SAN DIEGO -- The Padres slugged their way into the lead, then poured it on late, winning their series opener against the Athletics, 7-3, on Friday night.
Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park:
The suddenly slug-happy Padres
This is what the Padres envisioned this season. They didn’t hit nearly enough home runs last season. They played games in which they scratched and clawed for a bunch of hits, but lost because they were ultimately outslugged.
On Friday night, the Padres were the out-sluggers. Through seven innings, they had recorded only three hits -- yet they led 4-3 courtesy of three home runs.
Manny Machado, Nick Castellanos and Ramón Laureano went deep. When the A’s grabbed an early lead? Machado tied it with a two-run homer. When the A’s grabbed another lead? Castellanos tied it. Laureano put San Diego on top for good with a titanic solo shot beyond the left-field seats into the standing-room area in the seventh.
A season ago, the Padres finished ranked 28th in home runs. They vowed that would change. Sure enough, even without a single home run from Fernando Tatis Jr., they’re now tied with the Pirates for 17th overall in homers with 52. With a few more dingers from their big bats, it’s not outlandish to think the Padres could be top 10.
Manny (back to) being Manny
It’s been a slow start to the season offensively for Machado. But he was vintage on Friday night.
First, with the glove. In the top of the first, Machado ranged to his right to snare a Brent Rooker grounder and made his signature cross-body, cross-diamond throw for the out -- right on the money, as always. (For all of Machado’s struggles at the plate this season, he’s been mostly solid defensively, bouncing back from what was a subpar defensive year last year.)
Then, in the bottom half of the inning, Machado came to the plate with a runner aboard and the Padres trailing 2-0. It was the second time this week he’s done so in such circumstances. And the second time this week, he has launched a two-run homer.
Machado’s blast against A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs left his bat at 109.6 mph -- the hardest-hit ball he’s recorded all season. He appears to be turning a corner at the plate.
Castellanos finding a groove
With the Padres trailing by a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Castellanos launched a majestic blast off the third level of the Western Metal Building, keeping the ball just fair. It was his third homer in the past nine games after he’d hit just one in his first 24.
For the season’s first month, Castellanos played sporadically. A lifelong everyday player, Castellanos was relegated to a bench role. Perhaps naturally, he struggled.
But eventually, Castellanos began to learn the nuances of that job. He started to hit. And as he started to hit, more playing time became available. Now, here we are. Castellanos is, for all intents and purposes, the Padres’ starting right fielder, with Fernando Tatis Jr. entrenched at second base.
Thrust back into that everyday role, Castellanos has established a rhythm. He’s become the hitter the Padres envisioned he’d be when they signed him in Spring Training.