SAN DIEGO ---- Sputtering offense was a San Diego-wide theme on Monday night.
While the Chargers' high-powered offense had trouble producing points in Oakland, the Padres had base runners all night but couldn't push 'em across.
The Padres reached base in all but three innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks but lost 4-2 in 10 innings in front of 20,265 at Petco Park---- the result of 11 men left on base and fundamental failures.
Arizona's offense also had trouble producing runs, stranding 12 runners of its own. But the Diamondbacks were able to break through twice in the 10th inning against Adam Russell (2-1). Brandon Allen had Arizona's third straight one-out single of the inning to drive in pinch-runner Trent Oeltjen and pinch-hitter Alex Romero followed with an RBI groundout for the insurance run.
The Padres had two chances for big innings late, but in both instances Tony Gwynn Jr. failed to get down a sacrifice bunt.
"That was the only way to ruin a three-hit day," said Gwynn, who scored the Padres first run. "I'm at a loss for words. ... Something as simple as bunting, we've got to get it down period."
Batting with two on and none out in the seventh, Gwynn fouled off a two-strike pitch from Scott Schoeneweis for a strikeout. Adrian Gonzalez was then hit by a pitch, and Chase Headley tied the game at 2 with an RBI groundout. But two batters later, Drew Macias struck out with the bases loaded.
Two innings later, Gwynn, who finished with three hits, came up after Everth Cabrera led off the ninth inning with a walk. But Gwynn again failed to get the bunt down as he popped out to the pitcher. Reliever Clay Zavada then struck out Gonzalez and Headley to end the inning.
The Padres also left the bases loaded in the fourth inning, scoring only once despite singling four times.
The inability to produce wasted another strong start by Kevin Correia, who allowed two runs over 6 1/ 3 innings while striking out seven.
Earlier this week, Correia said he isn't Jake Peavy ---- in that he won't completely shut down his opponents every time ---- but he feels like he gives the Padres a chance to win nine out of 10 times.
He backed it with his 19th quality start in 30 outings ---- both of which qualify as team bests.
Having expanded his repertoire from two pitches to four this season, the former reliever and spot starter has turned into the Padres' only sure thing in the rotation this season after he was forced to win a job in spring training.
Correia, who missed part of the 2008 season with an oblique injury, has made every start and every side session this season. Those factors should be selling points for Correia, who is under team control for the 2010 season but has not yet been offered a contract.
It was only when Correia's control evaded him in the second inning that he got into serious trouble. He began that frame with a walk of Miguel Montero, and Mark Reynolds ---- who had two hits ---- singled. But Correia got Geraldo Parra to fly out and Ryan Roberts to ground out, which moved the runners up. The Padres elected to intentionally walk Allen to load the bases, but Buckner singled to right-center to give Arizona an early 2-0 lead.
Correia allowed two runners on twice more ---- though Reynolds reached on an error to start the sixth inning ahead of Parra's single ---- but he pitched out of it each time. In the sixth, he struck out Roberts, Allen and Buckner after Parra singled.
Second baseman David Eckstein was a late scratch from the lineup with a sore neck.
