Kyle Blanks hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel the Padres past the Cubs 4-1. Ted Lilly pitched a short shutout in his return from injury, striking out four in six innings of work. The Cubs bullpen continued the shutout until the ninth, when Kevin Gregg was handed a 1-0 lead. An Eckstein walk and a Headley double tied the game, and after an intentional walk, Blanks hit his bomb for the win.

At 22, Blanks is posting a .359 OBA and a .481 slugging percentage, despite striking out in 37% of his at bats. I like the growth potential of those first two numbers as he matures.