Padre Math: 8 * 0 + 1 * 10 = Loss

The Padres played great for eight innings on Monday, but suffered a complete meltdown in the 5th, allowing 10 runs - 7 before an out was recorded - to lose 10-5. David Wells took the brunt of the Cardinal explosion by allowing 7 earned runs. The Ocean Beach native now has an ERA north of 14 over his last 4 outings. He has not lasted more than a 5 1/3 innings over that span. Summoned to eat innings and cool down the Red Birds' bats on a 96F degree day, recently recalled Mike Thompson allowed 3 additional runs (2 earned). Thompson rebounded in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, holding the line to allow the Padres to crawl within 5. The Padres continued to hit with Adrian Gonzalez and Khalil Green again dueling for the team's title as home run leader. Both left the yard on the same day for the second time in 5 days, finishing with 18 round trippers a piece. Continuing his torrid steak, Geoff Blum had a pair of hits including a 2 run bomb while also making his third straight cameo appearance in left field. Brian Giles returned to the top of the order but was hitless in three at bats.

While the Friar's front office has stated that Morgan Ensberg is not a threat to Kevin Kouzmanoff's playing time, Ensberg got the nod for the third time in 4 days. It may be tempting to think that Manager Bud Black has come down with a case of Bruce Bochey syndrome, but Enberg's lifetime average of nearly .500 against Cardinals starting pitcher Braden Looper was the likely the real culprit. Black surely wanted to leverage Michael Barrett's .636 lifetime average against Looper, instead opted for Josh Bard behind the plate as Barrett was scratched due to ill effects of a foul ball taken off the mask on Sunday.