Friars Ready To Take All Three In Series After Ambushing Giants Bullpen: Pads vs. Giants 9/14

By Friar Wire

By Bob Scanlan

The Padres scored five runs in the 9th to stun the Giants bullpen and take the second game of the the series 6–4 and setting the stage for a potential Padres sweep. After taking a 1-o lead in the 3rd the Pads never lead the game again until their final at bats when they squeezed a couple of runs across to get within a run. Down to their last out Ryan Schimpf walked to the plate and drove the fourth pitch he saw over the center field fence for a 3-run home run to put the Fathers on top for good.

The Padres were able to take advantage of the Giants weakness that we discussed in the Series Preview. Now they have a chance to avenge the sweeps they suffered to the Giants the first three series these two teams met earlier this year. To do it they will likely need…

1. Perdomo to avoid the long ball — Not the kind of advice you would normally be suggesting to a

1. guy with a 94 MPH power sinker, but Luis Perdomo has made some mistakes in the zone lately that have gotten driven over the fence three times in his past two games and it needs to change. It’s late in the year so it’s more likely to see the youngster’s command get fuzzy as he naturally fatigues at season’s end. Mentally he needs to learn that when the body is weakening you have to rely less on stuff, and more on the mind and the ability to focus even more intently on hitting the mitt each pitch.
2. Hurt Bumgarner with one swing — Perdomo is not the only one giving up some long balls down

1. the stretch. Madison Bumgarner has allowed 11 runs his last 11 starts, and has a 4.09 ERA over that stretch. Not a terrible ERA, but certainly higher than normal for one of the best pitchers in baseball. The method to beat him has always been to try to do big damage on the few mistakes he may make. He likes to pitch inside to righties a lot, and if you can turn on one of those that he doesn’t get inside enough you have a chance to get it out of the park or at least put yourself in scoring position.
2. Add more salt to the Giant bullpen wound — As we’ve discussed the bullpen has been a

1. problem all year for the Giants, and it was the difference in last night’s contest. Bumgarner can finish out games, so it’s not a given that the Friars will get a lot of reps against the Giants relievers today. However, with the closer problems they’ve had it doesn’t take much exposure to turn the game around, as Schimpf proved last night. Hopefully the Friars can take advantage one again.