Manaea unhittable as Profar, Hosmer power Padres past D-backs 3-0
Mandatory Credit: Patrick Breen-Arizona Republic Mlb Dbacks Padres Game
Chase Field- Phoenix, Arizona
The Padres had revenge on their minds as they tried to flush the gut-wrenching loss of Opening Day out of their minds. Sean Manaea took the mound, making his Padres debut after being dealt from the Oakland Athletics.
The pressure was on Manaea after Yu Darvish set the tone for San Diego starters with six no-hit innings on opening night.
Manaea one-upped Darvish on Friday night.
The Padres lineup faced Merrill Kelly from Arizona, making his 2022 season debut. It was quiet for the first five innings, Manaea inducing weak contact and keeping Arizona hitters off balance. Kelly was nearly his equal for the Diamondbacks, striking out seven in just four innings.
San Diego finally got on the board in the top of the sixth against reliever J.B. Wendelken. Eric Hosmer singled with one out, marking one of three hits on the night for the Padres’ first baseman. Jurickson Profar then jumped on the first pitch, sending it into the seats in left-center for the first home run of the season for the Padres and giving them a 2-0 lead.
First home run of the season ☑️
First bat flip of the season ☑️Courtesy of @JURICKSONPROFAR pic.twitter.com/Y6KBVnpZQB
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 9, 2022
Manaea kept baffling Arizona hitters to the tune of seven no-hit innings. The Padres became the first team in major league history to have back-to-back starters go at least six innings while allowing no hits. Manager Bob Melvin pulled Manaea after seven innings, after 88 pitches. He finished with seven strikeouts, one walk, and no runs.
To this point, Padres starters have combined for 13 no-hit innings with ten strikeouts and no runs.
The @Padres are the only team in the modern era to have their starter pitch 6.0+ innings without allowing a hit in back-to-back games (at any point).
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) April 9, 2022
The Friars were able to scratch across another run yet again, thanks to the efforts of Hosmer and Profar. Hosmer lined a double down the line. Profar laid a bunt down the third baseline, and third baseman Drew Ellis sailed the throw into right field, allowing Hosmer to score on the error. This extended the lead to 3-0.
That was all Padres’ pitching needed. While Tim Hill surrendered the first of just two hits for the night for Arizona leading off the eighth, he and Dinelson Lamet combined for a scoreless eighth.
That set the stage for the newly acquired Taylor Rogers to take the mound in the bottom of the ninth in a save situation. He made quick work of the D-backs, striking out Carson Kelly to seal his first save in a Padres uniform. The Padres earned their first win of the season and even their record at 1-1. They look to get above .500 tomorrow with Joe Musgrove taking the hill.
“We just had him pitch off of his strengths,” catcher Jorge Alfaro said of the starter Manaea. “I just want to be back there and make them feel comfortable.” Between Darvish and Manaea, Padres starters look mighty comfortable to start 2022.
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CJ Abrams made his major league debut. He launched a ball to the warning track before being retired for a flyout, with an exit velocity of 101.2 mph. He made several key defensive plays at shortstop to atone for his 0-for-4 debut at the plate.
Alfaro added two hits, including a double. Hosmer and Profar are off to hot starts in the first two games, both batting .500 with an OPS north of 1.200.
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.
I was impressed with how Manaea threw. I wasn’t thrilled giving up what we did but he might make me eat that thought. Let’s home he’s a stud all year long.