Padres Look to Bounce Back After Ugly 11-4 Beatdown

The Padres got absolutely shellacked last night, surrendering 11 runs to a Diamondbacks squad that made Petco Park look like a Little League field. Now San Diego has to shake off that embarrassment and find some answers before this late-September series slips away entirely.

Arizona's bats came alive in Thursday's opener, and that's the concern here—momentum is a fickle beast, especially this late in the season when every game carries playoff implications. The Diamondbacks proved they can exploit whatever San Diego was selling on the mound, and unless the Padres make serious adjustments, we could see more of the same offensive fireworks from the visitors.

San Diego needs its pitching staff to show up with some pride. Eleven runs allowed is unacceptable for a team with postseason aspirations, and the bullpen in particular looked lost. If they can't shut down Arizona's suddenly hot lineup, this game could turn into another laugher.

The Padres are at home, which usually means something, but after getting pantsed like that in front of their own fans, confidence might be shaky. Arizona smells blood. DarkHorse hasn't weighed in yet, but the smart money says San Diego better find their backbone fast—or this series is Arizona's for the taking.