The San Diego Padres extended their winning streak to four games, despite the bullpen trying to give the game away. Bradgley Rodriguez and Adrian Morejon combined to allow three runs in two innings, but the offense bailed them out and the Padres got an 8-7 win over the Colorado Rockies.
San Diego has shown some fight through the first 11 games since the All-Star break and that was exemplified in the final win against the Miami Marlins and their win against Colorado. The stars have been starring and if that is
the team the Padres are going to be, there is no reason to sell at the Trade Deadline.
San Diego will go for a fifth consecutive win and a two-game sweep of Colorado today.
Taking the mound
Kyle Hart (SD) v. Gabriel Hughes (COL)
It was announced late this morning that left-hander Kyle Hart would get the start today for the Padres. Hart is likely the first of many arms to be used by San Diego in the final game of the series with Colorado. The lefty has appeared in 27 games this season and is 0-2 with a 5.21 ERA. Hart last pitched July 24 in Miami. He completed two innings and allowed just two hits and had two strikeouts. If he can have similar success against the Rockies lineup he be given an opportunity to take down as many innings as he can before the ball gets handed to the next guy out of the’pen.
Gabriel Hughes is a rookie pitcher who has only appeared in four games for the Rockies this season. Sometimes the Padres have trouble with a pitcher they are unfamiliar with, so it is important for them to have the same approach at the plate as they have shown over the recent winning streak — be aggressive and punish mistakes in the zone. Hughes is 0-2 in his four appearances but has a 2.79 ERA on the year. He has 19 strikeouts in 19.1 innings and has allowed five hits in each of his last two outings.
Batter up!
Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill combined for 11 hits in the series opener with the Rockies. That level of production cannot be expected game in and game out, but if all three contribute the season may not be lost for San Diego.
- Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
- Jake Cronenworth, 2B
- Manny Machado, 3B
- Ty France, DH
- Jackson Merrill, CF
- Luis Rengifo, LF
- Gavin Sheets, 1B
- Sung-Mun Song, SS
- Freddy Fermin, C
It was another solid night for the lineup in the opener against the Rockies. There is no reason to mess with a good thing, but Craig Stammen can move guys into different positions on the field. It would make sense to get Bogaerts the day off considering the quick turnaround with the day game after a night game. That is the same thinking when it comes to Fermin getting the nod over Luis Campusano behind the plate, but Campusano has been much more productive than Bogaerts offensively despite the game-winning sacrifice fly and gives the Padres some thump off the bench should they need it in a big spot.
Relief corps
Michael King pitched six innings which left the San Diego bullpen with just three innings to cover. Bradgely Rodriguez had a rough inning of work, allowing two runs and Adrian Morejon allowed a run in his inning as well. Mason Miller locked down the ninth and eventually got the win thanks to the Bogaerts sacrifice walk-off. The remaining pieces in the ‘pen will be available with Morejon likely off due to his bloated pitch count.
