Padres Week in Review: Rockin' In Cleveland

[Steve Drumwright]

San Diego Padres Weekly Snapshot

Record last week: 5-1 (62-57)

Runs scored last week: 31

Runs allowed last week: 18 (season run differential: plus-10)

Scores

• Game 120 (Monday): Padres 3, Brewers 2
• Game 121 (Tuesday): Padres 11, Brewers 2
• Game 122 (Wednesday): Padres 4, Brewers 3 (11 innings)
• Thursday: Off
• Game 123 (Friday): Padres 7, Guardians 5
• Game 124 (Saturday): Guardians 6, Padres 1
• Game 125 (Sunday): Padres 5, Guardians 0

Week in Review and Highlights

Brewers series

Game 1: With the team possessing the best record in MLB coming to Petco Park, this was always going to be a huge test for the Padres. But the Padres stood toe-to-toe with the Milwaukee Brewers and delivered a knockout punch in the first of three rounds. Jackson Merrill homered for the third straight game, hitting a go-ahead two-run shot off right-handed starter Logan Henderson with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 3-2 win over the Brewers. The victory kept the Padres one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies for the final two NL wild-card spots, while extending their advantage over the Miami Marlins, the next team in the wild-card standings, to 2½ games.

Having been held to three hits and one run by Henderson, Ty France, who had homered leading off the second inning, had a one-out single and Merrill followed with his 19th homer, a 431-foot blast to center field. That set up the Friars' dynamic duo in the bullpen. Left-hander Adrian Morejon allowed a single in the eighth, then All-Star closer Mason Miller overcame a walk to notch his career-high 30th save in 31 chances as catcher Freddy Fermin threw out a runner attempting to steal second to end the game. They were in position to win thanks to the start by right-hander Casey Mize, who was acquired just seven days prior and was making his second Padres start. Mize was much better (it would have been hard to be worse) than his eight-run debut. This time, Mize went six innings, allowed a two-run homer to Christian Yelich, five hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Game 2: While it will go down as the Luis Rengifo revenge game, it was also the day that you could truly believe in the Padres as a postseason team. Just seven weeks after being released by the Brewers, Rengifo hit his first career grand slam as the Padres crushed Milwaukee 11-2. With the win and losses by the D'backs and Phillies, the three teams were tied for the last two NL wild-card spots. Tatis and Luis Campusano also homered as the Padres pounded out 17 hits, two shy of their season high, reaching double digits in hits for the sixth time in their last 12 games. The double-figure runs were the most since putting up 19 in the July 19 Kansas City massacre.

The win also secured the series for the Padres, important from not only a standings point of view, but because it came against the MLB-leading Brewers and their No. 2 starter in left-hander Kyle Harrison. And they got to him early, which is key against any pitcher, but especially with the good ones. Merrill remained hot, opening the second inning along with newcomer Austin Hays with singles. After two outs, Jake Cronenworth doubled home Merrill. Tatis was rung up on a 3-2 pitch that would have ended the inning, but successfully challenged the call (just his fourth challenge of the year) to load the bases. Rengifo took a 93.4 mph four-seamer for ball one, then smashed a 94 mph one to left field for his third homer since joining the Padres after hitting none for the Brewers, a grand slam for a 5-0 lead. That opened the floodgates as the Padres added another in the fourth on Tatis' 12th homer and two more in the fifth on Campusano's fifth this season. That made it eight runs in 4⅔ off Harrison. Tatis' homer was the 163rd of his career, snapping a tie with Nate Colbert and taking sole possession of second place in Padres history. Manny Machado holds the franchise record with 217 and counting.

Just as important was the outing for Friars right-handed starter Walker Buehler was really good. How much of that was due to getting a big lead early, who knows? But Buehler went six innings, allowing just one run and three hits with two walks and five strikeouts, showing a bit of vintage form. After an inning from left-hander Wandy Peralta, right-hander Griffin Canning went the final two 

Game 3: Of all the scenarios that you were thinking about a month ago, this was the most unimaginable. With a 4-3 walk-off win over the Brewers, who had the best record in MLB, the Padres completed a three-game sweep and moved into the No. 2 NL wild-card position. Remember, this was a team that entered the All-Star break needing two wins over the Toronto Blue Jays to reach 48-48. Before those two wins, there were four teams the Friars needed to climb over just to be in the first spot outside of the wild-card standings. Now, they are two spots higher.

