Vicente Padilla mums San Diego Padres but loses no hitter attempt!
The proficient strike zone banger, Vicente Padilla, went into last night’s game following an extra day’s rest, given Ted Lily’s inclusion in the game on Tuesday. The pitcher had a tough act to replicate as the previous night saw the former Chicago Cubs ace man, produce a spectacular game to put the Los Angeles Dodgers in the pole position over the current division leaders, San Diego Padres, with a 2-1 win.
If there is one thing to expect from Vicente Padilla, then it is his signature junior folly floater. Using them relentlessly around the home stadium from time to time, the veteran looks to dish out his favourite pitch whenever the hitters did not expect it.
To summarize yesterday’s match, one can say that Padilla dominated the table leaders with so much ease that it felt like the LA Dodgers were the true leaders in the National League Western Division. The final score line depicted a comfortable 9-0 win over the Padres and what could one expect when visitors managed only two hits off Vicente’s pitches. The game was heading towards a no hitter, a feat not accomplished since 1996 when Hideo Nomo pitched against the Colorado Rockies.
Before last night, the Nicaraguan had gone to pitch for 8 innings against the Chicago Cubs on July 11th this season allowing only two hits. This game marked the 4th time the pitcher ever played all the innings in a game. Vicente’s speed variation between pitches ranged from 53 miles per hour (mph) and 94 mph. One of the memorable moments saw the skilled ball thrower pitch two folly floaters in succession to Chase Headley in the top 4th with the hitter leaving the first delivery and hitting the next one for a foul. Headley was finally dealt with a fast ball and that didn’t spell out well for him as he completely misread the ball and swung desperately for a strike out.
However, the no hitter tirade came to an end when Ryan Ludwick singled to the right, in the top 7th. The next hit came in the following pitch to Headley who drove a single to the centre. However, that would be the only time when the San Diego connected well with the ball as the game ended entirely in favour of the Dodgers with no further hits from the Padres.
Unfortunately for the Padres, the same luck wasn’t granted to their pitchers as Wade LeBlanc went for 4 runs in the 6.1 innings he pitched in. A worst fate was to follow for the second reliever, Eduard Mujica who went for 5 runs in the single innings he pitched in the bottom 8th.
As for the scoring, the LA Dodgers began the show class when Casey Blake scored off Jamey Carroll’s single and Chris Denorfia’s fumble down the centre in the bottom second. The following two runs came off Carroll and Brad Ausmus in the same innings when Scott Podsednik singled to the centre. Casey Blake scored the fourth for the team when he got the clear from Ronnie Belliard’s double down the deep left centre during the bottom third.
The last 5 runs came off Mujica’s pitching in the bottom 8th, with Carroll registering himself in the books again with a run off Vicente Padilla’s single down the centre. More was to come when Padilla and Podsednik scored when Ryan Theriot doubled to the deep right centre. This brought further misery to the top leaders who were gasping for air and wishing for an end to their misfortunes. However, one last act of embarrassment was to follow and to be enforced upon the visitors as the last two runs came off a 380 feet homer, smashed by Andre Ethier who directed the ball towards the right. This marked the end to the scoring spree from the home team and the match concluded with Dodgers on 9 runs and the Padres on 0.
Vicente Padilla ended the competition with a run to his name and an astounding performance in the form of a pitcher. The player allowed two hits, two walks (with at least one being intentional), 9 strike outs as he retired 20 final batters.
If there’s one thing to say about the Dodgers, it’s the fact that the pitchers are looking better and better, day in and day out. The batters are getting back in form and Manager Joe Torre is happy to see the team performing the way he wants them to. The Padres will be looking for a change in luck before tonight’s matchup, as they’re title struggle seems to be getting difficult every day.
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