Padres vs Dodgers Game Recap: Chase Headley’s Slam Caps Off Offensive Explosion

Ladies and gentlemen, we have life. These winless Padres are winless no more. With a two run first inning, the Padres grabbed their first lead of the season, and they didn’t let go on the way to an 8-4 victory. Clayton Richard was fantastic, but much of the praise goes to Chase Headley.

After Matt Kemp had cut the Padres lead to just 4-2 with a two-runner homer just clearing the center field wall, the Padres answered. They loaded the bases ahead of Headley who had yet to record a hit this season. Headley then unloaded, getting his first hit of the year in the grandest of fashion. His grand slam proved to be the winning hit in the game as the Dodgers would score two more.

Clayton Richard went seven innings and gave up two runs, bot unearned.  He allowed just two hits and struck out three.  It was about as impressive a performance as he’s had in a long time.  Andrew Cashner came in and lit up the radar guns again in the eight, pitching a scoreless frame.  Ernesto Frieri was given the nod in the ninth and gave up two runs before the Padres got out of there with a win.

Every Padres starting position player had a hit in the game.  It was more like their spring performances than what we had seen over the first three games of the series.  The team showed the same aggressiveness that helped the Dodgers take the first three.  Cameron Mabin went 2 for 4 with two stolen bases.  Chase Headley had a stolen bag.  Players were stretching plays and hustling.  It was almost as if the team found its identity.

The Padres have the day off today, but they host a three game set against the Diamondbacks who are coming off a three-game sweep of the Giants.  The Padres will send Edinson Volquez to the hill against Trevor Cahill.  The game will be at the normal 7:05 PT start time.

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