girardi decided to intentionally walk Venable to load the bases and set up the double play. Denorfia came up next. He hit a fly ball to center. Curtis Granderson made the catch, but Amarista tagged up and scored and Headley moved over to third. Kotsay then dropped a single into center field, which scored Headley. That extended the Padres' lead to 5-0.
That would be the end of Phil Hughes' day. Hughes went just 2.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks. Preston Claiborne came in and got Hundley to fly out to end the inning.
But in the fourth inning, the Padres continued to tack on runs. With Claiborne still pitching, Cabrera hit a one-out double. After a ground out by Amarista, on which Cabrera advanced a base, Headley singled to right. That scored another run and made it 6-0.
A couple innings later, the Yankees finally got on the board. Through the first five innings, the offense managed just two hits against Kennedy. With two outs in the sixth, both Cano and Alfonso Soriano drew walks. Granderson came up next and he lined one at Alonso at first base. The ball deflected off Alonso's glove and into right field. Cano scored and Soriano moved to third. Lyle Overbay kept it going with a single, which scored Soriano. That made it 6-2 Padres and was the end of Kennedy's day. Kennedy went 5.2 innings, allowing two runs off four hits and four walks. Nunez almost kept the inning alive with a infield single, but Cabrera made a nice play at short to get the force out at second to end the inning.
The Yankees cut into the lead further when Austin Romine crushed a solo home run in the seventh.
After the fourth inning, the Yankee bullpen did a good job of shutting off the leaky run faucet and allowed the Yankees to cut into the lead. Adam Warren threw two scoreless innings, allowing just two walks, while Boone Logan threw a scoreless inning, allowing a bunt single. Even Joba Chamberlain chipped in, throwing a 1-2-3 eighth.
Nunez led off the ninth inning with a single deflected by Huston Street. After Gardner struck out, Romine drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Said tying run was Brent Lillibridge, which didn't inspire much confidence. Lillibridge struck out, leaving the game up to pinch-hitter Vernon Wells. Street struck out Wells too, ending the game and giving the Padres a 6-3 win.
The roadtrip continues for the Yankees as they travel to Chicago to play the White Sox. Andy Pettitte is scheduled to make the start for the Yankees in Monday's game. First pitch is at 8:10 eastern.