Recap: Giants Take Labor Day Off, Lose 4-1

Sep 2, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher

(75) after giving up a run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants lost the opener of a 3 game series 4-1 to the Padres this afternoon in San Diego. Barry Zito (4-11, 5.91 ERA) got the loss in what may have been his final start for the Giants. He lost his 9th straight decision on the road and the Giants have now lost all 11 of his road starts.

Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.96) pitched 6 innings and got the win for San Diego and Huston Street came on for a 1-2-3 ninth inning and his 26th save on the season. All that was really needed on this day was the 3 run second inning for the Padres.

Walks did Zito in again as they piled up during that 3rd inning. He issued back to back walks to Kyle Blanks and Logan Forsythe with 1 out. It looked as though he may get out of it as Nick Hundley lined out to Pablo Sandoval at third.

But light hitting Ronny Cedeno had other ideas. He smacked an 0-2 changeup in to center field to score Blanks and make it 1-0. Zito then walked opposing pitcher Kennedy. After a pep talk from pitching coach Dave Righetti that didn’t seem to work, Chris Denorfia lined a 2-2 fastball in front of Hunter Pence in right field. The padres led 3-0 and never looked back.

Nick Hundely added a run for the Padres in the 4th when he hit a solo HR, his 11th on the year, off Zito. It was another in a long line of pitches Zito left up in the zone again today.

I think this sums up how everyone feels. Melissa nailed it.

The Giants once again failed to drive runners home. They left 9 men on base and were just 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. I feel like I type these stats every loss.

Brandon Belt continued his hot hitting ways driving in Gregor Blanco with a 2 out double in the 5th inning for the Giants only run. They did have 2 runners on and just 1 out in the top of the 8th, but Sandoval and Brandon Crawford could not get the key hit.

The same 2 teams are back at it again tomorrow night. It’s LHP Madison Bumgarner (11-9, 2.91) for the Giants, against rookie LHP Robbie Erlin (2-2, 5.97). Game time is 7:10pt at Petco Park, I promise I got it correct this time.