It would be very hard to blame Jason Marquis for the Cardinals’ 2-1 loss to the Padres on Wednesday, night, though one look at the record book tells you that he got the loss and was charged with the run that gave San Diego the victory. However, Marquis almost single-handedly kept the Cardinals in the game.
Marquis (9-8) pitched eight 1/3 innings and allowed six hits, five walks and just two runs. Mark Loretta drove in a run to tie the game at 1-1 in the third. Marquis locked in and retired 16 of the next 18 batters he faced and allowed no hits over that time.
But that streak came to an end in the ninth inning, when Marquis allowed a one-out double to Ryan Klesko. He intentionally walked Joe Randa, then Robert Fick came to the plate and nailed a single to center to score Damian Jackson, who pinch-ran for Klesko.
The Cardinals only run came in the second inning, when Abraham Nunez tripled to right field to score John Mabry, who had walked earlier in the inning. It was only one of three hits the Cardinals were able to get on Wednesday. Padres’ starter Jake Peavy, who got the no decision, allowed two of those hits over eight innings.
Reliever Trevor Hoffman (1-4) got the win despite allowing a base hit in the top of the ninth. John Rodriguez led off the inning with a single, but he only got as far as second base. Albert Pujols lined out and Jim Edmonds was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second. The Cardinals’ chance to tie ended by John Mabry striking out and Mark Grudzielanek lining out.
