Paddack Scratched, Bats Go Cold in 10-1 Loss
Toronto, Canada
After a night in which the San Diego Padres drove in 19 runs and set a club record for home runs in a game with seven, the Padres faded in the last game of the series at the Rogers Centre to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The day started off precariously enough with news breaking that projected starting pitcher Chris Paddack would miss his scheduled start due to a stiff neck. The decision was made to have long reliever Robbie “Bob” Erlin make the spot start and take the bump against the Jays in what would end up being a bullpen day in essence.
The game started off innocently enough with Erlin getting through the first quietly with no runs allowed. One earned run scored in the second on a force play.
Matt Wisler relieved Erlin in the third and proceeded to allow back to back home runs in the fourth inning to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Cavan Biggio. It was the third consecutive game Gurriel has taken Padres pitching deep while Biggio, with his Hall of Fame father Craig Biggio in attendance, collected his first major league hit and home run. He had a 3-for-4 day at the plate.
It didn’t get any better as Wisler was followed out of the pen by Luis Perdomo and Adam Warren, who allowed four and three runs, respectively, over the last four innings of the game. The Padres bullpen allowed a total of four home runs, including two to Jays’ first basemen Justin Smoak who went deep twice, knocking in five RBI for the day.
The Padres left a total of 10 runners on base, with the only run scoring coming off a fifth inning second deck home run by the resurgently hot Wil Myers. Manny Machado continued his consistent road hitting, with his 11th consecutive road game with a hit, and Eric Hosmer and Hunter Renfroe both going 2-for-4 for the day. Hosmer is now hitting .296 for the year, with his every-other-year performance spikes seeming to continue in 2019.
It was the second straight game that Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes did not play. Skipper Andy Green notified media before the game that he was available off the bench in a pinch but was nursing a light strain in his left shoulder sustained on a check swing this last week.
Both Franmil and Chris Paddack will be available for the upcoming series against the Yankees, with Paddack scheduled to start on Wednesday. The Padres start a series at Yankee Stadium starting tomorrow with left-handed pitcher Matt Strahm taking the bump against the team with the best record in baseball at this point in the year. It will be a good barometer for where the Padres stand against the cream of the majors and a temperature check with playoff thoughts on the mind.
I am a lifelong Padres Fanatic who loves to talk and debate any and all sports. But SD Padres and minor leagues hold a special place above all. A 33-year-old born and raised San Diegan who is a season ticket holder and puts his money where his mouth is.
The Jays have 3 starting pitchers injured and you guys San Diego faced a rookie Friday and someone from the trash heap on Saturday and you guys won. On Sunday as reported Stroman was throwing up in the morning and very sick hence why he only pitched 5 innings. San Diego have a good team.
The middle relief is brutal.