Padres can’t outhit bullpen issues, Cubs pile on late in loss
San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) throws to second for an out during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. SAN DIEGO – There was no comeback magic to be had on Tuesday night at Petco Park, as the San Diego Padres saw the game slip out of reach once the Chicago Cubs got to the bullpen in an 8-3 loss. Xander Bogaerts hit a solo home run and scored a run, while Ty France collected a pair of hits with an RBI, but San Diego’s (19-10) bullpen combined to allow six runs as Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a key three-run home run late for Chicago (18-12).
Over the past six games, Padres pitchers have given up eight or more runs four times, with the bullpen getting rocked for 24 runs on 34 hits and eight walks in 22 2/3 innings pitched. The unit posted an 8. 84 ERA over the stretch, elevated from 3.
82 for the season, with opponents hitting . 358 against San Diego relievers up from the season average of . 242.
The major damage by the Cubs came in the four-run seventh inning, where Wandy Peralta replaced David Morgan after a leadoff walk. Chicago worked it to men on first and third with two outs, when Alex Bregman pinch hit for Nicky Lopez and hit an RBI single. Then Crow-Armstrong hit a three-run home run to straight away center field on a changeup left out over the heart of the plate.
"That's a really good ball club over there, we played well too, but it's hard to fall behind those guys, give them free passes and give them good counts to hit," said bench coach Randy Knorr, who filled in for Craig Stammen postgame as the manager had to leave the game late to catch a flight for personal reasons. Leading off the second inning Bogaerts, batting in the cleanup spot, turned on an up-and-in fastball on the first offering from Chicago starter Edward Cabrera. The towering fly down the left field line landed the upper level of the Western Metal & Supply building for Bogaerts’ team-leading fifth home run of the season.
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