Chris Young is known for being a strong right handed arm and a stopper when the team is on a losing streak and they need a big start, he's not known for being a hitter.
Apparently, someone forgot to tell Young that because the big 6'10" pitcher hit a two run single, his second hit off Cubs' starter Ted Lilly, in the fifth inning to lead the Padres to a 7-2 win, a series sweep of the Cubs and the team's ninth straight win. Something this team hasn't done since May of 2006 when the Padres swept a four game series against the same Chicago Cubs.
After Lilly and Young matched each other inning for inning, it looked like this game was going to be a pitcher's dual. But in the fifth, the Padres would finally break through. With two on and one out, the Cubs' decided to intentionally walk short stop Josh Wilson in favor of facing pitcher Chris Young who had already singled once off Lilly. Young made him pay as he ripped a first pitch fastball into left field, scoring Drew Macias and Chase Headley to put San Diego ahead, 2-0.
The Cubs would cut the lead to 4-2 in the top half of the seventh thanks to a Reed Johnson two run home run that barely cleared the left field wall, but that was as close as they would get.
In the home half of the seventh, Lilly would give up a lead double to pinch hitter Edgar Gonzalez and, after a sacrifice bunt from David Eckstein, Lilly would be pulled in favor of Aaron Heilman.
Heilman would strike out outfielder Scott Hairston and would then intentionally walk first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, deciding to instead face third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff who had an RBI double earlier in the game. Kouzmanoff would make them pay for that decision, hammering a 2-1 slider three rows deep in left field for a three run home run, his fourth of the season, giving Kouzmanoff four RBI on the day.
Padres' starter Chris Young would finish his day giving up two runs on four hits, striking out four and not walking a single batter in seven full innings. The Padres bullpen again was flawless with Luke Gregerson and Greg Burke pitching scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth innings respectively, closing out the Padres' ninth straight victory.
San Diego will try and continue their winning ways as they head out on the road for a three game set in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks and then another three game set in Denver against the Colorado Rockies.
The Padres will have Chad Gaudin (1-3, 4.18) in game one against Arizona on Monday, Kevin Correia (1-2, 4.53) in game two and Jake Peavy (4-5, 3.48) will close out the three game set in Phoenix on Wednesday before the team has an off day on Thursday before heading to Denver.
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