The San Diego Padres were not perfect in really any facet of their game against the Cleveland Guardians, but they had just enough pitching, just enough offense and made just enough plays to hang on for a 7-5 win to open their three-game series at Progressive Field on Friday.
It did not look good early for the Padres after starter Michael King surrendered two solo home runs and a third run through the first three innings. King would go on to allow four runs, three earned, over his six innings of work. It was not the start the Friar Faithful wanted to see from the ace of their pitching staff. Fortunately for King and the San Diego playoff hopes, the offense came to life and got him off the hook with two runs in the fourth, three runs in the fifth and two runs in the seventh.
The Padres got on the board with a two-run home run off the bat of Xander Bogaerts. There has been a lot of discussion about where the veteran shortstop bats in the San Diego lineup among fans and media members. His contributions to the offense in the first game against Cleveland showed how effective he can be in the bottom third of the order. There is no question Bogaerts extends the lineup and makes it harder on opposing pitchers to get through the lineup unscathed as evidenced by his final line of 1-for-1 with two walks, three RBI and a run scored from the No. 8 position in the order.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a screaming line drive home run to tie the game at 3-3, and Luis Campusano continued to contribute to the offense when he followed later in the fifth inning with a two-run double that put the Padres ahead, 5-3. Campusano added another RBI in the top of the seventh when he recorded another double that allowed Ty France to score from second base. It also put Jackson Merrill on third base. He scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly from Gavin Sheets that put San Diego up, 7-4.
Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller were down for the day, so Jeremiah Estrada and Bradgley Rodriguez were asked to cover the eighth and ninth innings. Estrada allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth, which allowed Cleveland to cut the lead to 7-5, but Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth, despite a leadoff double, to lock down the win and record the first save of his MLB career.
The Padres offense kept pressure on Guardians starter Gavin Williams and the rest of the Cleveland pitching staff throughout the contest with each member of the lineup contributing in some way. Merrill was the only starter not to record a hit but he drew a walk and scored twice on the day.
San Diego has punched its win streak to six games and will look to make it seven when the Padres play the Guardians in the second game of the series today at 4:10 p.m.
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