Padres history (July 24): Ending a scoring drought

(David Marshall collection ) San Diego Stadium included an open vista to the east when the Padres played there in their early years.The Padres, who entered the National League in 1969, crawled and stumbled before they could walk and eventually run (for even just a little bit in ’84 and ‘98). Their early struggles included 100-loss seasons in four of their first six years of existence and a franchise-record scoreless streak that came to an end on this date — July 24 — in 1971.

For 37 2/3 innings, they were held without a run.

They broke through for three runs in the bottom of the ninth but still wound up on the losing end of a 4-3 decision to the World Series-bound Pittsburgh Pirates in front…