Miguel Andujar hit a one out, solo homerun in the bottom of the first inning and Michael King outdueled Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to lead the San Diego Padres to a 1-0 win at Petco Park on Sunday night. Andujar stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the second inning and connected on a 2-2 pitch that landed beyond the wall in left-center field to give the Padres an early 1-0 lead. There was no way to know at the time that would be the only run scored in the game.
King had his most impressive start of the season. He pitched seven innings without allowing a run. King scattered four hits, walked two and struck out nine batters. He turned the game over to the bullpen in the top of the eighth inning and Jason Adam pitched one inning, allowing one hit and one walk and Mason Miller closed out the game in the ninth inning after allowing two walks and recording one strikeout.
Rodolfo Duran, who recorded his first hit on a two-run homerun against Seattle over the weekend, did not record a hit in the win over the Dodgers. However, he did contribute on defense with successful ABS challenges and by throwing out two baserunners at second base.
The Padres will have their first chance to win the series when they take on the Dodgers today at 6:40 p.m. in Game 2 of the three-game set.
Padres News:
- Lucas Giolito was impressive in his first start as a member of the San Diego rotation. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball was impressed by the performance and expects Giolito to get even better with more starts.
- The Padres had a winning week on the road with a 4-2 record, but they did suffer their first series loss of the season, falling to the Milwaukee Brewers two games to one. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball provides highlights from the week.
- Gavin Sheets has been insanely hot at the plate in recent weeks and should remain a constant in the lineup until he cools off. Fernando Tatis Jr. will also remain in the lineup, despite his offensive struggles this season, but he will be moved around the order to try to find a place to get him going.
- The Padres and Dodgers have become the most captivating rivalry in the sport. Every time the two teams get together the games are intense, often close and are discussed in baseball circles for days. Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune says that because San Diego and Los Angeles bring out the best in each other.
Baseball News:
- The Los Angeles Angels were being no-hit by the Athletics – until the ninth. Then the Angels broke up the no-no and earned a win.
- The New York Mets dominated the Washington Nationals in extra-innings to earn a win.
- The New York Yankees edged the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-6 to open series.
- Bryson Stott helps Philadelphia Philles get fifth consecutive win by beating the Boston Red Sox.
- The Tampa Bay Rays scored 16 runs in win over the Baltimore Orioles.
