Garrett Richards is also looking good early as he follows Paddack and Lamet in the Padres third game of 2020. Yes, he’s using pitches less efficiently, but he does end the top if the inning with 2K’s.
Padres, again, seeing consistency from Pham, and doing well with 2 outs. Hosmer up again with men on base in a 2 out scenario. Padres threatening – now 3 walks have loaded the bases. Padres hitters are so relaxed at the plate, and it’s clear there has been a change in the past several months. Ultimately an infield ground out force at third ends the inning. Padres players look patient and comfortable, though, and that attitude can go a long way to providing consistency for the team.
Richards is pitching well, but still not super-efficient with pitch count. He is running deep into the count too often. His breaking pitches are nasty though, and it’s clear even with first outing (after TJ surgery) he is confident in his “stuff”, even if he isn’t sure he’s ready to be healed yet.
It’s time to get some runs on the board early. Run support is one thing all-in, but The Padres hitters need to be able to score early and often to be a legitimate threat for the Playoffs this year. It’s good to see Profar finally hitting. He had walked a couple of times, and early on looked hopelessly lost striking out. His defense is solid, and having some consistency is important. It’s notable that Management hasn’t been exactly consistent as they try out the batting order for some of these guys. Profar had been tested in a #4 lineup spot too much for my liking, considering who we have that can better optimize that lineup position.
The Padres still prove to be confident and patient with 2 outs and it’s netting them a ton of baserunners. Will they be able to capitalize here as they have so far this season with 2 outs? Threating is one thing, but implementing it consistently is entirely another. Really close, but somehow Gallen escapes an earned run again.
This defensive support has showed true maturation by Padres across the entire diamond. We already knew how good some of them were, like Machado and Tatis, but Pham and Myers and Profar and others are really showing their rounded skillsets.
Ketel Marte slaps a ball along the left field line and continues to have the Padres pitcher’s number. He’s been pretty solid here against a trio of pitchers that has vastly been unhittable.
Richards is showing a bit of shakiness in his command here. Padres fans will hope he can keep his cool. He’s still going way to deep with pitch counts with 45 thrown in 2 and 2/3’s innings. Two men on with Starling Marte means it is a legitimate test here for the team and for Richards.
SD fans are no doubt hoping for some of that miraculous inning ending mojo that The D-Backs have been gifted the last two innings.
The 50th pitch will be his most important thus far…
This is a showdown and Marte sure seems like he wants to ground out to Machado (two straight fouled choppers on the line). That’s the best-case scenario outside of a Richard’s Strikeout. And Richards prevails with a swinging K. He’s been gifted a similar outcome as Gallen has had thus far a few times.
Pham almost goes yard there, and he’s on point so far firing on all cylinders. His consistency and contact, plate patience and really every aspect of his game is so solid thus far. What a great pickup.
Hosmer is crushing the baseball. He goes yard. His average and OPS and Slugging are all off the charts. His start to the year has been incredible. And it’s interesting to note he is near perfect in 2 out situations this year.
Hosmer alone, has created enough run support o have won every single of the 3 games (through this inning) for the year so far.
Padres are up 1-0 and it seems like they want to be real contenders in 2020.
Richards shaking his head after the second walk he has surrendered to Cole Calhoun. He’s probably lucky to walk him honestly. And wait, what’s this? Calhoun goes, and Richards gets him in a pickle. Two outs in the top of the 4th and Richards has picked up quite a few pitches in efficiency this inning. What a great break for the SDP. Richards again, looks like he is cruising.
Padres need some run support now. Richards on the hook for the win here, and with his pitch count and recent history, it’s likely he won’t go past 5. I’d be surprised if he goes 6, unless he’s feeling particularly good. With the Padres pitching depth and if the lineup can score a run or two, he’ll be pulled, get the win most likely, and Padres will be on autopilot. It’s only the fourth though, and it’s still very much anyone’s game.
Gallen is at 70 pitches, and the D-Backs have been serving up a ton of pitches over the course of this series. That will take its toll if they cannot up their efficiency in short order. We are already about 1/20 of this of the season behind us. Gallen goes to full count… and walks Profar. This is getting rough for Arizona pitchers.
We are looking for a Pham stolen base to keep him on pace for the Alan Wiggins record break. We’ll have to wait and see as the lineup turns over in a couple batters.
Gallen sure seems worried about Profar. Hedges goes to bunt and misses. He’s be abysmal at the plate, but his importance is behind it not swinging at it thus far. Gallen was right – Profar steals second base. This small ball stuff has been very judicious by Jayce Tingler and he has been rewarded well for this mindset so far. You know the last time the Padres went 3-0? The 1984 season, where they also happened to go to the World Series.
