SAN FRANCISCO -- The Padres bounced back from a series-opening loss with a pair of convincing wins in San Francisco -- including a 5-1 victory on Wednesday afternoon.
Here’s some instant reaction from Oracle Park:
An impact bench
The Padres have -- at least according to bench coach Randy Knorr -- “the best bench in baseball.” And they’ve used it almost flawlessly this season.
Emphasis on “almost” -- after a snafu that threatened to derail a potential rally on Wednesday afternoon.
With the game tied in the top of the seventh inning, the Giants called for left-hander Matt Gage to face lefty Sung-Mun Song. Padres manager Craig Stammen wanted to pinch-hit but was late in doing so, and the Padres were charged with a pitch-clock violation.
That meant Ty France would start down 0-1 in the count. Nonetheless, France worked a tough eight-pitch at-bat (seven, if you don’t count the automatic strike). With a 3-2 count, he sent a deep fly ball down the right field line, which caromed off the glove of Jesus Rodriguez. Two runs scored, and France cruised into third with a triple as the Padres grabbed a 3-1 lead.
An inning later, it was Xander Bogaerts’ turn to come off the bench and deliver. (It’s a luxury of the Padres’ deep roster that they’re able to give so many days off to their regular starters -- and Bogaerts got one on Wednesday, with Song starting at short.)
After Stammen hit for Song, Bogaerts entered to cover the final couple innings at shortstop -- and he proceeded to mash a titanic two-run homer in the eighth, putting the Padres on top, 5-1.
Waldron thrives behind an opener
Matt Waldron struggled in his three prior starts this season. So on Wednesday afternoon, the Padres didn’t ask Waldron to start.
The team announced early Wednesday morning that Bradgley Rodriguez would be taking the ball as an opener. They felt his stuff would play best against the top of the Giants’ lineup and that Waldron could be eased into his outing lower in the San Francisco order.
The move worked. Rodriguez breezed through a 1-2-3 first inning. Waldron followed with five innings of one-run ball, by far his best outing of the season. He went light on the knuckleball (but used it effectively when he did throw it) and heavy on the hard stuff. Waldron finished with seven strikeouts and no walks, while allowing just two hits.
The Padres will take that line any day -- whether Waldron takes the mound in the first inning or the second.
Back in the win column
The Padres won six consecutive series in April. But they split two games against the Diamondbacks in Mexico City, then dropped consecutive series at home to the White Sox and Cubs. In total, the Padres had dropped six of eight after Monday’s loss.
This was more like it.
San Diego bounced back from a disappointing offensive showing on Monday by tying season highs in runs (10) and hits (14) on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, it was a bit more straightforward.
The Rodriguez/Waldron duo covered the first six. Then, given a lead, the Padres turned it over to their elite bullpen. Adrian Morejon worked two scoreless before Mason Miller pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.