The San Diego Padres offense jumped all over Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo in the top of the first inning. The Padres scored five runs in the inning and saw one of the deadline additions hit a two-out grand slam home run. But it was the ability for San Diego to play small ball that allowed them to earn a 7-6 win over Seattle in the second game of their three-game series at T-Mobile Park, Tuesday.
The Padres jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning on the strength of a Ramon
Laureano two-out grand slam. The home run gave Laureano 21 for the year, five of which have come since arriving in San Diego.
The Padres watched what appeared to be a comfortable lead disappear with two swings as the Mariners hit two three-run home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Randy Arozarena hit the first off starter Dylan Cease and Eugenio Suarez hit the second off reliever Jason Adam. The two home runs allowed Seattle to take a 6-5 lead over San Diego.
The Padres provided an immediate response in the top of the sixth inning, scoring two runs to retake the lead. Gavin Sheets opened the inning with a double and Laureano followed with a double that just got over the head of Arozarena in left field. Sheets had to wait to see if he had a play before advancing and was only able to get to third base.
With Sheets on third and Laureano on second with no outs, Jake Cronenworth delivered an RBI-single to left that allowed the Padres to tie the game, 6-6.
Freddy Fermin followed Cronenworth with a safety squeeze bunt that allowed Laureano to score from first to put San Diego up 7-6 over Seattle. Fermin was thrown out at first base by a step. That was the last run the Padres would score.
Adrian Morejon, Mason Miller, Jeremiah Estrada and Robert Suarez combined to work the final four innings of the contest for San Diego. The foursome allowed no runs on two hits and a walk. They also recorded six strikeouts, and Suarez earned his National League-leading 35th save of the season.
The Padres will try to win the series against the Mariners, Wednesday at 1:10 p.m.
