News
Padres' rally comes up short vs. Brewers
Kouzmanoff notches career-high five hits in loss
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
08/13/09 6:20 PM ET
MILWAUKEE -- Cesar Carrillo became the 13th different pitcher to start a game for the Padres on Thursday at Miller Park, though there was nothing lucky about anything that happened to the 25-year-old.Carrillo allowed three home runs and eight runs total in 2 1/3 innings as the Brewers hit five home runs en route to a runaway 12-9 victory over the Padres to salvage one win in the three-game series before a crowd of 39,683.
Carrillo, officially added to the roster earlier in the day to take the place in the rotation vacated when the Padres traded Chad Gaudin to the Yankees, set down the Brewers in order in the first inning before everything caved in on him.
Carrillo is the first Padres pitcher whose first three hits allowed were home runs, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
"You can always get down on yourself, but I was just trying to battle," Carrillo said. "If I was getting it there [in the strike zone] I was missing it. I wish it could have ended up better. I've got a lot to work on."
The Brewers (56-58) got a 465-foot home run from Prince Fielder in the second inning, the third-longest home run in stadium history, and a three-run shot by Mike Rivera in the inning and then five more runs in the third inning.
Two of those runs in the third inning came on a two-run home run by Ryan Braun, who was a teammate of Carrillo's at the University of Miami.
"There's a lot of emotions when you make your Major League debut," said Braun. "And as a starting pitcher, you're a huge part of the game. He had a good first inning and in the second inning, he got a few balls up. He changed speeds, but he didn't keep the ball down."
The loss took some of the steam away from the momentum that the Padres (49-67) had accumulated in winning 11 of their previous 15 games before Thursday's loss.
That's not to say the Padres didn't show some offensive punch on Thursday, even while trailing 9-0 after three innings. At one point in the eighth inning, the Padres actually had the tying run at the plate.
"When you're down 9-0 after three innings and you get their closer [Trevor Hoffman] in the game, you're doing a good job," Black said. "I'm proud of our guys. I'm proud of the fact that we didn't melt."
Kevin Kouzmanoff had a career-high five hits, marking the third time in as many days that he's had three or more hits in a game. Since Aug. 8, Kouzmanoff has raised his batting average from .245 to .264 and is hitting more to right field recently.
"I like the line drive to right ... that's a great thing. Impressive hitting," Black said.
All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez continued a recent tear with three hits, including his 30th home run of the season in the sixth inning. He has 11 hits in his past three games.
Gonzalez became the first player in club history to hit 30 home runs in three consecutive seasons. Phil Nevin, Nate Colbert and Fred McGriff had reached the 30-home run plateau in two consecutive seasons.
San Diego pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar, in his first at-bat since Aug. 9, had a home run in the sixth inning. The Padres finished with 15 hits in the game, including two by rookie Kyle Blanks.
It's the seventh time this month they've had 10 or more hits and the 11th time that it has occurred since July 28.
"A few weeks ago when we would get down I think you'd see guys would get their heads down and it would snowball," Padres center fielder Tony Gwynn said. "Now, guys are up there grinding, looking for ways to get things done. That's growth."
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
