Padres defeat White Sox 6-2, aim for series sweep on Sunday
Credit: AP Photo
Elias Diaz hits first home run in Padres uniform as San Diego takes the series against White Sox
The San Diego Padres beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2 after a better offensive performance in Game 2 of the series. The Padres hit multiple home runs, and Martin Perez continued to give them quality innings.
The Friars improved to 89-66 as the White Sox tied the MLB record with 119 losses.
“We are a family,” David Peralta said postgame. “We come here with one goal to win everyday and if it doesn’t go our way we just turn the page and do the same thing the next day.”
The Padres started the scoring early after Jackson Merrill singled to right field, followed by a Xander Bogaerts 2-run shot to left-center.
Right to the bullpen ? pic.twitter.com/3wBo4mUYgM
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 22, 2024
It was important for the Friars to score first in this game, and they led 2-0 heading into the 3rd inning.
Perez has been incredible for the Friars since being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He battled against the White Sox, and with two on, he escaped a jam in the 3rd by forcing back-to-back ground outs to end the inning.
In the 4th, David Peralta extended the lead with a solo shot to right for his 8th homer of the season.
All aboard ? pic.twitter.com/Ud4KRzdO7F
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 22, 2024
“I just have to be ready every day,” Peralta said postgame when asked about his opportunities. “When the manager gives me an opportunity to play, I am going to be ready. He gave me the opportunity today and I did my job.”
Fast forward one inning, the Padres saw their lead increase to 4-0 as Merrill ripped another single, scoring Jurickson Profar. Merrill is now at 89 RBIs on the year, further cementing himself as the greatest rookie in team history.
The White Sox finally got something going in the 6th. Perez hit Luis Robert Jr.‘s sleeve with a pitch and then would later allowed an RBI single to Lenyn Sosa, who tied the game Friday night with a 2-run homer off Robert Suarez. Brian Hoeing replaced Perez and got out of the jam. Chicago trailed by just three.
The top of the 7th saw a Profar highlight reel. Catcher Chuckie Robinson ripped a liner to left field, but the 2024 All-Star robbed the hit with a diving catch to end the inning.
PRO-M-G ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/IHbqnoNIR9
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 22, 2024
SD remained on top 4-1.
Jason Adam came out for the 8th. The hope was to not use the key bullpen reserves but the Padres were unable to capitalize and extend the lead with runners in scoring position. The Padres left eight men on base to this point.
Adam walked Miguel Vargas to begin the inning and then a single to Robert Jr. The Sox had something going as the one-hitter stepped up to the plate that nobody wanted to see … Lenyn Sosa. On a full count, Adam struck Sosa with a pitch to load the bases with one out. Adam then walked Bryan Ramos to bring in a run. The lead was just two as Tanner Scott entered the game.
Avoiding a nightmare — on the second pitch of the at-bat, Dominic Fletcher grounded into an inning-ending double play, 4-6-3.
Peralta followed his homer with a ground-rule double in the 8th. Diaz would then hit his first homer as a Padre and first since June 5 to increase the lead to four. Scott came out to finish the game, and Shildt did not need to use Suarez.
A much better offensive performance in this game propelled the Padres to a big win. They now go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon for the final home game of the regular season. Yu Darvish (6-3) will take on Sean Burke (1-0).
According to Mark Grant, entering this game, the White Sox lost 20 straight games, with Chris Flexen starting. That is the most consecutive team losses with one specific starting pitcher in MLB history. Make that 21.
SD managed to get four runs across the plate against him off eight hits. His ERA has raised to 5.15.
His final line: 5.0 innings, eight hits, four earned runs, two walks, three K’s in a loss.
Martin Perez
Perez pitched very well against the White Sox. He started the contest going five scoreless and in the 6th, one mistake saw a run cross the plate. He didn’t get a quality start on the stat sheet, but that was a performance the Padres would take any night.
His final line: 5.1 innings, two hits, one earned run, three walks, six K’s in a win.
Chris is a graduate of the University of San Diego. He is the former Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris is also an athlete and is huge fan of San Diego sports. Chris has covered the San Diego Loyal, and contributes regularly about the Padres.