Padres put end to Giants’ win streak with 6-1 victory
Credit: Padres
Bullpen carries the Padres after a Chris Paddack ankle injury, shutting down the Giants for seven scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory.
The San Francisco Giants had won 15 of their last 20 games heading into Thursday’s series opener in San Diego, including eight of their last 10. The Padres, fresh off of a three-game sweep over the Colorado Rockies, welcomed their NL West rival with a similar momentum as the regular season nears its end.
After cruising to a 6-1 victory in game one of the four-game set, the Padres (29-17) continue to show that that they are worthy of their position amongst the elite teams in baseball. The Giants hold a wild card spot in the National League playoff standings, but the Padres controlled the game from beginning to end.
#PadresWWWWWin pic.twitter.com/AU29mVcBFB
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 11, 2020
San Diego’s offense set the tone early on, getting first-inning RBI doubles from Mitch Moreland and Austin Nola to take a 3-0 right away. From that point, the game was never out of the Padres’ control, allowing only one run to the Giants.
Manny Machado added a solo home run in the bottom of the third, his 13th of the season. Machado continues to make a case to be involved in NL MVP talks with teammate Fernando Tatis Jr.
Jorge Ona, Padres’ 23-year-old rookie from Cuba called up to the big league team Monday, made a splash by smashing a mammoth home run to left field, his first hit as a pro. The blast was a sign of what Ona can bring to the Padres team at this stage of the season.
JORGE. OÑA. 💣
First @MLB hit, first @MLB home run!#FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/8MMx3snBl5
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 11, 2020
Chris Paddack started for the Padres, looking to flip his bad luck of late, which included a tough outing his last time out against the Oakland Athletics. In that start, Paddack not only had trouble on the mound but made waves with some post-game comments regarding the fan base’s perception of him.
Unfortunately for Paddack, he was not able to redeem himself Thursday due to a sprained right ankle that forced him out of the game after only two innings. He finished with four strikeouts in those two innings, giving up the Giants’ only run of the game on a home run by DH Wilmer Flores.
Padres manager Jayce Tingler said of Paddack’s injury, “it’s a shame because the way he threw the ball in the first, I thought he was on to something special tonight.”
X-rays came back negative, according to Tingler, and the team feels confident that Paddack should be able to get back without a setback.
The bullpen picked Paddack up after the injury, throwing seven shut out innings between six different arms. Most significantly, Emilio Pagan looked sharp in his first appearance since August 30. Recalled earlier in the day from the 10-day IL, Pagan struck out two and allowed no runners in his only inning of work.
The Padres have three games remaining against the Giants (23-22), who will continue to be a formidable opponent for San Diego as they are fighting to keep their wild-card playoff spot. Game two on Friday night will feature Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto (2-0, 4.56 ERA) and Padres veteran Garrett Richards (2-2, 4.50 ERA).
Kevin is a San Diego Native covering the San Diego Padres and their affiliates
The Pads played a well rounded game tonight. Hits and stealing bases early. Hard hit balls off of a few mistakes Cahill threw up to them.
It dawned on me tonight that each night as I watch the Pads, I expect them to win! When was the last time fans got to realistically expect the team to win? I expect them to win each and every game. I’m disappointed when they do not but, I even expect them to come from behind each game they trail in.