Despite their three best hitters sitting out the game, the San Diego Padres crushed the San Francisco Giants, 10-1, at Petco Park on Sunday to take the series — their second straight.
Both Manuel Margo and Wil Myers were on the disabled list and Eric Hosmer sat out for the second game in a row because of a tight lower back. Rookie Christian Villanueva and veteran Jose Pirela, however, more than made up for it.
Villanueva drove in three runs and had a solo homer, coupled that with Pirela’s single, double and triple RBIs and three scoring runs and the Padres have a runaway lead.
“It’s fun to watch him pitch,” Green said. “He definitely didn’t want to come out after six innings. He wanted to keep going. I tried to explain to him that’s there’s another month in the season this year and he needs to pace himself.”
The Giants took the lead in the second inning with their sole score off a Brandon Belt’s sacrifice fly that drove in former Padres Nick Hundley. San Diego responded by scoring in each of the next five innings.
“Think about it,” Pirela said. “We’re playing without Hosmer, one of the best hitters on our team. We’re playing without Wil, who is unbelievable. We’re playing without Margot, who’s our leadoff hitter. It speaks a lot to the depth we have on this team.”
Up next, the Padres will host rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Left-hander Robbie Erlin will step in for the suspended Luis Perdomo.
