PADRES HAVE MONSTER EIGHTH; TURN SERIES AROUND WITH COMEBACK WIN

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

June 18, 2016 (San Diego) - The Padres NEEDED a win tonight if they wanted to split the series against the Nationals. Unfortunately for them, ace Max Scherzer was on the mound for Washington against...well...Colin Rea.

That pitching ability gap showed quite early.  Daniel Murphy singled in the first, driving home Michael Taylor and the Nats took a 1-0 lead.

But Wil Myers tied it up at one in the Padres’ half of the first with a solo homer. 

This game was a quiet pitcher’s duel, which was surprising.  But in the seventh, Anthony Rendon singled, scoring Wilson Ramos and the Nats led the Padres 2-1.

In the eighth, Ryan Zimmerman hit a line drive single to right, scoring Taylor and the Nats led 3-1.

But then in the Padres’ half of the eighth, a weird thing happened.  The Padres loaded the bases with no outs.  I’ll say that again:  the Padres loaded the bases.  With no one out.  Then Myers did the job again with a double to drive in two and the Padres tied the game at three.  Nationals reliever Felipe Riviero, who is colossally bad (think Red Sox bullpen bad), bobbled a routine throw home after what would have been a groundout, scoring Jon Jay and the Padres now found themselves ahead 4-3.  Blake Treinen came in to pitch and he wasn’t much better; he walked in a run and the Padres led 5-3.  Yangervis Solarte hit a blooper single to drive in another two runs and the Padres led 7-3.  By this point, I’m staring at the screen in shock.  The Padres would go on to win 7-3.  Isn’t that weird?

The Pads and Nats will finish up their series with a matinee tomorrow at 1:40 p.m.  Gio Gonzalez will start for Washington against Drew Pomeranz.