This time, the long ball preceded the snowball.
Nicholas Castellanos’ mammoth, two-run, first-inning homer was just the start of another long, miserable night for struggling rookie Cal Quantrill, who coughed up a third straight eight-spot as the playoff-hopeful Chicago Cubs routed the Padres, 10-2, on Monday night at Petco Park.
The game marked the start of a trying stretch in which the Padres will play 17 of their final 20 games against teams vying for a postseason spot, a test the Padres welcome as they evaluate the pieces they hope are building blocks for a brighter not-too-distant future.