Eric Hosmer’s career night gives Chris Paddack, Padres first win of 2020
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Eric Hosmer and Chris Paddack led the San Diego Padres to their first win of the 2020 season.
Brown is back, and so are the wins. Chris Paddack and the San Diego Padres outlasted Madison Bumgarner and the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 on Opening Night.
The game started as a pitchers duel. Paddack went six scoreless, and Bumgarner remained scoreless until the final two outs in the sixth as the game lived up to its “Sheriff Showdown” billing.
Paddack tiptoed out of trouble early by inducing two double plays in the first two innings. In the third inning, Diamondbacks first baseman Jake Lamb hit a leadoff double but, once again, Paddack didn’t allow the runner to score.
The big Texan settled in the second time around the lineup, with no Diamondbacks reaching scoring position. He lasted six innings on 81 pitches in his 2020 debut.
No snake in these boots.#SDOpeningDay #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/fHje0cZ40s
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 25, 2020
The San Diego Padres bats were quiet early, failing to get a runner to second in the first five innings. The spark plug, Fernando Tatis Jr., changed that with a one-out double to right field. San Diego then showed off their plate discipline, something the Padres lacked in previous years.
Tommy Pham and Jurickson Profar walked with two outs to bring up Hosmer with the bases loaded. Hosmer’s track record against both lefties and Bumgarner is subpar, but he delivered in the sixth with a double to center, giving the Padres a 3-0 lead.
Manager Jayce Tingler handed the ball over to the bullpen with the lead, first to RHP Emilio Pagan. He got the first two batters out with ease but allowed a home run to Kole Calhoun, a notorious fastball hitter.
With the score now 3-1, the San Diego Padres needed to respond.
Trent Grisham started the rally with a one-out single, and more walks followed. Tatis Jr. walked, and Manny Machado appeared to have taken a walk, but struck out on a called strike that appeared below the strike zone. Nevertheless, Pham drove in Grisham with two outs to make the lead 4-1.
Profar put together another excellent plate appearance by drawing a long walk, and once again bringing up Hosmer with the bases loaded and two outs. Hosmer doubled again, this time to left field, extending the lead to six runs.
Austin Hedges and Drew Pomeranz came into the game in the eighth. Pomeranz threw a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts.
Javy Guerra came in for the ninth inning and closed the game out after allowing a two-out run.
Tomorrow’s matchup features two strikeout heavy pitchers. Dinelson Lamet will be on the mound for the Padres looking to improve the team’s record to 2-0, but LHP Robbie Ray will be on the hill for the Diamondbacks to get them their first victory of 2020. The first pitch is at 6:10 and the game will be broadcasted nationally on Fox Sports 1.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”
The writer is awesome and deserves an immediate raise.
How kind. It is my pleasure to be able to write about the team I love so much.
Great article Dom, glad you are back writing. Always enjoy reading what you report. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. It’s good to be back.