Padres offense awakens in 9-4 victory over Cubs
Credit: AP Gregory Bull
Petco Park- San Diego, California
The San Diego Padres finally scored some runs after a cold spell. However, this time their pitching gave up some runs as well. All in all, it worked out as the Padres won the game against the Chicago Cubs by a score of 9-4.
Ryan Weathers got the start and was cruising through action before giving up three runs in the 4th inning. Weathers got through five innings while giving up five hits and three runs and only walking one batter on the evening. All in all, Weathers pitched well, and the bullpen did their part, which is a sigh of relief for Padres manager Jayce Tingler.
“I thought there were a lot of positives tonight for Ryan,” Tingler said after a nice bounce-back performance from Weathers.
For the Cubs, Adbert Alzolay just threw three innings and gave up four runs on five hits while walking five Padres hitters. It could have been a lot worse for Alzolay, who got into a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 1st with Fernando Tatis Jr. at the dish.
Alzolay got Tatis to strike out swinging. Then an Eric Hosmer ground ball scored the first run of the game. A Manny Machado sac fly (it wouldn’t be his only one, either) plated the second run in the 2nd frame before a Brian O’Grady 412-foot home run to dead center ended the night for Alzolay.
You down with B.O.G., yeah you know me.#HungryForMore @BrianOGrady21 pic.twitter.com/pYzlgGcqEj
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 8, 2021
O’Grady was just called up hours before the game in a corresponding move that sent Tucupita Marcano to El Paso. Perhaps O’Grady’s strong hitting could make them think twice before sending him back to down once again. He finished the game with a pair of hits and three RBIs and got donned with the Swag Chain.
“I didn’t realize how heavy this thing is,” O’Grady said. “I think everybody knows about the Swag Chain.”
The Padres kept things going in the 6th inning and got a little rally brewing, sparking Petco Park with excitement after days of struggling to score runs. Victor Caratini and Ha-Seong Kim drew consecutive walks before Tommy Pham drove in Caratini on a fielder’s choice.
Then Machado hit another sac fly, making a strange bit of history in the process as Kim came around to score and give the Padres a three-run lead.
Manny Machado is the first Padres hitter with multiple sac flies in a game since noted Padre great Adam Rosales in September 2016.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) June 8, 2021
The Cubs answered back with an Ian Happ home run, but that would be it for the night. Miguel Diaz threw another scoreless inning to drop his ERA to 1.45 on the year as he continues to prove his worth at the big-league level.
The Cubs pitchers struggled with command and ended up walking a total of eight Padres batters. Dillon Maples came in for the Cubs in the 7th and hit two batters, and walked another to load the bases before getting out of the frame unscathed.
Machado added a home run in the 8th, one pitch after Anthony Rizzo dropped an easy pop fly in foul territory. Hosmer drove in Jake Cronenworth, and O’Grady drove in Hosmer with a double to seal the deal.
One pitch too Manny.#HungryForMore ✅ https://t.co/w3HxffIsIS pic.twitter.com/FirmPfXniX
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 8, 2021
Mark Melancon, who hadn’t pitched since Friday, made a rare non-save opportunity and shut the door as usual.
So, after scoring a total of nine runs in the previous five games, the Padres offense sparked and scored nine on Monday night alone. Is this a sign of things to come? Despite that, they left the bases packed twice, and they continue to struggle with runners in scoring position.
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“We walk away with nine runs, and it felt like we could have had a couple more,” Tingler said after the game. “We were on pitches better tonight. Overall, I thought it was a really good offensive night for the guys.”
The Padres will look to keep the momentum going in the second game of the series on Tuesday night with first pitch at 7:10. The Cubs will send former Padre Zach Davies to the mound while Dinelson Lamet will try to put together another strong outing for the home team.
Matthew Wadleigh, born in Oceanside and currently lives in Fresno. He lives with his wife and 2 dogs and is a sports enthusiast. Retired drummer and member of the Fresno State Marching Band. He has been a Padres fan since childhood and has suffered during the struggles just like everybody else.