Margot and Renfroe are keys to Padres 8-5 win over Rockies
Credit: Jake Roth/Reuters Photo
Petco Park- San Diego, California
The downtown area was buzzing on Saturday night, as the San Diego Padres put on a show.
Three home runs, a dazzling start by Chris Paddack and yet some more jaw-dropping action from Fernando Tatis Jr. kept the crowd content. These young Padres are going to be a fun team to watch for a long time. There has been tremendous growth in Hunter Renfroe in 2019, and that exemplifies the maturity in this team.
Renfroe has not just grown with the bat, but the canon-armed outfielder has turned into a Gold Glove-caliber defensive threat for the Friars. Renfroe was always know to have a 100 mph arm in the outfield, but he had been wild and ineffective in the past with his throws. Renfroe made it a point to improve, and he has done so swiftly. His route-running has improved, and he seems more instinctive in the outfield in 2019.
On Saturday, Renfroe homered in the game and he also made a terrific grab in right field. Padres fans were upset when Franmil Reyes was dealt ten days ago. He was an infectious personality and someone who the fans adored. Renfroe might be more soft-spoken than Reyes, but he can equal his power bat from the right side. He is also proving to be an essential part of the defense moving forward.
Chris Paddack is approaching his innings limit for the year. There is no indication when he will be done, but we do know that it is coming soon. Paddack didn’t have his “A” game material on Saturday, but he was able to get pretty deep into the game going six innings. He left after throwing 86 pitches. Andy Green said after the game- “Not the best we have seen from Paddack.” The right-handed pitcher battled despite that fact and was inline for a win, but a two-run home run off the bat of Yonder Alonso tied the game in the bottom of the 6th. Craig Stammen allowed the tying homer which deflated the sold-out crowd slightly.
The Padres bullpen has been taxed all year long. Cal Quantrill gave them a bit of relief on Friday going seven strong innings. Though Stammen coughed up the lead, the group would still be needed for the Padres to pull out a victory. Andres Munoz hit 102.8 mph on the radar gun, which is a new Padres record. The Mexican pitcher threw a scoreless inning, in which he walked two and struck out two. Despite Stammen’s rough inning, the bullpen did its job to keep the game tied late.
It has been a long, arduous journey for Manuel Margot in 2019. The outfielder has kept his head up and is currently on fire with the bat. His big two-run homer in the 8th inning was the game-winner for the Padres on Saturday. It put the Padres up by two and sent them on their way to victory. He said after the game- “I was just looking for a pitch to drive and get that run in.”
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: MANUEL MARGOT HAS ARRIVED! ??#FriarFaithful | @Padres | @manuelmargot pic.twitter.com/ORlNz9bTW4
— FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) August 11, 2019
The Padres added another run on a Wil Myers pinch homer in the 8th. 8-5 was the final score.
This is the first series win for the Padres since the All-Star break. They now move to 55-61 on the season and are a full three and one-half games ahead of the Rockies in the NL West standings. Game four is on Sunday. Dinelson Lamet will toe the rubber for the Padres. 12:40 game time.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
Would someone PLEASE take the lighter fluid away from Craig Stammen? Seems like his era should be over 6.00. Last night, again today. Sit him down for a week. Something.