Padres sweep Houston with 5-3 victory behind a strong bullpen
Credit: Padres
Petco Park- San Diego, California
The San Diego Padres completed their sweep of the Houston Astros Sunday afternoon with a 5-3 victory.
The Padres are now 18-12 and on a seven-game winning streak. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Dodgers keep winning, so the Padres still sit in second place in the National League West.
Manny Machado is today’s hero with his go-ahead home run in the eighth inning. Although he is the hero, the bullpen deserves the most credit with seven ⅔ scoreless innings. This is what everyone expected the Padres bullpen to look like this season.
You hear us now?#FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/V2vLGQwbQb
— Slam Diego Padres (@Padres) August 23, 2020
Adrian Morejon made his second start of the season, and it started horribly. Although the Houston Astros are very injured right now, the top of their lineup is still full of good hitters.
Houston jumped out to a 3-0 lead with an RBI single from Carlos Correa and a two-run home run off that bat of Kyle Tucker. The Houston Astros did not score after the first inning.
Luis Patiño, Cal Quantrill, Tim Hill, and Craig Stammen all gave more than an innings worth from innings 2-8. The four combined to allow only two hits, one of which was erased by a stellar double play up the middle, and no walks. They certainly took advantage of Zach Davis pitching eight innings Saturday night.
He is beauty, he is grace, runner's out at first and second base.
Open your @ChickfilA app before the game ends for a free breakfast entree reward to redeem tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/ctyqoSIlyI
— Slam Diego Padres (@Padres) August 23, 2020
The San Diego Padres woke up offensively in the fourth inning by scoring three runs off of Zack Greinke to tie the game 3-3. Greinke also decided to take a little break behind the mound while the Padres’ field crew fixed up the mound.
Must see Greinke. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/KrDZhEq2IT
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 23, 2020
Fernando Tatis Jr. broke up Greinke’s no-hitter with a single up the middle to get the rally started. Eric Hosmer and Jake Cronenworth followed up with an RBI each on hits to right field. Jurickson Profar grounded out to score the third and final run of the inning.
In the eighth inning, Machado grabbed the first lead of the day for the San Diego Padres with a two-run home run. Machado is scorching hot right now, and it all started after Texas Rangers pitcher Ian Gibaut threw behind him following the Tatis Jr. grand slam.
Manny Machado is 11-for-24 with three doubles and three home runs since he was thrown at in Texas.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) August 23, 2020
Emilio Pagan came in for the save and locked down the heart of the Houston Astros order. That is Emilio Pagan’s second save as a Padre.
The Padres also gained respect from the Houston Astros following their sweep.
Josh Reddick on the #Padres :
"They put us on ice today, all weekend really."
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) August 23, 2020
Zack Greinke just dropped another "that Cronenworth guy."
AJ Pollock was the first.
T-shirt?
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) August 23, 2020
After a two-hit game and multiple spectacular plays in the field, Padres manager Jayce Tingler praised his young superstar.
Jayce Tingler tried to explain what Fernando Tatis Jr. is doing: pic.twitter.com/IgHeXGyEq9
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) August 23, 2020
Tatis Jr. even gave his take on why the Padres are playing so well. Before the season, he said the Padres want to win a championship. They’re proving it so far.
"We’re changing the culture here. We’re building something different.” – Tatis on change in attitude of this team going out every day EXPECTING to win.
— Bob Scanlan (@heyscan) August 23, 2020
The Padres will get a much needed day off on Monday following 17 straight games. The Seattle Mariners come to town Tuesday for the Vedder Cup. Chris Paddack will face off against LHP Marco Gonzales, with the first pitch is at 6:10 p.m.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”
If Gore gets a chance to start this year, Lucessi might be a good BP piece as a long reliever or spot starter if we need a bullpen day. I look at the few teams that are not “in the hunt”, I’m not sure there’s a catcher in there worth trading for. I DO NOT believe Mejia will develop into a good catcher. I also don’t think he’ll ever be a good hitter. He is far too undisciplined to be good in the field or at the plate. Send him for a good relief pitcher. Put a package together with Mejia and a couple of descent prospects (25-50) for Hader. A plethora of good late innings guys (when healthy) is a good problem to have. Plus, they are good trade chips when needed next off season.
I’ve become more concerned about Mejia as well. I hope that his discipline can get better at the plate as time goes on. In the 2nd half of 2019, he was one of the best hitting catchers in all of baseball. It’s there, he just needs to find more consistency.
With the upcoming trade deadline approaching so soon, we still need a reliable good hitting catcher. I still have faith that Mejia could be a good backup and pinch hitter but I believe Hedges packaged with a couple of lower level prospects could bring back a starter at the position. We should not trade Naylor right now. He’s going to grow into becoming a very good player. Olivares should be sent back down because he is over-matched right now at the plate. The bull-pen could use another arm but I believe what we have will be sufficient once Gore comes up, although trading Lucessi might become a necessity.
I don’t think Hedges draws a lot of trade value. If the Padres can get value out of him, then they might take, it just am not expecting it. I agree that Naylor can become a valuable player, but I don’t see a role for him other than DH. Might not be a terrible idea for a trade if someone wants him. A Lucchesi trade makes a ton of sense. I don’t think he’ll pull a ton of value with his struggles in 2020, but definitely worth a shot for a lot of teams.