Framing the Friars: Franmil Homers Again in Padres Win
Petco Park- San Diego, California
After a sluggish start in the majors, it appears that San Diego Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes may be finding his power stroke.
Reyes put the Padres ahead in a huge way during the sixth inning of their game against the Miami Marlins on May 29. He sent a colossal shot to left-center to put San Diego ahead 5-4. San Diego went on to win the game 9-5.
The home run was the second for Reyes in as many days, and was his third of the season. The ball traveled 442 feet with a 109.8 mph exit velocity. The launch angle was 26 degrees.
San Diego allowed a 3-0 lead to slip away before Reyes’ home run. Miami scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Two of those runs were allowed by Tyson Ross, who gave up three earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched.
The Padres scored their first three runs in the bottom of the first. They opened the inning with three straight hits. Eric Hosmer drove in the first two runs with a single to center field. The ball was mis-played by Miami center fielder Lewis Brinson, allowing both runners to score. Raffy Lopez added an RBI-single in the inning.
The Padres held that lead until the sixth inning. With a runner on, Ross gave up an RBI-triple to J.T. Realmuto. Brian Anderson followed with an RBI-single, tying the score 3-3. Craig Stammen gave up Anderson’s RBI-single, but the run was charged to Ross. Stammen allowed another run to score in the inning on J.B. Shuck’s RBI-double. Miami led 4-3 when the top-half of the inning ended.
That Miami lead disappeared quickly with Reyes’ home run. With two outs and Jose Pirela at first base, Reyes stood in the box. He worked the count to 3-1 before connecting on an 85 mph slider, sending it 442 feet to left-center. His blast gave San Diego a 5-4 lead.
San Diego added insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, four to be exact. The first three batters in the eighth inning reached base, and Lopez drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in his second RBI of the game.
Christian Villanueva entered the game as a pinch hitter. He hit a ground ball up the middle on the shortstop side to drive in two runs, making the score 8-4. Villanueva is 5-for-21 in his last five games, as he appears to be breaking out of his funk from the first half of the month.
Freddy Galvis hit a deep fly ball to center that was mishandled by Brinson, allowing another run to score. Brinson had a night in center that he will likely want to never remember.
The Padres meet the Marlins again on May 30, for the third game of this four-game series. The game begins at 7:10 p.m. PDT.
Mike is the sports editor for the Fayette Advertiser, and has been with East Village Times since 2015. His work has appeared on Bleacher Report. He is an avid Padres fan who is keeping the faith and trusting the process.
