Padres drop series to Phillies after 7-4 loss
Credit: AP Photo
The San Diego Padres did not capitalize on Saturday’s comeback win, as they dropped the series to the Philadelphia Phillies following a lethargic 7-4 loss.
After the loss and another Cincinnati Reds win, the Padres now find themselves out of the playoff picture with just over a month to go.
With Dinelson Lamet, Chris Paddack, and Yu Darvish still on the shelves with injuries, Padres manager Jayce Tingler was forced into yet another bullpen game. Craig Stammen got the start out of the bullpen, and he served up two scoreless frames before being pinch-hit for in the second inning.
After Stammen left the game, the bullpen game fell apart, and the offense collapsed. The struggling Ryan Weathers saw a role change and came in to pitch the third inning. For one inning, Weathers threw a scoreless third and was brought out for the fourth inning. This decision immediately backfired as Weathers allowed three runs, and the Padres fell behind.
S'good to have ya back, @rhyshoskins 🤘#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/UPPUmBBTBk
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 22, 2021
It didn’t get any better when Tingler turned the ball over to Miguel Diaz, as he allowed four runs over the next three innings. Diaz allowed three home runs and threw 56 pitches. Reiss Knehr put a bandage over a gaping wound by not allowing any runs in the eighth or ninth innings. Knehr now boasts a 3.12 ERA in his rookie campaign.
Although Weathers and Diaz did not pitch well on Sunday, the offense gave them very little room for error.
In the first inning, Trent Grisham started the day with a double, and Fernando Tatis Jr. followed with what should have been a single that turned into a double because of his aggressive base running. Manny Machado gave the Padres the lead with a sacrifice fly but failed to score after that. In the second inning, Jurickson Profar and Trent Grisham left two runners stranded. Then, Eric Hosmer struck out with two more runners on in the third inning.
These missed opportunities could have covered up some pitching deficiencies and may have altered some managerial moves made by Tingler if it were closer when Diaz pitched the seventh inning.
“Some of the guys, if we were tied or ahead, may have looked a little bit different,” Tingler said. “With us trailing at that point, we tried to reset ourselves for Tuesday.”
The team went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position, but Tatis Jr.’s double and Caratini’s single in the second did not produce runs.
Bases clearing dub for Nola👀#HungryForMore I @Padres pic.twitter.com/Z1cIvaYWtO
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) August 22, 2021
Like they normally do, the Padres made a late push to comeback when Austin Nola hit a pinch-hit three-run double to make it 7-4. Grisham came to the plate looking to give Tatis Jr. a chance to represent the tying run, but Grisham struck out to end the game.
The Padres will get a day off on Monday before the Los Angeles Dodgers come to Petco Park for three games for the final time this year. The Dodgers have won nine of their last ten games, while the Padres have won just twice in their last ten. San Diego does not have a plan for pitching on Tuesday.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”