Padres sweep Reds with 6-0 shutout victory
Credit: AP Photo
MacKenzie Gore pitched five scoreless innings in his second start en route to the first sweep of the season for the San Diego Padres in 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Warning: This video contains footage of Gore and violent swings and misses.
Viewer discretion is advised. pic.twitter.com/JtblIuX2lF
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 20, 2022
Gore did not just cruise through his five scoreless innings, despite what the career-high seven strikeouts suggest. The fourth inning proved to be a turning point for Gore and the Padres.
Two runners were on with two outs and Reds third basemen Collin Moran at the plate. Moran dropped in a single into left field, and Joey Votto, who started on second base, got the wave from J.R. House. Jurickson Profar charged the ball in left and gunned a throw to home for Jorge Alfaro to put an easy tag on Votto, one that did not cause a collision at the plate.
Leading into the bottom of the fourth, Vladimir Gutierrez did not allow a hit to the Padres through his first 3.2 innings of work on Wednesday at Petco Park. With Manny Machado on third following a hit-by-pitch, Profar stepped up to the plate with two outs. San Diego’s home run leader hit another one into the seats to plate the only two run the Padres needed on a 385-foot bomb.
“That was huge,” Gore said about Profar’s throw. “[Profar] played great today with that big throw and the homer. That was great.”
To go on Pro… yes or no?
Here's your answer. pic.twitter.com/h1PLVoQOxs
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 20, 2022
Trent Grisham broke out of his slump after two days off with an RBI double in the fifth inning. This came with two outs, and after Jorge Alfaro stole second base. Replays showed that Alfaro was clearly out, but the Reds lost their challenge earlier in the game. This run all but solidified the first victory in the young career of Mackenzie Gore.
“I felt good,” Gore said. “I wasn’t as efficient as I was the other night, but I made pitches when I needed to.”
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For the first time this season, the San Diego Padres will get an off day Thursday. Their 14 straight games to start the season was tied for the longest in all of baseball. The Padres will stay at home for one final series to conclude their longest homestead of the year. Hopefully, for their sake, it will feel like a home game as the Los Angeles Dodgers come to town. First pitch Friday will be at 6:40 p.m.
Weekend probables for #Dodgers–#Padres:
Urias vs. Martinez
TBA vs. Darvish (Heaney just hit injured list)
Kershaw vs. Manaea— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) April 20, 2022
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.”
2 out of 3 against the evil-blue would post a 7-3 homestand….that would be sweet…the lack of offense is still troubling, but the pitching and defense is more than making up for it….. GO PADS !!