Fernando Tatis Jr. puts on a show in Padres 9-3 win
Credit : Padres
Petco Park- San Diego, California
The San Diego Padres returned from Seattle to start a four-game series with division rivals the Colorado Rockies. Eric Lauer was on the hill, and his evening started well by retiring the first two batters of the game.
However, Nolan Arenado worked a hit with two strikes. Poor positioning behind the plate rendered Francisco Mejia helpless in a pitch that allowed Arenado to advance to second base. Lauer battled with two strikes but ultimately left a pitch over the plate that Dan Murphy hit hard into right field, scoring Arenado. Fernando Tatis Jr. made a terrific diving stop on an Ian Desmond groundball to end the inning.
Tatis continued his strong play with a leadoff home run, his sixth leadoff home run of the year. Manny Machado was hit by a pitch in the first and retaliated by stealing second base while Eric Hosmer drove him in to make it 2-1 at the end of the first.
In the following inning, Luis Urias led off with a double down the left-field line and Tatis Jr. stayed hot by driving him in, making it 3-1 Padres early in the game.Â
Lauer had a smooth second inning, but the third saw back to back doubles by Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story resulting in a run. Lauer retired the next three Rockies to end top half, and the Padres went down in order in the bottom of the inning.
Blackmon sent the first pitch of the fifth inning into the right-field stands to tie the game at three. After another base hit, Lauer was pulled by Andy Green. The lefty went four innings and gave up three runs on ten hits and only two strikeouts while throwing 80 pitches in the game.
In the bottom half, the Padres were able to score some insurance runs. After a Mejia single and Naylor walk, Urias hit a routine groundball to Story. Ryan McMahon was unable to get to second, and Story hurried his throw and ultimately skied it over the first baseman, allowing Mejia to score. Green decided to swap Naylor out for the faster Manuel Margot, who eventually scored on a wild pitch. Jon Gray was then replaced by Jairo Diaz. Diaz was able to field a soft ground ball from Tatis Jr. However, he too threw the ball over the first baseman’s head which allowed a run to score. Wil Myers then doubled to centerfield to plate two more runs.
.@tatis_jr has the most HR (22) in a season by a SS before their 21st birthday. pic.twitter.com/XC6Jfki5B3
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) August 9, 2019
The seventh inning saw the debut of Jose Castillo fresh off the IL. He started wild, hitting Blackmon and walking Story in four pitches. After a visit from pitching coach, Castilo settled in with two strikeouts. However, after the second strikeout, he was looked at by the trainer and ultimately pulled from the game. His hand and middle finger were injured. Andy Green indicated after the game that it appears to be a tendon issue for Jose Castillo. He will be evaluated on Friday.
Margot hit a home run off Bryan Shaw in the eighth inning, which was good for his ninth homer of the year. Luis Perdomo came in and closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. He also got a little help from his defense as Yonder Alonso was thrown out at second base by Margot for the first out.
The win makes the Padres 53-61 on the year. Cal Quantrill is on the mound on Friday as the Padres go for two wins in a row.
Lifelong Padre fan born and raised in San Diego, currently living in Temecula. The editors make me sound smart.