Machado hits first Padres Home Run but Friars Stumble vs D-Backs
After a 3-1 start after the opening series, the Padres fell back to earth a bit losing two out of three vs the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park.
The series began with a blowout 10-3 loss on Monday night. Padres starter Matt Strahm struggled; allowing five runs on eight hits in just 2.2 innings.
San Diego native and Morse High School graduate Adam Jones led off the game with a home run and David Peralta drove in another run with a double to make it 2-0 after the top of the first. Arizona added two more in the 2nd one in the 3rd and four in the 5th.
The Padres scored three in bottom of the 6th, highlighted by Fernando Tatis Jr.’s first big league home run but that was all the offense the Padres could muster up as they dropped game one of the series.
Things did not get any better for San Diego on Tuesday night in an 8-5 loss. Arizona starter Zack Greinke pitched a solid game going six innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out ten, but did more damage with his bat homering twice and driving in five runs.
One bright spot for the Padres on Tuesday was Hunter Renfroe hitting his first two home runs of the year.
Wednesday afternoon saw a pleasant end to the three game series as the Padres won 4-1.
Joey Lucchesi had another strong start, going five innings allowing no runs on four hits while striking out six. Lucchesi has not allowed an earned run all season.
The real story of the day however was Manny Machado hitting his first home run in a Padres uniform.
Leading 2-0 in the bottom of the 7th, Machado hit a two out, two run line drive bomb off the Western Metal Building to put the Padres up 4-0.
Kirby Yates allowed a run in the top of the 9th but shut the door from there as the Padres brought their record to back above .500.
Now sitting at 4-3, San Diego is in second place in the NL West. Thursday’s game in St. Louis was postponed so the Padres will be back in action on Friday at 1:15pm. Nick Margevicius (0-1, 1.80 ERA) will take the mound with Chris Paddack (0-0, 1.80 ERA) expected to start on Saturday.
