Machado, Bats Finally Feeling Grand, Padres Blow Past Phillies 8-2
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego, California
The Padres opened up a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, who are in first place in the National League East division.
Both teams came into this game licking their wounds after the Padres dropped a frustrating series at home to the lowly Marlins and the Phillies were swept by the Dodgers.
Eric Lauer made his 12th start of the season, and the game got off to a fast start for both starters as he and Aaron Nola traded blows until the fourth inning when the Phillies broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single by J.T. Realmuto.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Franmil Reyes became tired of the Padres’ lethargic offense of the last few games and launched a towering solo shot, his 17th of the year, to tie the game at one.
LA MOLE STRONG!@La_Mole_13 ties this one up in the 5th!@Padres | #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/e4OtokzVpv
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) June 4, 2019
The fun was just beginning for the Padres bats against the 2018 All-Star Nola, who also finished third in Cy Young voting last season.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ian Kinsler doubled home a run to break the tie. Then the bases were loaded for pinch-hitter Josh Naylor, who lined a two-run single to right field to break the game open at 4-1. After Nola left the game, the Padres once again worked the bases loaded, this time for Manny Machado.
Machado came into this game trying to put a tough week behind him, where he hit .100, going 2-for-24. With one swing on Monday night, he did just that. He sent a JD Hammer pitch the opposite way, clearing right fielder Bryce Harper’s head as well as the wall for a game-busting grand slam, his first in a Padres uniform. Petco Park exploded with joy as the $300 million man trotted around the bases, giving the Friars a cushy 8-1 lead. It was Machado’s 10th home run as a Padre and first since May 14.
Show me the Manny.
(MLB x @PapaJohns) pic.twitter.com/9btDZTf4zx
— MLB (@MLB) June 4, 2019
Machado’s grand slam capped off a seven-run inning, blowing the game open.
With the bats finally awake after a week-long slumber, the Padres were able to cruise from there. Lauer’s pitching performance was overshadowed by the offensive explosion, but his outing was as solid as they come, with six innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts.
The Friars were able to rest the big guns of their bullpen with a large lead, throwing out Brad Wieck, Robbie Erlin and Luis Perdomo to finish off the Phillies, winning 8-2.
This victory comes at a desperate time when San Diego had lost two straight series and seemed to be at the brink of undoing a lot of good they had built over the first two months of the season. A win like Monday night is a type of win that could inspire a team and build confidence.
On Tuesday, the Padres go for the series win as Chris Paddack looks to regain his form at 7:10 PM PDT.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.