The Padres completed an unlikely sweep Sunday, staving off a bases-loaded scare in the top of the ninth for a 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers at Petco Park.
It was not so unlikely, though if one reflects on the performances from Padre starters in the three-game series.
Blake Snell went five innings Sunday, giving up one run – unearned due to his own error – and striking out nine, following Yu Darvish’s six scoreless innings in the Friars’ 4-0 shutout Saturday. Joe Musgrove also held the Rangers, leaders in the American League West, scoreless in his six innings Friday.
In addition, the Padres again enjoyed the combination of Robert Suarez and Josh Hader, which hadn’t been possible during Suarez’s long 2023 convalescence. Suarez kept Texas at bay in the eighth both Saturday and Sunday leading to Hader, though the closer made it interesting Sunday before earning his 25th save of the season.
After two quick outs, Hader walked Robbie Grossman ahead of a double to left by Nathaniel Lowe. He appeared to pitch around Adolis García, and with the bases loaded, got ahead of Josh Jung before inducing him to hit a fly ball to right. Fernando Tatis Jr. snagged it in foul territory for the final out.
Gary Sánchez enjoyed his first multi-homer game as a Padre with solo shots in the fourth and fifth – one of which broke a 1-1 tie. They were his 11th and 12th this year.
While his power has been helpful – he’s not hitting for average – manager Bob Melvin pointed to his work with the pitching staff, particularly Snell.
Sánchez is “very calm in how he does it. It’s been really impressive,” Melvin said.
The weekend did have a speed bump though. Ha-Seong Kim is day-to-day after jamming his right shoulder in the third on a slide home. Initial tests on the shoulder were negative, Melvin said.
The Padres take a quick jaunt to Colorado Monday, sending Seth Lugo to the mound in the opener, with Musgrove set for Wednesday. Tuesday’s starter is TBD. They return to host the first-place Dodgers next weekend.