Gore struggles as Padres get crushed by Giants, 12-0

The San Diego Padres were completely dominated Sunday afternoon. MacKenzie Gore gave up eight runs in 3.1 innings, and the Padres’ offense struggled again.

San Diego’s offense was shut out for the fourth time this season, as San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood was stellar. Wood worked seven innings, allowing just three singles. CJ Abrams’ sixth-inning single broke up Wood’s no-hit bid, proving it was a tough day for the Padres offense. 

Abrams was the lone bright spot, recording multiple hits, including an eighth-inning double. San Diego put runners in scoring position in each of the final three innings, but they could not push a consolation run across. 

Gore looked great early, putting together a 1-2-3 first inning. However, from there, it completely unraveled. He allowed two-run home runs to Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores in the second and third inning. Gore’s fastball velocity, which has been much lower than his early-season numbers, was low again. He threw just one pitch over 95 miles per hour, and the Giants feasted off his fastball. Both home runs were hit off the fastball as Gore continued to struggle.

After the game, Bob Melvin said, “It’s apparent that they {the Giants} were sitting on fastballs, and he {Gore} did not locate them as well as he typically does.” He’s posted a 10.30 ERA in his last five starts. 

The Giants chased Gore from the game after recording just one out in the fourth inning. He was charged with four more runs in the inning before Tayler Scott entered to eat some innings. Scott allowed four hits and walked a batter in 2.1 innings, but he struck out four and did not surrender any runs. He threw 54 pitches, saving the Padres bullpen. 

Dinelson Lamet entered, making his first Padres appearance since May 9. He pitched very well in 16.2 innings between El Paso and San Antonio, recording a 2.16 ERA. However, he struggled in his return to Petco Park. He allowed three runs in 2.1 frames as the Giants picked up the ball well off Lamet. 

The Padres threatened to push a run across in the seventh inning when back-to-back two-out singles from Eric Hosmer and Jose Azocar put two men on. Brent Rooker blasted a deep fly ball, but it settled into centerfielder Austin Slater’s glove on the warning track. 

San Diego loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but consecutive strikeouts from Giants reliever Yunior Marte ended the game.

Utility man Matthew Batten pitched the ninth inning, allowing Wilmer Flores’ second home run of the day. Batten’s 9.00 ERA for the day made him the second most effective of the four Padres pitchers used. 

It was the second-most runs the Padres have allowed this season. It was also the most lopsided game they’ve been a part of this season. The Padres will head to Colorado for a four-game series at Coors Field and Sean Manaea is expected to be the pitcher on Monday. 

It was the fifth consecutive series that the Padres failed to win. 

In a small piece of good news, the MLB named Joe Musgrove to the All-Star Game. This is his first time being an All-Star, and he’ll join Manny Machado in Los Angeles in just over a week.

Sam Evans

Sam is a Senior in High School. He has been writing for three years, and started at EVT in June of 2021. He’s headed to Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Communications in the fall of 2023.