Arizona Diamondbacks edge San Diego Padres 3-2 – MLB Recap
Arizona Diamondbacks edge past the San Diego Padres 3-2 in the first game of their three-match regular series encounter on Tuesday, September 18 at Chase Field in Phoenix.
Diamondbacks’ starting pitcher Ian Kennedy showed his valour with eight solid innings in which he received only one run and seven hits. He remained consistent on the mound and struck-out six on his 4.08 ERA.
Kennedy’s consistent and offensive plays certainly won the game for the Diamondbacks. It was Ian who proved one of the winning factors for Arizona side.
"When that happens, you've got to be really efficient as the game goes on try to go as deep as possible, I was really happy that Gibby (manager Kirk Gibson) allowed me to go into the eighth. He asked me how I felt and I said I felt pretty good, so he said all right,” Kennedy said after a couple of reporters started asking him about his fast curving pitches. While later he told them about his performance but he also explained about some of the different facts about his team’s success in the very first game of the series.
Later, catcher Miguel Montero also commented in the media about his team-mate’s performance as he said, "He's aggressive now. You see his velocity up. In the last inning he was throwing 90-91 (mph). And his command, his command on his secondary stuff, he's been able to throw it for a strike. That's big. It's not like they're just sitting on fastball.”
Diamondbacks closing pitcher J.J. Putz also played well as he received only one run on his one innings spell. He contributed with great energy and showed good support for his team-mate and starting pitcher Kennedy.
On the other hand, the Padres' pitchers, in-fact entire team did not play well and could not save the game. They played under pressure and eventually lost it not showing any fighting spirit.
Padres’ starter Eric Stults pitched six innings and received three runs and five hits. He could have played better but Diamondbacks’ batters consistently put him under pressure and won in the end.
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