SAN DIEGO -- Before Dustin Harris’ go-ahead single bounced off the mound and into center field, sparking Petco Park to life … before Ty France launched a towering three-run homer to the Western Metal Building and watched it fly as the ballpark erupted around him … before Jackson Merrill added the exclamation point with a long home run, then kissed the barrel of his bat as he was about to flip it …
The Padres were already having a very good night.
The Cubs had lost in Cincinnati. The Phillies had lost to the Mets. The Yankees hung a five-spot on the Diamondbacks in the top of the first inning and cruised to a win.
The Padres made the most of it all with their 8-2 victory over the Marlins on Friday night -- a win that moved them closer to a clinch, and closer to the possibility of hosting a Wild Card Series.
Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park:
A shift in focus in the standings?
The primary objective, of course, is simply getting into the dance. As such, the most noteworthy result elsewhere on Friday night was the Diamondbacks’ loss. The Padres now lead Arizona by five games for the final National League Wild Card spot. They can clinch a playoff spot as soon as Sunday.
That’s a remarkable turn of events. A week ago, this race seemed destined to come down to the final weekend. At one point last Friday night, the two NL West rivals were tied in the standings. Now, it’s starting to look like that season-ending series between San Diego and Arizona might not have the implications we thought it would.
The Padres have won 11 of 12 and have been red-hot. The D-backs … have not been. At this point, it’d be perfectly reasonable for San Diego to turn its attention elsewhere. Namely, to the very worthwhile goal of hosting a Wild Card Series.
And that goal got a whole lot more attainable on Friday. With the Phillies' and Cubs’ losses, the Padres moved into a tie for the top overall Wild Card spot (though, technically, they remain in the third spot, having already lost both tiebreakers).
“The only thing that we can worry about is playing each game the best we can and playing to our standard,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said before the game. “We've got nine more games to play to that standard. At the end of that, the standings will decide where we're playing -- hopefully in the playoffs.
“That first playoff game, we would love for it to be in San Diego.”
Vive la France
Ty France admired this one. His three-run homer had given the Padres a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, and the ballpark reached a crescendo.
What a season France is having. He signed a Minor League deal with the Padres during Spring Training and had to earn his way onto the roster. Then, he had to earn his way into the starting lineup.
Now? He’s batting fourth and anchoring what’s been one of the best offenses in baseball in the second half.
“We’re in a good spot, going into these last eight games,” France said. “I know how much bringing a championship to San Diego would mean. So to be a part of that would be special. Hopefully we can just keep this going.”
France’s average jumped above .300 with Friday’s performance, and his homer set a career high -- his 21st. Not to mention, France is again playing a Gold Glove-caliber first base.
What a pickup.
Dustin Harris won’t stop hitting
Full credit to Padres pro scouting director Pete DeYoung and his staff. Because we’ve been saying “what a pickup” an awful lot this season, haven’t we? It applies with France. It applies with Samad Taylor and Luis Rengifo.
And it certainly applies with Harris.
Harris was released by the White Sox organization in early July, then signed a Minor League deal with the Padres shortly thereafter. From the start, he mashed at Triple-A El Paso. The Padres waited to call him up.
But when Gavin Sheets went down with a foot injury, they had a desperate need for a lefty bat off their bench. Harris was the obvious choice for a callup. He’s been everything the Padres could’ve hoped for, and then some.
“As soon as he came up, he was playing,” said Stammen. “He was on fire in Triple-A. I think it’s him just feeling that same feeling.”
Harris went 2-for-4 on Friday night with the go-ahead RBI single. Harris is now hitting .379 with an .896 OPS. He’s solidified the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
Again … what a pickup.