SAN DIEGO -- Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky…
Xander Bogaerts’ check-swing infield single in the eighth inning proved to be the decisive swing in the Padres’ 4-3 victory over the White Sox on Sunday afternoon.
After four straight losses, they’ll take it. Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park:
An impressive debut from Canning
The Padres have spent most of the season with major questions at the back end of their starting rotation. Griffin Canning might help answer some of those.
Canning made his Padres debut on Sunday afternoon, working five innings of one-run ball. He punched out seven White Sox hitters in his first start since an Achilles injury ended his season last June.
Canning only threw 73 pitches. He’s not fully built up, so there was no need to push him beyond the five quality frames that he threw. But his stuff -- his changeup in particular -- looked sharp. Canning dealt with early command issues, but he kept Chicago off the board in the first. The White Sox scored their only run on Drew Romo’s solo home run in the third.
From there, Canning seemed to get stronger as the game wore on. He struck out the last four White Sox hitters he faced.
If the Padres get this version of Canning, it significantly raises the floor of their starting rotation. Lucas Giolito is on his way as well. The starting pitching concerns suddenly don’t feel so pronounced.
Manny starting to mash
The three hitters you’d expect to be driving the Padres’ offense this season -- Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado -- have largely struggled.
But if there’s one of the three who looks poised to return to his usual heights, it’s Machado. He appeared ready to do so last week after a huge series in Mexico City. But Machado then dealt with a minor calf issue, which slowed him for a couple of days.
Now, he seems to be heating up again. Machado went 2-for-4 with a home run on Sunday afternoon. Merrill is still slumping. Tatis was out of the lineup on Sunday and remains in search of his first homer. But if the Padres can get Machado going, it would go a long way.
A new streak for Miller?
Mason Miller didn’t have his best series against the Cubs -- even factoring in the questionable call that led to the run that snapped his scoreless streak. He allowed two runs and three hits in that outing on Monday and wasn’t at his dominant best on Wednesday either.
This was more like it.
Miller struck out the first two White Sox hitters he faced before a seeing-eye single from Tristan Peters put the tying run on base. Peters proceeded to swipe second, but Miller responded instantly by punching out Luisangel Acuña on three pitches, nailing down his Major League-leading 11th save of the season.