San Diego released Freddy Garcia midway through spring training. Now with Baltimore, Garcia hopes to show the Padres the error of their ways when the Orioles wrap up a brief two-game set against them at Camden Yards.
Garcia, though, hasn't been anything special in his two starts for the Orioles, as he has posted an 0-1 mark to go along with a 4.26 ERA. After giving up two runs in a no-decision to the Angels his first time out, Garcia was battered around a bit in a loss to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, as he allowed four runs and five hits in six innings.
"I was throwing strikes, especially (going into) the fourth inning," Garcia said. "I made two mistakes, and then I paid for it. Sometimes it happens. It's part of the game, and hopefully next time I'll do better."
Garcia owns a career 4-2 record and 2.51 ERA in nine career starts against the Padres, but hasn't faced them since 2005. Garcia also has a slightly better career ERA in day games (3.84) versus night games (4.32).
Getting the call for the Friars on Wednesday will be veteran right-hander Jason Marquis, who has won his last three starts. Marquis beat the Miami Marlins last Wednesday, as he scattered five hits over eight scoreless innings to improve to 4-2 on the year, while lowering his ERA to 3.48.
"He's got a lot of action on his pitches, so it's kind of fun to watch him," said Padres rookie Jedd Gyorko said. "He doesn't throw a ball over 90 mph but he can still carve up a lineup."
Marquis' run could come to a screeching halt today, though, as he is 0-1 in five games (3 starts) against the Orioles with a 9.92 ERA.
On Tuesday, Everth Cabrera drove in the go-ahead run with two outs in the ninth inning to lift San Diego past the Orioles, 3-2.
Baltimore took a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning on a Steve Pearce RBI single, but couldn't close it out in the final frame.
The Padres put runners at first and second with no out, but Jim Johnson (1-3) was able to get Jedd Gyorko to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Yonder Alonso, though, moved to third on the play, then scored when Chris Denorfia singled to center field.
After Nick Hundley was hit by a pitch, Cabrera laced a single past a diving J.J. Hardy to bring Denorfia around.
"To get to (Johnson) is a great accomplishment for us," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Those are great on the road, they really are, to snatch one back when they took the lead."
Carlos Quentin had a solo homer for the Padres, who had dropped three straight games entering the contest. Luke Gregerson (2-2) recorded the final out of the eighth to get the win and Huston Street stranded a runner in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season.
Johnson had converted a franchise-record 35-straight saves entering the contest.
"It was the first time I'd ever seen it happen," Orioles second baseman Ryan Flaherty said of Johnson's blown save. "That streak was incredible. He comes in the game and it's 1-2-3, and the game's over. You get accustomed to that."
San Diego took two of three from the O's the last time these teams met back in 2010. This is the Padres' first visit to Baltimore, though, since 2002.
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