Padres' offensive struggles continue, lose to Phillies 2-1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The San Diego Padres avoided another shutout, barely. Another loss, they couldn't prevent that.
San Diego ended its 20-inning scoreless streak when Brett Wallace hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth before falling to the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 Wednesday night.
Padres starter Colin Rea pitched seven strong innings, but San Diego was shut down by Jerad Eickhoff. The Padres had been blanked in four of their previous eight games.
"We had opportunities to score," San Diego manager Andy Green said. "We've got to focus on our hitting and not be concerned about the pitcher."
Rea (0-1), making his eighth big league start, gave San Diego a chance to win. He allowed one earned run on five hits and two walks, striking out five.
"I definitely felt good tonight," he said. "We were aggressive early, and we were able to get ahead. Even when we weren't ahead in the count we were able to make good pitches. It stings a little bit. Unfortunately I made a few mistakes, and they took advantage of them."
Maikel Franco connected off Rea in the first for his second homer of the season. He hit an RBI double in the third.
"Franco hit a couple of lasers," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
Eickhoff (1-1) struck out nine in seven scoreless innings. Acquired at the trade deadline last season as part of the deal that sent ace lefty Cole Hamels to Texas, he gave up four hits and walked none. He did it while displaying the power and finesse he showed at the end of last season when he fanned 10 in each of his final two starts.
"(Eickhoff) was in total command," Mackanin said. "I can't say enough good things. Nothing but superlatives."
Eickhoff used a knee-buckling curveball and a mid-90s fastball to stifle Padres batters. His curve was working so well that he used it to strike out the first seven hitters.
The Padres threatened against David Hernandez in the eighth. Alexi Amarista singled and moved to second when he was hit in the back by first baseman Ryan Howard's throw on a grounder by Jon Jay. A walk to Cory Spangenberg loaded the bases with one out, but Hernandez struck out Matt Kemp and Wil Myers.
Hernandez pumped his fist and hopped off the mound after getting the final strike to escape.
The run off Jeanmar Gomez snapped the Phillies' bullpen scoreless innings streak at 12 1/3 innings. Philadelphia relievers began the season by giving up 15 earned runs in their first 10 2/3.
Jay went 0 for 4 to snap his eight-game hitting streak.
DEFENSIVE WOES
The Padres committed three more errors to up their season total to nine in as many games. Spangenberg threw a ball away in the third, allowing Herrera to advance to second after a single for what would become the game-winning run. It was the second baseman's third error in two nights.
Adam Rosales and Amarista committed back-to-back errors in the fourth, with Rosales dropping a routine popup at third and Amarista mishandling a routine grounder at short.
"There was a little bit of sloppy baseball," Green said. "We've got to be better in all facets."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: LF Melvin Upton Jr. appeared to get spiked while sliding back to second on a pickoff attempt following his fourth-inning double. Upton stayed down for a bit, but shook it off and appeared fine the rest of the game.
Phillies: OF Darin Ruf (shoulder) didn't appear for the second straight game after injuring his shoulder making a diving play in the outfield on Monday. Ruf is day-to-day.
UP NEXT
The teams wrap up the four-game series on Thursday afternoon when Phillies RHP Vince Velasquez (1-0, 0.00) opposes Drew Pomeranz (1-0, 3.60). Velasquez allowed three hits in six scoreless innings, striking out nine and walking three, to earn the victory in a 1-0 win at the Mets on Saturday.
