masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgPlaying in a National League ballpark has its advantages.

It comes with National League rules.

Padres pitcher Wade LeBlanc stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners and one out in the fifth inning. There’s no stopping him because there’s no designated hitter.

LeBlanc popped up a bunt on a safety squeeze and David Eckstein popped up after taking a full cut. End of rally.

Credit shortstop Cesar Izturis for preserving the 1-0 lead with a diving stop of Aaron Cunningham’s ground…Playing in a National League ballpark has its advantages.

It comes with National League rules.

Padres pitcher Wade LeBlanc stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners and one out in the fifth inning. There’s no stopping him because there’s no designated hitter.

LeBlanc popped up a bunt on a safety squeeze and David Eckstein popped up after taking a full cut. End of rally.

Credit shortstop Cesar Izturis for preserving the 1-0 lead with a diving stop of Aaron Cunningham’s ground ball up the middle. If it gets through, Jerry Hairston scores from second base.

Hairston held at third on the infield hit, bringing LeBlanc to the plate and changing the tone of the inning.

Izturis was trying to atone for his blunder in the batters box, when he backed into catcher Yorvit Torrealba as Julio Lugo tried to steal third. Izturis was called out and Lugo was sent back to second. No idea what Izturis was thinking on that play.

Brian Matusz has thrown 93 pitches through five scoreless innings. The bullpen will get busy and the tension will build.

Update: Adam Jones has overrun two balls tonight, on doubles by Jerry Hairston and Adrian Gonzalez. The second miscue allowed the tying run to score in the sixth. Jones got back on the ball, but it sailed behind him by a wide margin.