Already In the Second-Half Swing

Following the All-Star break, it's back to business as usual for the Padres

The Padres picked up right where they left off before the All-Star break, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals last night, 4-2. The Cards were benefited by four solo home runs, all off of Friars ace Jake Peavy, who took the loss.
 
One positive for San Diego is the continued strong play from second baseman Edgar Gonzalez. He hit his fourth home run last night, and went 2-4, raising his team-leading batting average to .301.
 
Two days earlier, it was little brother Adrian who was making the Gonzalez clan proud. Making his first All-Star Game appearance, Adrian played the final nine innings at first base for the National League, in the 15-inning marathon (eventually won by the American League, 4-3). He went 1-3 and knocked in a run on a sac fly in the 8th inning, which gave the NL a short-lived 3-2 lead.
 
In the top of the 12th inning, Gonzalez had a chance to be the hero. It was a moment that was laid on a silver platter, a chance to pull a gleaming diamond out of the rubble of the 2008 season. Facing Baltimore Orioles closer George Sherrill with two outs and the bases loaded, Gonzalez stepped in. A base hit meant a two-run lead for the NL and a probable victory. But in a microcosm of the Padres season, their offensive talisman struck out. On three pitches.

Eric Yates, much like the rest of the city, isn’t a native San Diegan. He’s been here for the past eight years and has adopted the Padres and Chargers as his own. Serving as a full-time and freelance sportswriter while in San Diego, he’s covered the beat for both the Padres and Chargers. A sports fanatic, his crowning achievement as a fan was appearing on the ESPN game show Stump the Schwab and coming within one question of toppling the big guy.

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