Padres MiLB May 19, Players of the Day

Hitter(s) of the Day

Drew Cumberland (Low-A): 1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, 3 SB
Lance Zawaszki (High-A): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
Chad Huffman (AAA): 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

Pitcher(s) of the Day

Simon Castro (Low-A): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR
Brad Brach (Low-A): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 HR
Corey Luebke (High-A): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR

Commentary

System sweep!

Low-A: The Fort Wayne TinCaps beat the South Bend Silver Hawks 6-3 on the road.
High-A: The Lake Elsinore Storm beat the Lancaster JetHawks 4-1.
AA: off
AAA: The Portland Beavers beat the New Orleans Zephers on the road 5-1.
MLB: The Padres hosted and beat the Giants 2-1.

Now even though the Padres won 2-1, they put on a clinic in the fourth inning demonstrating how to lose games.

Scott Hairston singles.
With Adrian Gonzalez batting, Scott Hairston stole second base.
Adrian walks.
Kevin Kouzmanoff grounds into a fielder’s choice, A. Gonzalez out at second (1 out, Hairston to third base).
Chase Headley hit by pitch.
Nick Hundley pops to shallow right-field (2 outs).
Chris Burke grounds into fielder’s choice, Chase Headley out at second base (3 outs).

1st & 2nd with no out – no execution…
Bases loaded with 1 out – no execution (Hundley swung at a first-pitch breaking ball)…
Kouzmanoff, Headley, and Burke all had 0-2 counts. Headley was let off the hook by taking a pitch off his leg, but each of the three failed to have quality at-bats. I can understand taking a guess on a first pitch and swinging for the fences when the bases are empty, but with runners in scoring position, the Padres need to be disciplined and have quality at-bats. I’m not even upset that they didn’t score, I’m upset in the manner in which they failed to execute.

***

Drew Cumberland returned to action today with the TinCaps.

Chad Huffman is quietly showing that the San Antonio Missions’ home park had more to do with his poor 2008 numbers (.284/.383/.419 with 9 HR) than actual talent (.265/.381/.530 with 8 HR so far in 2009).

Brad Brach, the TinCaps’ closer, has pitched 16.2 innings so far this year and has allowed only 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 21.