The San Diego Padres opened the home portion of their schedule Thursday afternoon to high expectations and an excitement for baseball that has not been seen in San Diego in many years. However, this year’s squad looked much like the punchless group of 2014.
Justin Maxwell socked a go-ahead, pinch hit single, and the San Francisco Giants pulled out a 1-0 win in 12 innings over the San Diego Padres at sold-out Petco Park.
San Diego had an early scoring opportunity in the second inning, after Justin Upton led off the second inning with a booming double to left. After a Will Middlebrooks strikeout, Yonder Alonso drew a walk. A wild pitch by Hudson gave San Diego runners on the corners. The next hitter, Jedd Gyorko, bounced into a double play to kill the rally.
Ian Kennedy got the start for San Diego and escaped an early jam of his own in the second inning. After a pair of one-out singles, Kennedy struck out Joaquin Arias. Both runners were moving on the play and Padres catcher Derek Norris threw out Casey McGehee to thwart the rally.
In the top of the 4th, San Diego received a scare. Starting pitcher Ian Kennedy suffered a hamstring injury and left the game. He was replaced by Odrisamer Despaigne, who did not allow a baserunner in 4 2/3 innings of work out of the pen.
San Diego had another golden opportunity in the bottom of the fifth inning, after singles to Will Middlebrooks and Yonder Alonso. Jedd Gyorko grounded into his second double play of the evening to kill the rally.
Giants starter Tim Hudson was in trouble throughout the afternoon, but escaped the evening unscathed. He allowed five hits and five walks in 6 1/3 innings, striking out just one.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, San Diego had yet another chance to win the game. Wil Myers reached base on a throwing error by Giants 3rd baseman Casey McGehee. After a Derek Norris single, San Diego had runners at 1st and 2nd, with Matt Kemp and Justin Upton coming to bat. Matt Kemp lined out to short and Upton flied to right to end the inning.
In the top of the 12th, San Francisco was finally able to push across a run. Brandon Crawford reached on a two-base error by Padres shortstop Clint Barmes. The ball was hit into no man’s land in left and neither Barmes nor Justin Upton could make the play. Two batters later pinch-hitter Justin Maxwell singled to center to give the Giants the lead.
In the bottom of the 12th, San Diego went down in order. After striking out, pinch-hitter Will Venable was ejected for arguing a check-swing strike. Padres manager Bud Black was also ejected. Wil Myers grounded out softly to end the game.
WP: George Kontos (1-0)
LP: Nick Vincent (0-1)
S: Santiago Castilla (3)
Notable for San Diego: RP Odraismer Despaigne: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER. 0 BB, 1K. OF Justin Upton: 1-for-5. SS Alexi Amarista, 1-for-1, 3 BB.
Notable for San Francisco: OF Gregor Blanco: 2-for-4. SP Tim Hudson, 6 IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 0 ER, 1 K. C Buster Posey, 0-for-4.
Notes: There has been no update on Ian Kennedy, who left with a hamstring injury. If Kennedy is unable to make his next start, Bud Black said that Despaigne would start in Kennedy’s place. Black made the announcement on the Padres postgame radio show.
The benches were warned in the ninth inning when Giants center fielder allegedly threw a piece of gum at Padres catcher Derek Norris. Padres closer Craig Kimbrel brushed Pagan back with a fastball.