The Padres keep finding ways to win, and this one came with a little bit of everything: a bullpen parade, a three-run burst in the middle innings, and just enough clean finishing to finish off Colorado 3-1 and complete the sweep.
It was San Diego’s fifth straight victory, matching its longest run of the season, and it pushed the club back over .500 at 54-53. The Padres also remain 1.5 games out of the final wild card spot after moving past the group of teams that had been in front of them as recently as a week ago.
The early work set the tone. Kyle Hart handled the first 2-2/3 innings without allowing a run, and Griffin Canning followed by tossing three more scoreless frames. Between them, the Rockies managed only three hits, which gave San Diego the opening it needed.
That opening came in the fourth against Colorado starter Garrett Hughes. Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and Ty France was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jackson Merrill then singled home Cronenworth, Luis Rengifo followed with a groundout that brought in Machado, and Gavin Sheets added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
Colorado finally broke through in the seventh after Wandy Peralta came on in relief. Willi Castro started the inning with a bunt single, Tyler Freeman followed with a bloop hit over first base, and after Peralta got a pop up and Bradgley Rodriguez struck out, Brett Sullivan’s single scored Castro to cut the Padres’ lead to 3-1.
Jeremiah Estrada took over in the eighth and had to work around a leadoff walk, but he settled in with two strikeouts to keep the Rockies down. That handed the ninth to Mason Miller, who was sharp with his breaking ball. He struck out the first two batters he faced and finished it off with a fly ball to center.
Now the Padres get the San Francisco Giants for four as they try to keep the momentum rolling.
In Other News...
Padres Face A Defining Angels Trade Choice For Their Rotation
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Detmers, though, brings a different profile to the conversation. The left-hander has shown a much cleaner strikeout-to-walk shape than Soriano, and his ability to miss bats while limiting free passes makes him a natural fit for a Padres rotation that values efficiency and flexibility. His home-run issues would still be part of the evaluation, but Petco Park offers some cover there, which is why this trade debate has become more than just a simple search for innings. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Bullpen Anxiety Just Spiked With This Deadline Rumor
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Morejon has been one of the more intriguing arms in San Diegos relief mix, posting a 3.14 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 57.1 innings while working as an impending free agent. For the Padres, that makes him both a useful late-inning weapon and a possible deadline chip, which is exactly the sort of balancing act that can get complicated fast once contenders start calling. [Read more 🡒]
Manny Machado Had A Response Ready For Months Of Padres Criticism
Manny Machado has spent the better part of the season hearing the noise around his slow start and the Padres uneven offense, and he made it clear he has not forgotten it. The criticism came early, when his own numbers and the teams bats were under the microscope, but San Diegos offense has been far more productive since mid-June, giving Machado and company a much different backdrop than the one they faced in April and May.
Machado has helped drive that shift with timely hits in recent games, including a big night against the Marlins when he delivered an RBI double and later tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth before Jackson Merrill put San Diego ahead. Even with the trade deadline chatter hovering around the club, Machado said the focus inside the room is on winning, not on wondering what A.J. Preller might do next. [Read more 🡒]