Cesar Vargas Shines Again, But Padres Lose 2-0
- Updated: May 5, 2016
The Padres pitching staff got off to the worst possible start in 2016 by getting hammered in the home opener by the Dodgers, and both the starters and relievers have been up and down over the first month of the season. Things have trended in the up direction recently though, and a particular bright spot has been rookie Cesar Vargas. He put together another strong outing today by only giving up one run in six innings and picking up three strikeouts. Vargas pitching with a clear plan against the Rockies sluggers, keeping the ball outside to righties with his cut fastball.
It was a 0-0 pitcher’s duel until the fifth inning when Rockies hit and run play got runners to first and third with no outs in the fifth, which was the first time either team had advanced a runner to third. A fielder’s choice on a grounder in the infield brought the run home and gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead. Padres starter Cesar Vargas, who has pitched well with runners in scoring position this season, continued that trend to get out of the inning. After walking Charlie Blackmon, Vargas induced an inning ending double play.
The Rockies tried the hit and run again in the seventh inning, but pinch runner Gerardo Parra was doubled up thanks to the hit being and pop up to Melvin Upton Jr.in left field, and the Padres infield bluffing an infield double play to mislead Parra as to where the ball actually was.
Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood cruised through six innings with nary a stressful at bat, and it looked like he would cruise through the seventh in similar fashion until Brett Wallace smacked a two out double and Melvin Upton Jr.drew a walk. That is as stressful as would get for Chatwood as he induced a ground out and the Padres wouldn’t get any closer to scoring a run.
The Rockies threatened to add to their lead in the top of the eighth with two men on, but Jon Jay tracked back and made a jumping catch against the wall in straightaway center field to put the Rockies away. In the top of the ninth they put men on first and third and DJ LeMahieu put down a sacrifice bunt to score the runner from third to give the Rockies and 2-0 lead.
Chatwood got the win, pitching eight innings, striking out seven and only allowing four base runners. Jake McGee picked up the save and Cesar Vargas was the hard luck loser for the Padres. Up next for San Diego is a big four game series at home against the Mets.
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