Brooms Ready: Padres Look to Sweep Away the Braves

Even though the Padres have had a rough 2009 season, there are always those times where you can look at the bright side and maybe that bright could come via a sweep of the Atlanta Braves.

The San Diego Padres haven't had the season that the front office, nor the fans, were hoping for. They've been through more down than ups and more injuries than anyone would care to mention.

But, with the season winding down, this team is still showing a lot of heart. That has been especially evident over the last two games as the Padres have taken the first two of a three game set against the Atlanta Braves.

On Tuesday, Mat Latos showed his dominance. Through seven innings, Latos kept the Braves scoreless, giving up just two hits while striking out four. Padres' first baseman Adrian Gonzalez launched home run number 34 on the year to give the Padres a 1-0 lead, a lead that held into the ninth inning.

Padres' closer Heath Bell, usually automatic in a closing situation, couldn't hold the lead as the Braves tied the game in the home half of the ninth. 

The game would stay that way until the 12th inning when David Eckstein hit a go ahead RBI double, scoring catcher Nick Hundley who had doubled earlier to lead off the inning, giving the Padres a 2-1 lead. Reliever Edward Mujica would close out the game for his second save of the season.

On Wednesday, Padres' starter Tim Stauffer was looking for just his second win on the season, but wouldn't start out the way he wanted.

The Braves jumped on him in the very first inning thanks to a three-run home run from Braves' catcher Brian McCann to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.

They would hold that lead until the sixth inning, that's when the Padre bats exploded.  The Friars would score 12 runs over the final four innings including a six-run sixth inning and a three-run ninth that eventually put the game away.

The Padres look to finish off the Braves and show that this team still has a lot of fight left in them. They'll have Clayton Richard (7-3, 4.42 ERA) on the mound, one of the players that came over from Chicago in the trade that sent Jake Peavy to the White Sox, against Javier Vazquez (10-9, 3.14 ERA).

The Padres have held Atlanta at bay through the first two and look prime to finish out the series with a victory.  What they need is Richard to go deep into the game to save the bullpen from working too many innings.

If Heath Bell is needed, he'll need to put the blown save two nights earlier behind him and go to work in the ninth.  It's something that's happened to him before and if there's anyone that can forget about something and focus on the task at hand, it's the Padres' first year closer.

Offensively for San Diego, they've been led by Adrian Gonzalez as well as Kevin Kouzmanoff, both of whom have been swinging the bat incredibly well through the entire month of August.

But they haven't been alone.  Guys like Will Venable, David Eckstein, Kyle Blanks and Chase Headley have all stepped up with big hits when they're needed and they'll need to continue that tonight to give Richard support.

The one thing that the Padres can not do is get behind early. Yes they came from behind one night ago, but they can't make that a habit.  Atlanta is too good of a team to let another lead slip away and with a veteran pitcher like Vazquez on the mound, he won't let San Diego crawl back into the game.

After the Padres finish up this series on Thursday night, they'll board a plane for South Florida for a three game set against the Florida Marlins. I expect Kevin Correia and Mat Latos to pitch in the second and third games of the series, but with Cesar Carrillo being sent to Triple-A Portland, the Padres are yet to decide who will pitch the opener on Friday.

Padres News and Notes:  According to Brewers'-Hoffman-claimed-on-waivers" target="_blank">Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, former long time Padre closer Trevor Hoffman wants to return to Milwaukee but says the chances of a deal are slim. Could he sign with San Diego for one final year, his "swan song?"

Morosi also has another article out and has a prediction on former Padre Jake Peavy.  Morosi says Peavy won't win more than a single game for the White Sox...ouch.

I know this isn't Padres related, but it peaked my interest. Brad Penny was released by the Boston Red Sox, the second big name pitcher released this week by the team and we all saw how John Smoltz pitched in his Cardinals' debut. If I'm Kevin Towers and I know that Penny will cost me less than $100k, I take a shot on him and see if he wants to sign with San Diego next season. 

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Padres have interest in recently released Jason Jennings. He's a guy the Padres have had interest in before and they could bring him in to at least eat up some innings and possibly audition for the club for next season.  Not saying it will happen, just something to keep your eye on.