NewsLong night for Padres in loss to A's
Cabrera's defensive wizardry not enough for Friars
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
06/20/09 2:53 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- It's not something that David Eckstein ever notices when he's playing or thinks about, though it was readily apparent the moment he stepped inside the clubhouse after Friday's game against the Oakland A's."I couldn't believe it when I got here and saw what time it was," Eckstein said, waving a finger toward a clock on the wall.
 |
Maybe it was only fitting, considering the guests on the other side, that the Padres played a game befitting an American League team more so than the pitching-and-defense variety mostly seen in these parts that typically lead to expeditious finishes.
It wasn't the numbers on the clock (three hours and 39 minutes) that disenchanted the Padres, but the ones on the scoreboard, as San Diego fell to the A's, 7-5, in front of a crowd of 20,019 at PETCO Park.
Other numbers that no doubt disillusioned the Padres (29-37) included 13 runners left on base, going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and the crooked number the A's put up in the eighth inning when they scored three runs off reliever Edward Mujica, who had not allowed a run in 18 of his previous 19 innings.
In the end, as Eckstein, who has played in both leagues, headed to the shower bemoaning the time of game and the lost opportunity for the Padres. They got three hits from leadoff hitter Tony Gwynn, several dazzling defensive plays from shortstop Everth Cabrera and another night where Adrian Gonzalez saw more pitches than he swung at.
The Padres had a 5-3 lead entering the eighth inning after Josh Banks proved to be a capable replacement for starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc, who allowed three runs in three-plus innings, including two walks and a hit batter in the fourth inning.
"I just saw signs of control and command leaving him," said San Diego manager Bud Black. "He just couldn't get the balls in the strike zone as consistently as he wanted."
That wasn't a problem for Banks.
Recalled earlier in the week from Triple-A Portland, Banks tossed three shutout innings and stood to be the pitcher of record when Kevin Kouzmanoff, the hero from Thursday's walk-off victory over the Mariners, lined a two-run single to left field in the sixth inning.
Mujica, who had proved to be a capable setup man for closer Heath Bell, got two outs in the eighth inning, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. The big blow was the two-run double Orlando Cabrera drove to the gap in left-center that put the A's ahead for good.
On a day when the Padres shuffled their 25-man roster because of injury along with the promotion of their top prospect, first baseman/outfielder Kyle Blanks, the newcomer of sorts who made the biggest splash was Cabrera. The shortstop was activated from the 60-day disabled list, where he had been since April with a broken hamate bone in his left hand.
There was the "cannon," as Eckstein called it on the throw to first in the fifth inning on a 1-6-3 double play that got Oakland's Kurt Suzuki. There were also the two gems that the rookie had in the seventh inning, when he went into the hole toward third base twice to nab Bobby Crosby and then Nomar Garciaparra on a ball he had no business getting to.
"I haven't seen Everth play that much, but he reminds me a little of [Brewers shortstop prospect] Alcides Escobar," said Gwynn, who was with the Brewers organization until last month. "He shows no fear going in the hole."
Eckstein, who had spent most of his career at shortstop, has marveled at Cabrera since Spring Training and thinks the 22-year-old Cabrera is going to be "a fun guy to watch."
Cabrera, hitting ninth in the lineup with Black wanting to bunch together his two fastest players in the lineup, had one hit in five at-bats. Gwynn, who is hitting .329 since he was traded to San Diego, had three hits and a walk.
Adrian Gonzalez reached base five times, four times on walks, and has now reached base in his last 11 consecutive plate appearances. With an on-base percentage of .534 in June -- 26 walks and 13 hits -- he could well reach Brian Giles club record of 13 set in 2005.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
