A near no-no for Musgrove, as Padres even series in Milwaukee
Credit: AP Photo
Fresh off a disappointing series-opening loss, the Padres sent Joe Musgrove (5-0, 1.86 ERA) to take on Brewers ace and reigning Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes (3-2, 1.95 ERA).
The Padres’ offense got the scoring started with a two-out rally in the first inning. Manny Machado walked, and Eric Hosmer singled to right to bring up the surging Luke Voit. Voit jumped on a first-pitch cutter from Burnes for a ground-rule double, which likely saved a run another run from crossing but did give the Padres the 1-0 lead. The Padres would add another two-out run in the second inning, Trent Grisham laced a knee-high slider down the right-field line, and Jurickson Profar was able to bring him home with a solid single to right.
Burnes appeared to be settling into the game when he had a relatively nondescript third inning, working around an error by Milwaukee shortstop Luis Urias.
The fourth inning is where the Padres were able to hang a crooked number on the Brewers’ ace. A one-out walk to Austin Nola and a Profar single to center-field set the scene for Machado to break out the lumber. Manny went down and pulled a knee-high slider over the left-field fence to stretch the Friars’ lead to 5-0. The blast was not particularly Manny-like, exiting his bat at 95.9 MPH and had just enough to clear the wall. It was also enough to chase Burnes from the game with only three and two-thirds innings pitched.
The Padres made Burnes work in every inning, and his pitch count was up to 95 before manager Craig Counsell came to get him. A number of Padres had multiple-hit efforts tonight, Grisham, Voit, and Jose Azocar each recording two hits, and Profar added three of his own. It was especially encouraging to see a good performance from Grisham, who, despite his recent strong hitting, is still nursing a lower than Mendoza-Line batting average to begin the season (.167).
The Padres would add on runs in the fifth and ninth innings, respectively, finishing the scoring output at seven total runs.
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Joe Musgrove once again was spectacular, adding his tenth consecutive quality start to begin 2022. He gave the team seven and two-thirds innings of shutout ball before allowing a Brewer to record their only hit of the evening. He left a cutter a bit too hittable for Kolten Wong to spoil the no-hit bid with a double in the eighth. Musgrove bounced back to retire the next batter on a ground out to close the book on his one-hit effort. He lowered his ERA to a minuscule 1.64 and fanned six Brewers in the process. Though his bid for a second no-hitter came up four outs short, he was mixing his pitches beautifully all night and gave San Diego more than enough to come away with their first win in their last five tries. Craig Stammen worked a clean bottom of the ninth to secure the one-hit shutout, 7-0.
These two clubs are back at it tomorrow afternoon in game three of four, as the Padres will send out rookie left-hander MacKenzie Gore (3-1, 1.71 ERA) against fellow lefty Aaron Ashby (1-3, 2.70 ERA).
San Diego born and raised. Padres and Everton supporter… yes I’m a masochist. I’m a sports junkie with a love of stories. Hopefully we can learn a few things together on this adventure.