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The Tucson Padres fell to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox last night, ending their five-game winning streak and preventing the Pads from sweeping the Sox out of town. After some seriously delightful baseball, Tucson just seemed flat last night…managing to obtain only five hits throughout the whole evening. Another two streaks fell in the loss: both Anthony Contreras and Beamer Weems (who’s streak began before he went on the DL) had their 11-game hitting streaks crash to an end. Young Matt Lollis took his second AAA start for Tucson last night and immediately got in trouble with back-to-back solo homers in the top of the first inning (only one out…but at least no one was on!). An error contributed to an additional COS run in the first and you just had a feeling this wasn’t going to end well. BUT, the T-Pads nearly came back on the Sox in their half of the first, scoring two runs on Jedd Gyorko’s tenth homer of the season. (That they got two runs was interesting, too: Andy Parrino reached first ahead of Jedd on a K and wild pitch! Without the wild pitch, Jedd’s blast would’ve only scored one run!) I had some hope at that point that Tucson was going to be able to keep pace with COS, especially when Lollis cruised through the second inning! But he stumbled again in the third, allowing another three runs. Meanwhile, Colorado’s Carlos Torres was an out-inducing machine on the mound, limiting the Pads to that one big Gyorko dinger, a few singles. and some walks. He also struck out six. Tucson did get another run off reliever Mike Ekstrom in the eighth: Daniel Robertson walked to open the inning, advanced to second on a hit by Jedd, and scored on a sac fly by Matt Clark. COS went to a pitching change, and closer Zach Putnam finished the inning without allowing another run. Lollis took the loss for his 3 2/3 innings of work. Mark Hamburger made his Tucson debut and looked pretty good: 2 1/3 innings, no runs or walks, three hits and five Ks. Neil Wagner allowed three runs in his two innings on the mound. Jason Ray gave us an impressive one-two-three top of the ninth. We now know these T-Pads CAN win: let’s hope they get back on a winning streak against the Bees tonight! Final Score: Tucson 3; Colorado Springs 9.
Burger Alert!! Tucson Broadcaster, Tim Hagerty, announced a GENIUS promotion during last night’s game… Apparently the Staff had noticed that the T-Pad’s roster includes both BoxBERGER and HamBURGER and decided to play with that theme. Anytime either of these two relievers strike out an opponent at Kino, hamburgers will be sold at HALF price for the rest of the game at all concession stands! Last night was the first test of the new promotion: and Mark Hamburger delivered for T-Pad fans! Mark struck out the first batter he faced in the fourth inning, guaranteeing reduced-price hamburgers for the rest of the evening. Great idea, T-Pads!!
Transactions and Injury Report. More moves to report today! But first of all let me correct a mistake I made in yesterday’s post. It turns out that San Diego OF Jeremy Hermida has been assigned to Tucson for major league injury rehab, so his move was not responsible for any current T-Pad’s moves to AA or A. Today it appears that San Diego has once again called up C Yasmani Grandal while sending SD C Todd Hundley to Tucson. I’m trying to read into the language on the Transaction site. Hermida was assigned to Tucson (injury rehab); Hundley has been optioned to Tucson. I think that means Hundley has been demoted and is ours (this article supports that). I half expected to see a transaction effecting Blake Tekotte today: he left last night’s game unexpectedly in the seventh…didn’t appear hurt, so I wondered if he was being positioned for a move. Don’t see that anywhere, so last night’s early exit is a mystery.
Fun Homestand Continues Tonight! The T-Pads begin a four-game series against the Salt Lake Bees (LA Angels AAA affiliate) tonight. Tonight’s game features a Fireworks Spectacular! Start your holiday weekend with your Tucson Padres! The skies light up above Kino Stadium following the game. Tomorrow night is Military Appreciation & Bark in the Park Night! In honor of the upcoming Independence Day holiday all military personnel (active, retired, and veterans) get FOUR free reserved box seats with Military I.D.! Present military ID at the Padres Box Office to get the tickets. Dogs will also be admitted free with their owners. Fans may sit on the berms or in their seats with their four-legged friends. The T-Pads have also added an inflatable water slide in the outfield Kids Zone. Bring your swimsuit! Donate to the Goodwill of Southern Arizona all season and bring your receipt to the box office for 2-for-1 admission on Sundays throughout the year. Gates open at 6pm for all games; first pitch at 7:05pm.
(Disclaimer – This posting has not been reviewed/approved by Pima County, the City of Tucson, the Tucson Padres, Tucson AAA Baseball, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, PCL, MiLB, MLB, National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, Tucson Baseball LLC, or any other baseball official and represents the views and biases of the author alone)
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Diamonds in the Desert: A Baseball Blog from Tucson 