Padres topped by Oakland in 8-4 loss
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The Padres’ bats became silent in an 8-4 loss to the Athletics, creating a game-three rubber match Sunday afternoon.
The San Diego Padres went into game two of their three-game series in Oakland feeling good after they shut out the Athletics Friday by the score of 7-0.
Before the first inning was over in game two Saturday afternoon, the good feeling from the night before had disappeared and eventually led to an 8-4 defeat.
Chris Paddack took the hill Saturday for the Padres, but labored early on, allowing two runs in each of the first two innings. Paddack, who has struggled to find consistency thus far in 2020, couldn’t reproduce the success he had in his last start that saw him strike out eight with no earned runs in six innings. On this day, Paddack lasted only 4.2 innings in which he struck out six and allowed four earned.
Offensively, the Padres struggled to figure out Oakland starter Sean Manaea in his five strong innings, totaling only four hits and one run against the lefty. The lack of production against Manaea was partly due to Manaea’s execution but also partly due to the Padres showing an uncharacteristic lack of discipline.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning down 4-1, Matt Strahm, who had relived Paddack in the fifth inning, gave up an RBI single to A’s catcher Jonah Heim which extended the Oakland lead to 5-1. Following the single, Strahm was replaced by Luis Patino, who couldn’t stop the Oakland attack, giving up a two-run home run to his first batter, allowing Oakland’s lead to balloon to 7-1.
The Padres offense did show signs of life late in the game but was much too late in the game to change the outcome. After Oakland tacked on one more run in the seventh inning, the Padres entered the eighth inning down 8-1. San Diego catcher Austin Nola capped off a strong game at the plate with a solo home, and Jake Cronenworth singled home another, making it 8-3 after eight innings.
The Padres would tack on another run in the ninth inning on a Manny Machado sacrifice fly but failed to spark any more offense. The final score of 8-4 was not indicative of how lopsided the game felt throughout the afternoon, as the Padres never posed a serious threat to come back.
Sunday afternoon’s game three will produce a series-winner between these two top teams fighting for the playoffs. The Padres send Garrett Richards to the mound Sunday, while the A’s will give veteran right-hander Mike Fiers the start.
Kevin is a San Diego Native covering the San Diego Padres and their affiliates
Yeah he needs to turn it around and Im guessing he knows that more than anyone else. He’s capable of doing that though, so try to stay positive. Nice to get some production elsewhere in the rotation to soften the blow though. So just keep the faith!
We need to admit that The Sheriff is really a deputy, at best. Having only two pitches makes for a sub-par mlb pitcher. The league has caught up with him. He needs to find another pitch or else he is a #5 starter.