Machado Electrifies But Padres Pitching Can’t Hold Lead, Lose 4-3
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego, California
There was an electric, even playoff atmosphere at Petco Park Friday night for the first meeting between the Padres and Dodgers of the 2019 season in front of a sold-out crowd of 44,425.
The Friars donned their alternate brown and gold tops as Eric Lauer took the hill against LA, a team he has had success against, with an 0.92 ERA in three starts.
The game started with a bang in the bottom of the first inning when Franmil Reyes singled ahead of Manny Machado. Machado was yet to have a signature moment at the plate for the Padres this season. That is now no longer the case.
Machado laid off of a couple of tough pitches from Clayton Kershaw to work the count full. Then he destroyed a ball that went into the seats just below the giant Jumbotron in left field, a projected 437 feet away from home plate. The majestic blast propelled the Friar Faithful to their feet in excitement as the Padres jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
WHAT A STATEMENT!
Manny Machado crushes a 2-run home run for the @Padres in the first inning!@MLBonFOX | @MLB pic.twitter.com/abf7JEmXx4
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) May 4, 2019
Ian Kinsler hit his second home run in as many games, extending the lead to 3-0. He seems to be heating up after a frigid start to the season.
Lauer tossed four hitless innings before allowing a Chris Taylor solo homer in the fifth. He ran into more trouble in the sixth and left with the bases loaded and no one out.
In came Brad Wieck out of the bullpen, and he buckled down and only allowed one inherited runner to score, preserving the Friars’ 3-2 lead with a big strikeout.
Trey Wingenter came in for the seventh and immediately relinquished the lead after Austin Barnes sent one into the seats. He settled down to keep the game tied by striking out the next three batters who came after Barnes, albeit with some help from a generous strike zone.
The game remained tied until the ninth inning and Kirby Yates came in to try and preserve the tie. When the Dodgers got a runner on second with one out, Max Muncy lined a grounder down the first base line, which bounced off of Eric Hosmer’s glove as he dove. The runner came around to score, giving the Dodgers the 4-3 lead.
San Diego was unable to stay alive against All-Star closer Kenley Jansen, who struck out Austin Hedges to end the game as the Friars fell 4-3.
The Padres look to even the score on Saturday as Joey Lucchesi takes the mound against Rich Hill at 5:40 P.M. 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.
Tough loss, but no reason for fans to be all gloomy. This is still the youngest team in the majors, up against the best team in the NL. There are going to be games like this.
It would have been nice if Green had managed with a bit more urgency. In a 3-0 game, letting a pitcher load the bases with nobody out in his last inning of work is too passive. Leadoff guy gets on you go to the pen. As it is he was lucky they only scored 1 run. If he had gone to Wieck earlier maybe that run doesn’t score, as Wieck doesn’t allow a hit.
The Hosmer play in the 9th should have been an error, he has got to come up with that ball. A hard hit ball, but only 1 step to his left. That should have been an out. A good fielder keeps that ball in front of him, and the runner doesn’t score.
The ugliest part of this game was all the Dodger blue in the stands, especially the front rows. It looked like a Dodger home game.
The way they play in games like tonight—-this is not going to be their year.
They have more than enough talent to win but they lack “it”.
It is official, Green is not a good manager.