Juan Soto continued his hot hitting Friday as the Padres started a mini-road trip with a 9-6 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Soto, who had a five-hit game in the Padres’ Wednesday win over Seattle, had a first-inning single that led to a Manny Machado home run and a 2-0 lead. By the end of the second, the Friars had a 6-0 advantage, thanks to additional homers by Trent Grisham and Gary Sánchez.
They added three more runs, in the middle innings, including solo shots by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Brandon Dixon, for their second straight lopsided win – they scored 10 against the Mariners to close their home stand at Petco Park.
Manager Bob Melvin called it “another one we can build on.”
Yu Darvish improved to 5-4 after pitching 5.1 innings, giving up four runs and striking out six. It was also a milestone victory for the veteran, his 100th in the U.S. after winning 93 in Japan, where he started his career. Josh Hader logged his 14th save.
Meanwhile, Xander Bogaerts returned to the lineup after missing games at Petco against the Cubs and Mariners due to a sore left wrist. He went 2-for-5 and scored two runs after telling MLB.com “I feel good to play.”
Ryan Weathers and Blake Snell take the mound for the Padres Saturday and Sunday as part of a road trip confined to Colorado. They return home Tuesday.