April 15, 2012
Carlos Pena had a monster game in his second start with the Padres, going 2-5 with 2 HR and 3 RBI, including a go-ahead 2-run shot in the top of the 10th inning off of Dodger reliever Jamey Wright.
The Padres jumped out on Aaron Harang early this game, scoring 1 run on Carlos Pena's first homerun, a solo shot over the right field bleachers and then 2 runs in the 3rd off of a 2-run homerun by Will Venable. Harang went 7 innings and allowed 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks while striking out 4. His 3 runs were allowed on 2 homeruns.
Joel Pineiro had the game on cruise control for awhile, allowing his first hit in the 5th inning -- a single to Andre Ethier. There was no trouble in that inning, but trouble immediately started in the 6th. Tony Gwynn Jr. led off the inning with a double. Pineiro struck out Aaron Harang before allowing Gwynn to score on a Dee Gordon single. Juan Uribe was up next and parked a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to tie the game. Pineiro left after the 6th inning, having allowed 4 hits, 3 runs and 1 walk while striking out 6 in 6 innings.
The game was without incident until the top of the 10th, when Chase Headley walked and Carlos Pena homered, which was his 2nd of the day. The Padres new "closer-by-committee" strategy sent out Joe Thatcher to close the game out. He let up a leadoff walk to Tony Gwynn but then sent down the Dodgers in order to earn his first save of the season. Luke Gregorson, who pitched the 9th inning got his first win of the season.
After the game, it was learned that Cameron Maybin has a high ankle sprain and will be out 5-6 weeks. The Padres placed him on the 60-day DL (retroactive to April 11th) which created a spot on the 40-man roster. That spot has yet to be filled but is expected to be taken by Free Agent OF Willie Cabrera who the Padres offered a contract. The Padres called up MR Josh Spence from Triple A to take Maybin's place on the active roster. Spence was 0-0 with 3 saves in 6.1 innings. He has allowed 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 6.