Padres sweep doubleheader with 3-1 victory over Giants
(Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres took three games from the San Francisco Giants this weekend, including two on Sunday.
It took four and a half innings, but the San Diego Padres were able to separate themselves from the San Francisco Giants enough to win their seventh game in a row.
Garrett Richards got the start for the Padres in game two of a doubleheader, made necessary after a Giants’ player had a false positive virus test minutes before the start of Friday’s game. Richards kept the Padres in the game, going 4.1 innings and allowing only two hits while striking out three. He was pulled in the fifth with the score tied 1-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Padres got two great at-bats from rookie Jake Cronenworth and Jason Castro, leading to back to back walks to lead off the inning. The walks were prototypical of San Diego’s approach in 2020. Working the count and laying off good pitches to value baserunners.
Following the walks, Trent Grisham dropped down a sacrifice bunt to perfection, moving the runners up to second and third with one out.
Jurickson Profar then singled home Cronenworth from third, putting the Padres up by a run. Then with two outs, Manny Machado singled to right field to score Castro, giving Machado 39 RBI on the year.
CAUTION: Hot corner is hot ⚠️#FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/I2pPgFLXt2
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 14, 2020
It was not a flashy inning for the Padres, who had gotten a home run in the second inning from Wil Myers (11) to account for their only home run of the day. Still, it was a significant stretch for a team that has shown the ability to play small ball to do what is necessary to win games.
Show us the smile, @wilmyers 😁#FriarFaithful https://t.co/a3lW0ZMLPP
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 13, 2020
After taking the 3-1 lead heading into the sixth, the Padres got shut down innings from Drew Pomeranz -who has yet to allow a run in 2020 – and Trevor Rosenthal to close out the win.
The Padres begin an important three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday at Petco Park that has major NL West implications. The Padres (31-17) sit 2.0 games back of the Dodgers in the standings, while the Dodgers were in action against the Astros as of the end of the Padres’ second game Sunday.
The Padres will send Dinelson Lamet (2-1, 2.24) to the mound Monday, looking to win their eighth straight.
Kevin is a San Diego Native covering the San Diego Padres and their affiliates