Padres Continue Tailspin, Yield to Cubs 6-5
Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago, Illinois
Joey Lucchesi took the mound to try and get the Padres back on track after a tough loss in Game 1 of the series on Friday.
It was a rough after noon in the Windy City for Lucchesi. He surrendered two runs in the first thanks to a triple.
The Padres entered the top of the third, down 2-0 before Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his 16th home run of the season, a long shot to right-center field. Manuel Margot then got on base due to a pop fly getting lost in the sun and dropping in between several Cubs defenders. Manny Machado then laced an opposite-field shot, his 25th of the season and 200th of his career, lifting the Padres to a 3-2 lead.
Lucchesi struggled with his command all game as he eventually surrendered 10 hits and six earned runs over just 4 1/3 innings. Javier Baez launched a two-run homer off of Lucchesi in the fourth, scoring three runs and giving the Cubs a 6-4 lead.
PSA: Manny Machado & Fernando Tatis Jr… They're both on the @Padres.
That's pretty cool.
This blast was the 200th of Manny's career, & it gives the Friars the lead in the 3rd! #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/ZwHQwHW3UF
— FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) July 20, 2019
The Padres were able to get one run back in the fifth with Hunter Renfroe’s 28th home run of the season.
The bullpens took over, and each side shut down the other. Matt Strahm and Trey Wingenter combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball with just one hit allowed between the two.
Unfortunately, the Cubs bullpen was just as strong as the Padres were not able to take advantage of any opportunities to score. They finished the game 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The story before the game was the return of second base prospect Luis Urias, who went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a diving play to preserve a slim deficit, fighting the swirling winds.
Craig Kimbrel came into the ninth inning and allowed a leadoff walk to Wil Myers. The rally stalled after a failed bunt by Tatis and Myers being caught stealing. Kimbrel sealed the save and series win.
San Diego falls to 4-11 in July, which is eerily similar to the dismal July the Friars had last year, going 5-20.
The Padres dropped to 46-52, marking the first time all season the Padres have fallen six games below .500. They look to salvage the series Sunday at 11:20 AM PDT.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.
Howdy Doody rides again!
The starter gets hammered for 6 runs in 4 innings, and the manager sits on his ass. Not only that, he sends him back out for the 5th!
The season is draining away and he keeps sending guys out in the Chicago summer heat to give away games.
Maybe the dumbest manager this side of Mickey Callaway.