Errors In 22nd Help Rox Outlast San Diego

Khalil Greene's two out error lead to the Rockies run in the top of the 22nd. Colorado capitizes on Greene and Bard's throwing errors before a game winning double off Troy Tulowitzki's bat. The longest game in either Padres or Rockies franchise history ended more than 6 hours after it started with the Colorado Rockies outlasting the Friars 2-1 in 22. Greene led off the bottom of the 22nd inning being hit with a 2 strike pitch before Josh Bard's tired legs bounced into a double play. The bottom line is that the offense needs to help its pitching staff that allowed 1 run every 11 innings and only 1 earned through 22. This team needs to find its spark, and fast.

After 13 scoreless innings between the Padres and Rockies each team pushed a run across in the 14th. Both team also left the bases loaded in the 14th inning. The Colorado run was scored via a base on balls, and a missed call on a 2-2 pitch that would have ended the inning.

Jake Peavy looked like the ridiculous Cy Young winning talent that he is while tossing 8 scoreless frames of 4 hit (all singles) 11 strikeout ball. On the other side Jeff Francis made the Padres look like, well, the Padres. San Diego had a few chances throughout the contest, mainly in the first 2 innings where multiple Friars were on base together...it took until the 10th inning for the next Friar to find himself on base. The most glaring of Padres miscues came when Paul McAnulty tried to stretch a lead off double into a triple (whether Glenn Hoffman was waving him, is unknown at this point) and got thrown out by at least 10 feet. The Friars were a few inches from walking off with a victory in the 14th when Colt Morton took a 3-1 pitch for a questionable strike that lead to an inning ending ground out.

Extra Extra

FF is certain that catcher Josh Bard (whose single in the 14th tied the game at 1) has earned a night off after catching every inning in the Thursday night marathon. If Bard sits Friday against the DBacks, it would pave the way for Colt Morton to make his first major league start.

Of the Padres first 8 hits 7 were singles and four were off the bats of Kouzmanoff and two pitchers; Peavy and a pinch hit for Randy Wolf.

Trevor Hoffman tossed a "perfect" 9th, although Todd Helton and Matt Holliday each missed clearing the Petco Park wall by a combined 18 inches. FF's Style Dept noticed that Hoffman's long hair has been trimmed back to what we are all used to seeing from the closer.

A Clint Barmes double ( just the second extra base hit of the game) in front of a sacrifice bunt gave the Rockies a great chance to take the lead in the 17th. With the infield playing in, Tad Iguchi made a nice play to hold the runner at third and record the second out. With the threat still in full tilt; Wil Ledezma forced Willy Taveras to weakly fly out to Brian Giles.

The 18th inning started with another blown strike call that directly lead to a walk. Helton followed with a single to left, and Ledezma was watching Matt Holliday stride to the plate. Ledezma reached deep into his bag of tricks (yes, apparently Ledezma has a bag loaded with tricks) and induced a huge double play ball before striking out the next Rockie.

In the 19th inning the Padres broadcasters learned that the 1am curfew that the American League uses does not apply in the NL.

Ledezma sparkled in his 5 scoreless innings from the 15-19th, he earned respect from FF and I'm sure his teammates.

With 2 outs and 2 strikes in the top of the 20th, home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez missed yet another strike three call that led to a 2-out hit before San Diego's Glendon Rusch got Helton to line out to center. As stated before, Mr. Marquez has had an inconsistent game calling balls and strikes.

In his 21st inning of catching duties, Josh Bard pounced on a bunt with cat like quickness to nail the lead runner at second. Rusch struck Brad Hawpe out on a nasty curve for the second out before Barmes popped up to Iguchi to give the Padres their 13th opportunity to walk off with a victory. The middle of the 21st innings will give the fans at Petco their 3rd chance to stretch to "Take Me Out To The Ballgame"...