|
 Edinson Volquez threw seven strong innings and Carlos Quentin hit his first home run of the season, helping the Padres snap Milwaukee's streak with a 2-1 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday night.
Trailing 2-0 in the ninth, the Brewers got back-to-back doubles with two outs off closer Huston Street. Martin Maldonado was then called out for running into his own batted ball outside the batter's box for the final out.
"You hate to go through a game and not do anything and end up losing, 2-0," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "So to go into the ninth, getting people on base, gives you hope. Then you score a run and get really excited and then you end it in a goofy way."
The Brewers manager did not think that Maldonado was out of the batter's box when he got hit by the ball, but that is how home plate umpire Paul Emmel ruled.
Volquez (1-3) allowed just five singles, struck out three and did not walk a batter, lowering his ERA from 8.84 to 6.39 as San Diego ended a five-game skid. It marked only the fourth time in 127 starts that Volquez did not walk a batter and it was the first time that he has gone 7 plus innings without walking a batter.
"He was done in the zone," Roenicke said. "He had good command of all of his speed pitches. His changeup was really good. We just caught him when he was really on."
Quentin, whose eight-game suspension for a brawl against the Dodgers ended Tuesday, hit a shot into the third deck off Brewers starter Marco Estrada with one out in the fourth to open the scoring.
It was the seventh home run given up by Estrada (2-1) in five starts. He pitched 6 1-3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, with two walks and three strikeouts.
"Marco had command from the first inning on," said Roenicke. "He did a great job. I liked what he did."
[to top of second column] |
Luke Gregerson pitched a scoreless eighth for the Padres and Street came on in the ninth to get his third save in as many opportunities as the Padres also ended a seven-game losing streak at home.
Volquez also helped produce the Padres' second run in the fifth.
Nick Hundley singled with one out and Volquez laid down a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy threw to first, where second baseman Rickie Weeks was waiting for the out. However, Hundley, after hesitating around second, headed for third. As he was approaching the bag, Weeks rifled the ball across the diamond to a shortstop Jean Segura, who was also heading for third, but the ball bounced in the dirt and wound up in foul territory in left field and Hundley scored.
"I was throwing strikes, no walks today, it was about time," laughed Volquez. "It was great. All my pitches were there, my curve was pretty good, my changeup. Everything was there I can't complain about anything tonight."
NOTES: Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez, who has been on the DL since April 6th with a sprained left knee, was taking BP and taking ground balls Wednesday night and according to manager Ron Roenicke, "he could be back in the lineup somewhere in the next home stand." .RHP John Axford could be back in his closer role soon according to Roenicke. "I think right now we are not going to flip Jim Henderson (current closer) and John (Axford). The way Ax threw yesterday (Tuesday) he could win every ball game he went in. It wouldn't take much for me to flip the two," said Roenicke. "I think Ax with his breaking ball and the way he's been throwing could have that repeat year (46 saves) that he had two years ago."... The Padres newest pitcher LH Robbie Erlin was in the bullpen Wednesday and was looking at hurling in long relief according to Padres manager Bud Black. Erlin, 22, had his contract selected from Triple A Tucson. The Padres optioned RHP Thad Weber, 28, to the same Tucson club. In addition the Padres transferred IF Logan Forsythe from the 15-day DL to the 60-day disabled list with plantar fasciitis.
[Associated
Press]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
