Red-hot Myers continues surge, lifts SD in 10th

September 9th, 2019

SAN DIEGO -- If needs to build his confidence going into the final weeks of the regular season, the past two games are certainly helping the cause.

Myers had three hits on Sunday afternoon, culminating with a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning as the Padres took the rubber match against the Rockies, 2-1, at Petco Park.

After Jesus Tinoco issued a one-out walk to Manny Machado in the 10th, Sam Howard replaced Tinoco and walked Eric Hosmer. Rockies manager Bud Black then summoned Yency Almonte to face Myers.

Myers knocked a single to left-center that plated Machado and gave San Diego the series victory. It was Myers’ third career walk-off hit and the third walk-off win for the Padres this season.

“It’s definitely exciting,” Myers said. “It was nice to be able to do that for the team and for the fans. We played a good all-around game.”

It was Myers' second straight three-hit game and extended his hitting streak to eight games, his longest since an 11-game streak in April 2017.

“I’m up there just executing a plan more often than not,” Myers said. “It’s just one of those things that I’ve got to figure out how to do consistently. When it’s there, it’s good, and I like where I’m at right now.”

For Myers, who has struggled for much of the season and has been relegated to a bench role at times, the hot stretch is coming at just the right time.

“It’s definitely big whenever you’re struggling and you have the ability to ride that out,” Myers said. “Especially at the end of the season, you want to get some confidence going there. I just want to continue doing this and ride this out as long as I can.”

Padres manager Andy Green likes what he has seen from Myers recently as well.

“He’s good, he’s talented,” Green said. “We’ve always known that. He’s had a nice little week or so here, so we’re encouraged.”

Padres starter Eric Lauer threw six strong innings, giving up one run on four hits against a Rockies team he has mostly struggled against during his first two seasons in the Majors. Entering Sunday, Lauer had an 11.21 ERA against Colorado in five starts, including an outing at Coors Field on May 10 in which he allowed eight runs in three innings.

“We know what he can do, and he maybe didn’t have his best stuff today,” Green said. “He’s obviously very confident in this ballpark. We are encouraged by what he did."

Lauer had some solid defensive play behind him in the outfield, including a running grab by Myers in left-center field that took away a potential extra-base hit from Pat Valaika. Josh Naylor and Nick Martini each nabbed a Rockies baserunner at second base, earning applause from Lauer both times.

“It gives you so much life on the mound, just knowing that the guys behind you are getting after it and going 100 percent," Lauer said. "It really picks you up when you think they might’ve gotten you, and then someone makes a play and now you think you’ll be OK."

Four Padres relievers combined for seven strikeouts over four hitless, scoreless innings to set up the walk-off victory.