Padres starter Eric Stults pitched well. Phillies starter Cliff Lee pitched better. Neither, however, were involved in the decision in Monday's series opener at Petco Park.
Stults gave the Friars a quality start, going seven innings, giving up just two earned runs. Lee struck out seven but ran into trouble in the top of the ninth. After giving up two hits he was replaced by Jonathan Papelbon, who promptly gave up a two-run single to Kyle Blanks that cut the Phils lead to a run. Blanks later scored the tying run on Carlos Ruiz' passed ball.
Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher held the Phillies scoreless in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the inning Blanks was the hero. His one out single scored Chris Denorfia with the winning run, giving the Padres a 4-3 come from behind win.
With the victory the Padres moved into a tie with the Rockies for second place in the NL West, three games behind the division leading Giants.
Photo Credit: Getty Images