That is the big picture, a place the Padres arrived at sooner than even they expected. The smaller picture was a tremendous series sweep capped an exhilarating extra-innings victory. The winner came off the bat of Campusano, who lined a single to right field that Luis Lara, just off an extraordinary catch, threw home but just a bit high as Song slid in safely. Song, a pinch-runner for France (hit by a pitch), stole second following Merrill's deep sac fly that Lara snagged, allowing zombie runner Cronenworth to score from third. That rally came three innings after tying it in the eighth. That run scored as the Padres took advantage of a rare defensive miscue by the Brewers as the pitcher didn't get over to cover the bag on a two-out grounder to the first baseman, with Tatis speeding home from second base. Tatis was supposed to have the day off, but pinch-hit for Fermin and drew two walks.

New Padres left-handed starter Robbie Ray made it only through four innings because he was forced to throw a lot of pitches. He kept the Brewers from getting out to a bigger lead, but it took him 84 pitches to get it done, one more than his opposite number, Brewers right-hander Dustin May, used to get through seven innings. Coming off six-inning starts, the bullpen was in good shape, even having to cover the two extra innings. Right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez went two innings (one hit), while right-hander Jeremiah Estrada, left-hander Hart and Miller each going a hitless inning. Morejon covered the 10th and 11th. 

Guardians series

Game 1: There already was plenty to talk about before manager Craig Stammen made it clear Miller was not pitching and Rodriguez, a closer-in-waiting, was going to be responsible for the bottom of the ninth inning, protecting a 7-5 Padres lead over the Cleveland Guardians. It worked out perfectly for the Padres, as it has recently, as Rodriguez overcame a leadoff double to retire the next three batters for his first career save in the 7-5 win. As the Padres won their sixth straight to retain their No. 2 NL wild-card position, Miller (as well as Morejon) was just getting a day off after pitching in four of the previous seven games before Thursday's travel day.

The Padres' quick-strike offense erased an early 3-0 deficit as Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer in the fourth, his 11th this year, and Tatis ignited a three-run fifth with a screaming solo shot to left, his 13th of the season. Both came off Guardians ace Gavin Williams. Campusano then knocked in a pair with a double to put the Padres on top for good at 5-3. After the Guardians got one back on a sixth-inning sacrifice fly, the Friars put two more on the board in the seventh as Campusano continued to show his value by doubling home France and Bogaerts had a sac fly for a 7-4 advantage.

Padres right-handed starter Michael King was sharp, but did get through six innings, allowing four runs (three earned), including two homers, and eight hits. Left-hander Yuki Matsui had a clean seventh and Estrada allowed a run on a wild pitch in the eight before Rodriguez came on to close things out. Rodriguez's trust level has surged this year and will give Stammen another late-inning option down the stretch once Jason Adam returns from the injured list.

Game 2: The problem with trading away players is sometimes they come back to bite you. Take Guardians left-handed starter Joey Cantillo, for instance. One of six players the Padres shipped to Cleveland at the 2020 trade deadline in the Mike Clevinger deal, the 16th-round draft choice in 2017 has rounded into a very nice piece of the Guardians' staff. He showed the Padres what they are missing by allowing just one hit over six innings in the Friars' 6-1 loss. With the Phillies and D'backs both winning, the Padres slipped into a three-way tie for the final two NL wild-card berths. You can expect those three teams to be jockeying for position the rest of the season.

The only hit the Padres got off Cantillo , who had seven strikeouts, and three relievers was a first-inning single by Cronenworth, the second batter of the game. The only run came a batter later when Machado grounded into a double play that scored Tatis, who had a leadoff walk and went to third on Cronenworth's hit. Otherwise, virtual silence from the Padres, who did have three walks.

