New Padres show mettle & bats come alive

Tuesday September 8, 2009

One Padres rookie and one new Padre showed that they could get the job done in a pressure situation tonight against the San Francisco Giants at Alphabet Park.

Luke Gregerson has shown in many situations this year that he can be counted on to protect a lead and tonight was only different in that he earned his first major league win by pitching 2/3 perfect innings, but this was the 1st time we have seen Ryan Webb in a close game and he looked very good with his fastball topping out at 96 and his slider popping.

Kevin Correia had another quality start giving up 3 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk in 6 innings. After an outstanding outing in his last start, Correia struggled with his control at times tonight, had to pitch from the stretch in each inning except the 6th. He ended up throwing 115 pitches to get through 6 innings in earning a no decision.

Chase Headley, Kevin Kouzmanoff hit solo home runs off Giants rookie Madison Bumgarner and Will Venable crushed a solo shot to deep center to lead the charge for the power charge for the Padres. Headley drove in the winning run with an opposite field single in the 8th.

Headley went 3-4 and looked very good at the plate, stroking a ball out over the plate for a home run to LF in the 1st and fighting off inside pitches for both singles.

Kouzmanoff went 2-5 before leaving the game with a left calf strain after an at bat in top of the 9th. If the season ends today for Kouzmanoff, he will have enough Total Chances to qualify for the MLB record for fielding percentage by a 3B.

On his 26th birthday, Nick Hundley closed out the game playing left field, that's correct left field, and caught a fly ball from Eugenio Velez for the final out of the game. It was the first time Hundley has ever played the outfield professionally.

The Padres now have 18 games with double digit hits in their last 36 games.

Bumgarner got a no decision for San Francisco in his first major league start, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk with 4 k's in 5 1/3 innings pitched. All in all, a very good showing for the Giants top prospect.