With Thursday night’s 8-3 defeat, San Diego dropped two straight games for the first time in the second half. However, Behind Joe Musgrove’s gem on Friday, the Padres cruised to a 7-0 win to stop the losing streak at two. 

Looking to get back in the win column and even the series with the New York Mets 1-1, Padres skipper Mike Shildt gave the ball to Joe Musgrove, who torched New York when he tossed seven scoreless frames in the rubber match of the 2022 National League Wildcard Series.

Musgrove recreated his playoff gem and twirled a dominant seven scoreless innings on one hit. 

New York manager Carlos Mendoza went to the former Oakland Athletic Paul Blackburn, who posted a 3.68 ERA in four starts with the Mets since coming over at the trade deadline. 

After Musgrove tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first, Luis Arráez led off the bottom of the frame with fireworks and connected on a rare home run 401 feet to right-centerfield. 

The Padres kept the pressure on with a crooked number in the second inning. First, Kyle Higashioka torched a 104-MPH two-run shot on a line to left, which scored David Peralta. Then, with two outs, Jake Cronenworth came through and smoked a hanging curveball to plate Mason McCoy and give San Diego a 4-0 lead.

Jackson Merrill led off the third inning with an infield single before Blackburn exited with an injury; Peralta laced a 100-MPH line drive off his wrist before the ball deflected to second base for a 1-4-3 putout.

Ryne Stanek entered in relief for Blackburn, who was responsible for Merrill at second base, and quickly surrendered an RBI double by Higashioka. At the end of Blackburn’s line, the right-hander allowed five earned runs on ten hits. The Friars added one more when Arráez collected his third knock of the game and scored Higashioka.

After Musgrove departed, Jason Adam pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth. San Diego continued to use the positive momentum and increased the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the frame when Manny Machado, like Arráez, recorded his third hit of the night and plated Tyler Wade.

In the non-save situation, Sean Reynolds closed out the ninth. On the day, Padres pitching allowed just two hits in the shutout. Higashioka, who caught the undoubtedly player of the game Musgrove, discussed what he saw from the hurler post-game. 

“Tonight was electric from him,” Higashioka said. “There’s only a handful of pitchers in this game that have the kind of stuff that Joe has. When he’s on his game, he’s nearly unhittable.” 

Max Schwartzberg

A San Diegan born and raised, Max Schwartzberg is a diehard Padres fan who created and hosts the YouTube channel Padres Previews, a hub where he passionately delivers Padres news, updates, reactions, and hype videos. At Northeastern, Max broadcasts and writes for baseball, basketball, and hockey. Max dreams of following in the steps of Padres broadcaster and Northeastern alumnus Don Orsillo to become a Major League Baseball announcer.