The San Diego Padres look for another win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid park.
Every once in awhile San Diego pulls off a surprise with a big scoring affair and we saw that Monday when the Padres rallied past Houston 8-7 in ten innings. SD is one of the more offensively challenged teams in the game which is the main reason they will be fortunate to escape the National League West cellar. The Padres could use more games like Monday when they overcame a late deficit and blown save to win. Ross Ohlendorf needs to throw the ball much better after giving up five runs in 3.2 frames and Luke Gregorson can't blow saves but the big story was the offense which pounded out eleven hits with Jesus Guzman hammering a two run homer. Nick Hundley knocked in a pair and Carlos Quentin doubled in the game winner. San Diego sends veteran right hander Kip Wells to the mound for his first appearance since October of 2009. Wells has had control issues at times while getting hurt by the long ball as well.
Houston proved why they won't be a factor in the National League Central after their pitching melt down Monday squandered a spirited effort from the offense. After Monday's defeat the Astros have fallen in seven of eleven overall as reaching .500 seems to get further away with each passing week. The offense simply doesn't score enough so when the bats put seven on the board, the game has to go in the win column. Wandy Rodriguez suffered through one of his poorer efforts with five runs given up over 6.2 innings before Fernando Rodriguez blew the save with two runs allowed before Brandon Lyon lost it. Even eleven hits and nine walks wasn't enough with homers from Brian Bixler Carlos Lee and Jason Castro going for naught. Jordan Lyles gets the ball in game two of the series looking to end a three start slide. Lyles did have a solid outing last time out in a 2-1 loss to Kansas City in which he allowed two runs on three hits in seven frames.
This doesn't have the look of a pitcher's dual although the way these teams swing the bats it could be. I just don't know what to expect from Wells and Lyles isn't good so my advice is to look elsewhere...
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