|
If the
San Diego Padres
want to turn around their poor play on the road, they need to improve their bats.
The Padres (34-32) look to do just that with they meet the
Los Angeles Angels
(30-36) in the opener of a three-game interleague series on Friday at Angel Stadium.
San Diego has lost nine of its last 13 games away from home and three of its last four road series as it begins a six-game
trip.
San Diego mustered just seven hits in a 7-3 loss to the
Los Angeles Dodgers
on Thursday, but still earned the series win by taking the first two games. The Padres fired hitting coach
Dave Magadan
on Thursday and replaced him with
Merv Rettenmund
, who served as San Diego's hitting coach from 1991-99.
The Padres own the NL's worst batting average at .252 and have hit just 55 homers, 18 fewer than their opponents.
''We just weren't getting the results we were looking for,'' general manager Kevin Towers said. ''A lot of that can be ballpark,
a lot of it can be product. (Magadan)'s certainly not entirely to blame here. We're looking to try to find a way to maybe
jump-start this offense.''
Clay Hensley
(4-5, 3.96 ERA), who was the victim of a lack of run support in his last outing, hopes to snap a personal two-game skid when
he takes the ball for San Diego.
The converted reliever went 7 2-3 strong innings on Saturday, holding Florida to two runs and two hits, but got little offensive
help in a 2-1 defeat.
''It was frustrating,'' said Hensley, who held the Marlins without a hit over his final 6 2-3 innings. ''It was just one of
those days that it didn't go our way. I was just happy that I was executing a lot of the pitches. I was happy I got my fastball
back.''
The right-hander went 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA in his first nine starts, but is 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA in his last two. He lost his
only interleague start of the season, 6-3 to Seattle on May 20, allowing six runs and nine hits through six innings.
Hensley has never faced the Angels.
Jeff Weaver
(3-9, 6.15) tries to avoid becoming the first major league pitcher to reach 10 losses this season when he takes the mound
for Los Angeles. The right-hander has improved in recent outings, going 2-2 with a 3.91 ERA in his last four starts.
Weaver allowed two earned runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 6-2 loss to Seattle on Sunday.
''Jeff threw the ball extremely well (Sunday),'' Angels manager
Mike Scioscia
said. ''Jeff's last four outings were what we we're expecting from Jeff.''
Weaver is 14-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 28 career interleague appearances. He is 3-4 with a 3.54 ERA in eight career starts versus
the Padres.
Los Angeles improved to 3-4 on its 10-game homestand with a 3-2, 10-inning victory over Kansas City on Thursday.
Orlando Cabrera
hit a walkoff RBI single scoring
Mike Napoli
for the Angels and
Vladimir Guerrero
had a two-run homer.
Cabrera has reached base safely in 45 consecutive games, the longest streak in the majors this year.
''I am having pretty good luck. It's a good run for me,'' Cabrera said.
The Padres hold a 9-7 edge in the all-time series with the Angels.
|
