Abrams excels, Padres offense does enough to snap Coors Field losing streak
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres offense was ailing, and they absolutely needed a cure. The thin air at Coors Field proved to be exactly what the Padres needed.
C.J. Abrams had the best game of his major league career. He blasted a three-run home run, giving the Padres some much-needed insurance. He also made a fantastic play in the field, robbing a single from Charlie Blackmon.
C(J) you later 👋 #TimeToShine pic.twitter.com/zBEitSoVAq
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 12, 2022
Manny Machado hit his third home run in five days as he continued to keep himself in the MVP race. Machado’s home run was scorched, coming off the bat at 107.7 miles per hour, heading 446 feet into the Denver night.
Rocky Mountain High 😳 #TimeToShine pic.twitter.com/XUCQFei8DJ
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 12, 2022
With Jurickson Profar out with a concussion, the Padres needed someone to step up into the leadoff position. Ha-Seong Kim and Trent Grisham did not produce enough to maintain the position, so manager Bob Melvin penciled in Jake Cronenworth. Cronenworth got the game started the right way, winning a seven-pitch battle with a single to right. Melvin talked about the importance of scoring an early run via Cronenworth, saying that it takes some of the nerves off.
He scored the first run of the game before doubling San Diego’s advantage with a home run to start the third. Cronenworth finished with three hits and a walk as he continues to look much more like his 2021 self.
Sean Manaea pitched well, overcoming the tricky environment that Colorado brings to pitchers. Manaea did not allow a hit in his first three innings, shutting down the Colorado Rockies. Blackmon led off the fourth inning with a triple before scoring on C.J. Cron’s sacrifice fly. Melvin praised Manaea, saying, “It was probably his lowest velo{city} of the year tonight…but he finds a way to manage that.”
However, Manaea kept the Padres out front with back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame. Randal Grichuk blasted a seventh-inning home run off Manaea to chase him from the game, but he earned the victory, pitching very well for the Padres.
Nabil Crismatt worked 1.2 innings, allowing a run, but Abrams’ three-run shot gave the Padres plenty of cushion. With a three-run lead, Taylor Rogers entered the game. Rogers came into the game needing a save, allowing a run in each of his last four outings.
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He’s posted an ERA over 8.00 since May 28. It only got worse, as he allowed two runs. Back-to-back two-out doubles put the tying run in scoring position, but Rogers induced a groundout to put the game away.
It has been an extremely challenging stretch for Rogers, but since May 28 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he’s been extremely unlucky. His ERA rose to 8.98 since the disastrous outing against the Pirates. However, in that time, his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) sits at just over 3.00. Rogers looks very likely to return to his form prior to his struggles.
It was just the third time the Padres have hit three home runs in a game this season, proving crucial for their offense. It was also the Padres’ 50th win this season, as they became the seventh team to that mark this year.
The Padres continue to play their best baseball away from Petco Park, with their .667 winning percentage on the road being the best in the National League.
Final: Padres 6, Rockies 5
Jake Cronenworth, Manny Machado and C.J. Abrams all homered, and the Padres snapped their 10-game Coors Field losing streak after a nervy ninth inning.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) July 12, 2022
The Padres had lost their last 10 games at Coors Field, last winning on May 12 of last season prior to the victory. Mike Clevinger will take the mound on Tuesday as the Padres look to secure at least a series split in Denver.
Sam is a Senior in High School. He has been writing for three years, and started at EVT in June of 2021. He’s headed to Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Communications in the fall of 2023.