San Diego Padres Manager Mike Shildt has been a staunch defender and supporter of his players. He rarely, if ever, criticizes them publicly and sometimes spars with reporters when their lack of production becomes a topic of discussion in postgame interviews. The Padres rewarded Shildt for his loyalty in the final game of the regular season, completing a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 12-4 win, which was the team’s 90th win of the season to keep his string of 90-win seasons as a manager
intact.
Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill were instrumental in San Diego’s success in the final regular season contest. Machado drove in the first run of the game for the Padres with an RBI-single through the middle of the infield that tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning.
Merrill followed Machado in the bottom of the first with an RBI-double to right field that scored Ryan O’Hearn and gave the Padres a 2-1 lead. San Diego would add three more runs in the bottom of the first against Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt and held a 5-1 lead when the inning ended.
Machado hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the third inning that pushed the Padres’ lead to 6-2 and gave him a final line of 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Merrill added a two-run double to right-center filed in the bottom of the fifth inning that landed on the grass just beyond the reach of Diamondbacks centerfielder Alek Thomas. Bryce Johnson and O’Hearn came in to score to give the Padres an 8-2 lead. San Diego added another run in the frame to put the Padres ahead 9-2 after five innings of play.
Merrill finished his day at the plate 2-for-3 with two doubles, two walks, two runs scored and three RBI.
San Diego continued to add to its lead with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jake Cronenworth chipped in with an RBI-single and Jose Iglesias added a two-run double to left field that made the score 12-2.
JP Sears allowed a solo home run to Ketel Marte in the top of the first inning, but enjoyed pitching with the lead after the bottom of the first. Sears provided the length the Padres needed, completing 5 2/3 innings on 113 pitches. He allowed two runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Bradgley Rodriguez got the final out of the sixth inning and pitched a scoreless seventh inning. David Morgan pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Randy Vasquez came in for the ninth. He allowed two runs on three hits and one strikeout.
San Diego travels to Chicago to play the Cubs at Wrigley Field in the first game of the Wild Card Series, Tuesday at 12:08 p.m.