If Naylor can get some value out of this at-bat, the SDP are poised to take real advantage of the D-Backs.
Tatis is on Deck. But alas, Naylor is K’d looking at a changeup. Two outs have been good to the Padres thus far, but Tatis is yet to get into the bigtime RBI game yet. He’s been a bit more free-swinging this year if my memory serves. That strikeout was benefited by a so-so call on the low outside third strike. It’s probably aided by Tatis’ close-in stance. Nevertheless, the Padres fail to add to the run tally.
Boy, Richards still look tight – his stuff is not struggling. As I say that he hits Kevin Cron, who subsequently gets called back for lack of mobility on the pitch. Lovullo has been ejected for arguing it a bit too heavily.
The call seems good. Now Richards is reaching with another high and tight. Richards strikes out Cron, and that gets him his 6th K to notch on his gameboard. Certainly a better outcome than having a runner on base. In full transparency, Richards is losing a bit on the inside and outside with some trailing stuff, but he’s still getting this lineup to chase him. With the Marte’s coming up, it’s probably better to see Richards come out of the game, in a position to get the win, and a third time around coming up. He’s likely to get hit a couple times with so much exposure, even if his breaking pitches are still killing it.
Machado takes a base, keeping his .200 average intact. Pham is up with a runner on. He’s sitting on a .333 average, and has been the total package so far, this 2020 season. This author is most interested in seeing Pham steal a base, which he could with a long single. In full transparency, I wouldn’t mind seeing him drive in a run either though. He flies out to Marte in CF. Hosmer with a runner on and 2 outs, sure seems like a good position to be in, if the previous at bats have any fortune-telling value. He’s hitting .800 with a 2/.633 OPS. Like a BOSS. He pops out to end the fifth inning.
Smart move in this fan’s mind to move Javy Guerra in and let Richards stay in the hunt for a win.
He had great stuff on his breaking pitches and didn’t lose a lot of technical control over 75+ pitches. Richards threw a 1 hitter. Really tight stuff for his return to the mound after a major setback.
Guerra needs to be on point here though, this lineup is still dangerous from the D-Backs. Marte is burning it up this year. He’s up near .400 BA, and this, against nearly perfect Padres pitching thus far. There have not been a lot of hits allowed by SDP pitches in these 3 games.
Tommy Pham hits the left field wall in the corner and holds Ketel Marte at first. Good stuff.
Starling Marte is up now, and he’s been doing well also against sparse hitter’s options from Padres pitchers thus far. His BA is at .300 also. He was a very good pickup from Pittsburgh for AZ. Guerra strikes him out and the other Marte is at risk of being stranded here with the real beef of the lineup almost out of the way. Hedges blocks a ball int eh dirt to keep Marte sitting on 1B.
Escobar puts runners 1st and third now for Arizona. Guerra is replaced with Tim Hill, who was a gamble, until you see him strike out Cole Calhoun to preserve the score line. He seems like he has not lost a step even with his recent personal health struggles. What a great relief appearance.
Pomeranz has a runner at second with two outs in the top of the 7th and he’s deep in the count to Ahmed. The danger exists in the on-deck circle. Tatis gets them out of the inning. But the real threats come in the top of the 8th unless the Padres can score some safety runs.
A gorgeous straight rendition of God Bless America by Taylor Johns a Navy singer. Her rendition was crisp and clear without frivolity.
Naylor beats out an infield hit. AZ changes the pitcher. Alex Young is out.
Well a lot has happened since that pitching change.
Very lazy on this author’s behalf I know. Suffice it to say, it was fun to watch; less fun to write the back and forth details. But this isn’t a play by play per se. Sue me.
The game stands now, at 4-2 Arizona, with Kirby Yates having been blown out significantly worse than what he is used to. With an out in the 9th and a runner on 1st, Pham lines out to the warning track on a phenomenal catch by David Peralta. Cronenworth then gets a double to right field and the runner scores. While it’s going to be tough to win, the Padres aren’t dead yet (2 outs in the bottom of the 9th with Wil Myers facing Archie Bradley and a man in scoring position).
No matter what happens, the AZ Diamondbacks have shown a huge amount of heart and have broken some hearts of Padres fans. The dribbler back to the pitcher actually could have been beaten out by Myers had he not given up on it, but the game ends 4-3 AZ. What a fantastic game.
The Padres go to 2-1 to ties the Dodgers in the NL West instead of sitting atop alone with a half game up on LAD. The Dodgers play tonight and will likely go atop the division as they look much better than the SF Giants. The D-Backs improve to 1-2 and show that they cannot be counted out. With most fans without a vested interest picking AZ to outplace the Padres this year, it will be interesting to see how that plays out. There’s one more game here in the series, and it will help define the start to the season for both clubs. Tomorrow is another day.