Manny Machado challenged the call on a 2-2 pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning and started to walk toward the San Diego Padres’ dugout. He has not had the most success with the ABS Challenge System, which is why he looked somewhat surprised to see the ball was outside by an inch and the call was overturned to make the count 3-2. Machado lined the next pitch from Colorado Rockies reliever Victor Vodnik into the right-center field gap which was bobbled by right fielder Jake McCarthy allowing Jake Cronenworth
to score from first base to tie the game, 7-7. Machado was able to reach second on the play and was thrown out attempting to steal third later in the inning.
Mason Miller came on to pitch the top of the ninth inning to give the Padres a chance to win the game in the bottom half of the inning. He struck out Mickey Moniak, Hunter Goodman and TJ Rumfield to retire the two, three and four hitters in the Rockies lineup and bring San Diego to the plate with a chance for a walk-off win.
The Padres were able to deliver the walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth when Xander Bogaerts hit a sacrifice fly to center field with the bases loaded. The fly ball to center allowed Jackson Merrill to tag up and score from third base to give San Diego an 8-7 walk-off win to open the series against Colorado. The Rockies challenged the play saying that Merrill left early, but that was to no avail, and the Padres extended their win streak to four games.
Merrill started the inning with a single off Rockies reliever Jimmy Herget. He then stole second but a throwing error on catcher Hunter Goodman allowed him to advance to third base with no outs. A good throw by Goodman would have likely gotten Merrill, but he applied pressure and forced Colorado to make a play, and it paid off. Luis Rengifo and Sung-Mun Song walked to load the bases for Bogaerts.
Michael King pitched well for San Diego. He allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Home runs accounted for three of the four runs allowed by the right-hander who lasted six innings. Bradgley Rodriguez allowed two runs in an inning and Adrian Morejon allowed another, but the Padres offense picked up the ‘pen to get the win.
A state that should not be lost in all the excitement from the win was Fernando Tatis Jr. finishing the night 5-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Machado and Merrill each recorded three hits and Luis Campusano added a pair of hits as well.
San Diego plays the second game of the two-game set against Colorado today at 1:10 p.m.
Padres News:
- Craig Stammen and Ryan Goins were ejected after Xander Boagerts was not allowed to challenge a pitch.
- The Padres are doing all they can to convince general manager A.J. Preller to buy at the deadline. Their recent sweep of the Miami Marlins may have swayed him. Has San Diego done enough to change your mind about its deadline approach?
- Michael King has the trust of his team and teammates, and he is trying to repay that trust with solid outings every time out.
- Jeremiah Estrada is back in San Diego and could make his return to the Padres soon.
- Despite all the pre-season talk about how bad the San Diego minor league system looked, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the Padres have players who will interest other teams.
Baseball News:
- The Chicago Cubs dominated the S. Louis Cardinals with a 10-2 win at Busch Stadium.
- The Detroit Tigers got a blowout win over the Baltimore Orioles, winning 14-0.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks got a 12-inning win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- The Boston Red Sox just acquired Curtis Mead in a trade with the Washington Nationals and after just one game he is headed to the IL with a wrist fracture.
- Eight walks and a pair of home runs lifted the Washington Nationals over the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Gerrit Cole struck out seven batters over six innings to lead the New York Yankees to a win over the Chicago White Sox.
