A total cluster on defense by Padres results in a win

Wednesday September 16, 2009

Today was a complete cluster for the Padres.

In addition to committing 3 errors, two by Cabrera who just did not have his head in the game, there were at least 5 of the Diamondbacks 11 hits that should have been outs.

Several normally good players made bad plays and several bad fielding players proved why they should never play the field.

But they won 6-5 in 10 innings over the Diamondbacks this afternoon at Petco.

The Padres pulled it out, but by all rights, they should have lost that game.

Adrian Gonzalez crushed his 38th home run of the season, a pinch hit 2 run shot with 2 out, to tie the game up at 5 in the 9th. Then Cabrera atoned for his mental mistakes by squibbing a seeing eye single to right to drive in Luis Durango for the winning run in the 10th.

Durango, who was called up from AA on Monday, was one of the few bright spots in the game going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a sac. He demonstrated that he is not the best fielding LF in the league, but he looked relaxed at the plate and showed off his blazing speed with 2 bunt singles and an infield single then by swiping his first bag on his first attempt to get himself into position to score the winning run.

Mujica went 4 2/3 giving up 2 runs on 6 hits with no walks. Really should have been just 1 run, but Black treated him like a regular starter, not a guy that has started just one game since 2004 and left him in too long.

Black really seems to have no concept when a pitcher is done. He just does not recognize the signs. Which is strange, since he was a pitcher himself.

Bell got the win for the Padres. I guess it was because he shaved off his goatee and not because he finally started locating his pitches.

Yusmeiro Petit took the loss for the Diamondbacks.

The Padres climbed to 66-81 on the season with the win. They still have a mathematical shot at .500 ball.

The last place Diamondbacks fell to 64-83.