San Diahgo

These days, if you’re a Padres fan, at least you’re not a Dodgers fan. It took 82 games, but San Diego was finally able to grab their first series sweep of the season and pulled out of last place in the NL West (apparently my favorite division today). They’ve won seven out of their last ten, and while I don’t think anyone’s expecting a surge, it’s always nice to have some variety.

Tim Stauffer went seven innings and notched his second win in a row. Over his last three starts, he’s pitched 21 innings, struck out 20, and given up four earned runs. Anthony Rizzo also knocked in a couple of runs in this one, and I’m still making Jerky Boys jokes to myself.

Of course, it can’t all be happy tidings, as the Padres handed our man Bruce Chen his ~~tenth~~ second loss of the season. He’s carrying a tidy 3.46 ERA through eight starts, and every now and then I realize: “Wow, Bruce Chen has been around the Bigs for a while,” and the air just seems crisper and the sun brighter.