SAN DIEGO (AP) — Francisco Rodriguez's early season struggles
continued Tuesday night when he gave up Mark Kotsay's pinch-hit, two-run
homer in the eighth inning that gave the San Diego Padres a 2-0 win
against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kotsay, who played with Milwaukee
last year, drove a 1-1 pitch from Rodriguez to right field with one out.
Will Venable was aboard on a single.
"It's been a frustrating
five weeks of the season," said Rodriguez (0-3, 6.57 ERA). "I'm healthy I
have to stop making mistakes. I know what I'm capable of doing and I
know I can do a lot better than this."
It was Kotsay's fourth
career pinch homer and his first since Aug. 9, 2002, at Cincinnati
during his first stint with the Padres. He was signed as a free agent in
the offseason for his left-handed bat off the bench and a veteran
presence in the clubhouse
Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, who had his
first three-homer game and added a triple for six RBIs in Monday night's
8-3 win, went 1 for 4 with a single.
Rodriguez started the eighth
and retired pinch-hitter Jesus Guzman before allowing Venable's single
and Kotsay's first homer of the season.
"It's command," manager
Ron Roenicke said. "I think his stuff is fine. He makes some great
pitches. But when he makes mistakes, they're hitting the ball right now.
He's a guy we need out there. Every time we bring him in I feel like
he's going to do a great job. He's certainly still a great reliever. I
think he's going to be fine."
With three pitchers combining on a three-hitter, the Padres got their first shutout of the season.
Andrew Cashner (2-1) pitched the eighth for the win. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his fourth save in four chances.
Starters
Edinson Volquez of San Diego and Shaun Marcum of Milwaukee each threw
three-hit ball for seven innings. Marcum struck out six and walked four
while Volquez struck out four and walked two.
