Davies steady, offense steps up in Padres sweep of Rockies
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Mitch Moreland homered, and Wil Myers recorded two extra-base hits as the San Diego Padres swept the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Petco Park- San Diego, California
The San Diego Padres are a well-rounded ball club.
One day after facing Mike Clevinger and his power fastball, the Padres threw a changeup at the Rockies and sent Zach Davies to the mound. The six-year veteran does not possess a mid 90s fastball. Instead, Davies relies on location and movement. The right-hander frustrates hitters by moving the ball in and out of the zone, which is the exact opposite approach of the one utilized by Clevinger, Dinelson Lamet, or Chris Paddack.
Davies boasts one of the best changeups in the game. He threw the pitch over and over again to Rockies’ hitters on Wednesday, and they simply failed to adjust. At one point through five innings, Davies threw as many changeups as fastballs — 37 each — in the game.
“Going out there as long as possible is always my goal,” Davies said after the game.
As for the changeup, Davies referred to it as his best pitch and called himself stubborn in attacking the hitters with multiple off-speed pitches.
The right-hander had an excellent command of his pitches on Wednesday but allowed three earned runs on five hits as Trevor Story and Matt Kemp each took him deep in the contest. He struck out eight and walked two in his 99-pitch outing, departing with a 4-3 lead.
“He just kept battling for us,” manager Jayce Tingler said about his starter after the game.
Momentum swung back and forth in this game, but each time the Rockies produced a run (first and sixth inning), the Padres responded in the bottom half. Mitch Moreland slugged his first homer as a Padre in the first inning, and Wil Myers knocked in Moreland in the sixth with a huge triple. San Diego added on in the eighth inning as Austin Nola plated Myers with two outs in the inning. There is no quit in this team, and the fact they continue to respond after an opponent scores a run is impressive.
Trailing, tied, ahead. These guys always get ’em back.#FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/yETlsDn07N
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 10, 2020
With the bullpen solidified this past week, the Padres controlled the game late. Dan Altavilla, Drew Pomeranz, and Trevor Rosenthal were effective as the trio did not allow a run for the Padres.
Colorado came into this series with a .500 record and hopes of making the playoffs. Losing three games mathematically puts the Rockies on the outside looking in at the playoff picture with a little more than two weeks left in the season. There is still time for Colorado, but this series with San Diego may prove to be decisive.
The Padres welcome San Francisco to town next for a four-game set, which starts on Thursday. Chris Paddack will toe the rubber for the Padres. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:10 pm.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
Good teams play well against all teams regardless of their opponents streaks, etc. Colorado came in hoping to close the gap with us. Our good team put them in their place and announced… “we’re real and here to stay”.
Game one against the Giants showed them that SD is real and better than they are.
The Giants coming in are very hot and are playing great baseball. The Padres will have to meet their level of emotion and intensity to continue on being successful. This series has the potential of hurting the Padres momentum. Junior needs a day off, and the sheriff needs to harness his curve and spot his fastball better. Lets go Slam Diego!