The Pads season opener started off promisingly. Although the Padres did not score in their half, there was a lot to get excitedabout when the Astros failed to score in the bottom of the first after having the bases loaded and only one out. Marion looked to be in trouble, but came through with 2 Ks in a row, and escaped safely to the dugout.

"That was a tough spot, but I made my pitches and we got out of it", said Pads junkballer Jack Marion. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those moments in the game where the momentum clearly changed dugouts, as the Pads were again unable to score in the top of the second, and when the Stros came back up in the second they pushed across three runs on a bases loaded double by Jeff Shamrock. "Our bats took awhile to wake up" said Padres manager Jason Masciorini, and after again failing to score in the top of the 4th, the Stros came up to bat in their half still leading 3-0.

After quickly loading the bases with only one out, Masciorini decided to make a pitching change and bring in the much ballyhooed off season acquisition Kevin "K2" Kennedy. After not throwing off a mound all last season, Kennedy showed a little rust in giving up a hit and a couple walks before settling down and getting out of the inning. When the dust cleared, it was 6-0 Astros.

When the Padres came up in the top of the sixth, they were down 7-0 and things were starting to look bleak, however their bats finally started to show some signs of life. With one out, JaMash ripped a clean single to left and promptly stole second. After making it to third on a ground out to short, the inning appeared to be over when Bruno hit a ground ball to the left side that looked to be fairly routine. However, the Stros third baseman threw the ball away and the Friars were on the board! This clearly rattled the Astros hurler, Ellingworth, as he threw the next one in the dirt, allowing Bruno to advance to second. Jesse Walls stroked the next pitch into left, and Bruno, with a good jump, scored easily.

After K2 shutdown the Stros in the bottom half and Norman led off the top of the seventh with a single to right, it appeared that the comeback was on. Mike Baldwin came to the plate and hit a ball that appeared to be headed up the middle; however the Stros shortstop had him shaded to pull and was able to make the play, forcing Norman at second. After setting down both Fisher and Wagoner to close the inning, time was running out.

In the bottom of the 7th, it appeared that the Stros were headed for another big inning with runners on the corners and none out. Pads third baseman made a nice grab of a hot smash of the bat of Astro, Nate Crump, and immediately threw a strike to Bruno at home for the apparent first out of the inning. Unfortunately, the ball squirted free allowing the run to score. Receiving the "gamer" award for the day was Bruno, who had dislocated his finger on the play and then stood calmly as Kennedy yanked it back in place, eliciting a collective sympathetic groan from the crowd. After executing an inning ending double play, the Pads seemed to be on the verge of completing the comeback, when they came up in the top of the eighth 5 of the first 6 batters reached base and suddenly it was 8-5 Astros. The baseball gods, it seems, had other plans. Norman came to the plate representing the winning run with one out and hit a popup to the second baseman for the second out, Kennedy, who was running on the play was doubled off first, ending the inning, the threat and the comeback as the final score turned out to be Astos 9, Padres 5.

In a losing effort, Kennedy, Bruno and JuMash all preformed well. Kennedy came in with 3.2 relief innings that kept the Pads in the game and went 2-3 with 1BB and 1RBI at the plate. Bruno was stinging the ball all over the place all day, but right at people, but still managed to go 1-4 with 1R and 2RBIs. JuMash made a nice diving stop, was ranging all over the place after popups and went 1-4 with 1R.

Updated 04/18/2008