Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
I love long battles between pitchers and hitters -- single at-bats that become showdowns.
We had one of those Sunday at Petco Park, and it turned out to be a critical point in the Padres' 3-1 victory over the Dodgers -- a win that prevented the Padres' rivals from the National League West from completing a three-game sweep.
The game was scoreless in the third inning when left-handed-hitting Padres shortstop Alexi Amarista stepped into the batter's box to face Scott Baker.