While it is tough to win when you don't score, the Friars' pitching plan wasn't up to snuff. Stammen chose the double-opener route with Peralta and Hart each going an inning, but they both gave up a run. That led to right-hander Randy Vasquez in a bulk role and he allowed four runs in five innings on seven hits and a walk. 

Game 3: A little rain, a rare sight for the Padres, couldn't slow down the Friars. Thanks to four home runs and Mize turning in exactly the type of outing they sought when he was acquired at the deadline, the Padres cruised to their seventh win in eight games, a 5-0 decision over the Guardians. With the Phillies winning and D'backs losing, the Padres (67-58) are tied for the final two NL wild-card spots, one game ahead of Arizona. After a 3-hour, 11-minute rain delay before the game began, the offense got things off to a rousing start. Rengifo and Gavin Sheets hit back-to-back homers with two outs in the second inning, then Bogaerts singled home Merrill in the fourth. They finished with two more solo homers, Jase Bowen in the eighth and Cronenworth in the ninth.

That left it up to Mize, who tossed six shutout innings for his first win as Padre, allowing three hits and a walk with three strikeouts. After getting tagged for eight runs in his San Diego debut, Mize has gone six innings in each of his next two starts, which is a perfect distance for the Friars' bullpen. Estrada, Morejon and Matsui finished this one off, with the ninth-inning run keeping Miller from having to come in.

Taking two of three on the road from another contending team (albeit below .500) just continues the terrific play that has the Padres in a postseason position. Now they continue the road trip against the woeful New York Mets, a three-game set where the Padres will need to continue to step on the gas.

Marvelous Mason Miller

Some of the amazing stats for the Padres' closer:

• Season stats: 4-1, 0.88, 49 games, 30 saves (31 chances) 51⅓ IP, 24 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 19 BB, 93 K, .138 opponent average
• Leads all MLB relievers with 356 pitches this year at 100 mph or better. Entering Sunday, that total would have been tied for second among all teams with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres had 535 entering Sunday.
• Has not allowed a run in 43 of his 49 appearances this year.
• Since being acquired last year, the Padres are 59-12 when he pitches.

Random Stats

• The Padres have won six of their last seven series vs. the Brewers. The sweep was their sixth of the season and third since the All-Star break.
• With his second plate appearance Friday, Jackson Merrill triggered an extra $1 million per season in his remaining contract, which runs through the 2034 season with a club option for 2035.
• Fernando Tatis Jr.'s 115.5 mph exit velocity on his homer Friday was his highest of the season and fifth-best of his career.
• Friday's win was the Padres' ninth this season when trailing by at least three runs. That tied them with the Minnesota Twins for the most in MLB.
• Saturday's game was the third time this season the Friars have been held to one hit. Both previous times came vs. the St. Louis Cardinals (May 8 at home and June 15 on the road).
• Sunday's win improved the Padres' record in day games to an MLB-best 29-17 (.630 winning percentage).

Transactions

• Wednesday: Activated RHP David Morgan from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.
• Friday: Signed free-agent RHP AJ Rogers to a minor-league contract.

Website Highlights

• Salas survived the trade deadline. Can we officially call him the Padres' catcher of the future? — Randy Holt
• Understanding the math behind Merrill's adjustment that saved his season — Yirsandy Rodriguez
• Mize assuaged Padres' concerns in impressive bounce-back start — Randy Holt
• Hays covers a weakness Padres failed to address at the trade deadline — Randy Holt
• Morejon's pure dominance being overshadowed by Miller — Cade Lalim
• Padres Mission Top 20 prospect list update: Draft and deadline make for big changes — Steve Drumwright

Looking Ahead

• Monday: Padres (Walker Buehler) at Mets (Nolan McLean), 4:10 p.m.
• Tuesday: Padres (Robbie Ray) at Mets (Zac Thornton), 4:10 p.m.
• Wednesday: Padres (Michael King) at Mets (Robert Stock), 10:10 p.m.
• Thursday: Off
• Friday: Twins at Padres (Randy Vasquez), 6:40 p.m.
• Saturday: Twins at Padres (Casey Mize), 5:40 p.m.
• Sunday: Twins at Padres (Walker Buehler), 1:10 p.m.

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