Another hero every night for the Padres
The Padres found yet another way to win a one-run game, and they once again did it with help from the end of the roster.
This is fun. I don’t know how sustainable it is, but the 2022 San Diego Padres finding another hero every night (instead of relying on Manny Machado to be the hero every night) is thrilling.
Last night, Manny Machado had two opportunities to win the game for the Padres with his bat and he missed them both. Not to fear, though, because the team’s 4th OF was ready when the moment arrived.
Last night’s 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers felt very fitting for this team. The only reason they won this game was because they never stopped fighting.
Nick Martinez, who was starting in place of the injured Mike Clevinger, pitched himself into and out of trouble a few times. Most notable, in the 4th inning, when Jake Cronenworth made one of the better plays a shortstop can make to get out of a bases-loaded jam:
In the 5th, running on fumes, Nick Martinez found a way to strike out Rowdy Tellez and Andrew McCutchen with a runner on base to close out the inning. Personally, I was wondering if he was going to be able to keep a run off the board long enough for the relief pitcher to get warm and come in. I should’ve known better.
Azocar got a jam single over the second baseman for the win. Martinez battled when he didn’t have his best stuff. Cronenworth found a way to contribute with his defense while still trying to find his offense. Trent Grisham, who hasn’t been able to hit all season, has turned bunts into an RBI weapon twice this week:
Point being, every player on this team refuses to quit. And when things are going wrong, they refuse to sulk. Instead, they search for other ways that they can contribute to the team, and a bunch of those little things added up to a big win last night.
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