Athletics 5, Padres 2
One day after hitting without scoring, the Athletics managed to do both, cracking 10 hits en route to a 5–2 win over the host San Diego Padres Sunday afternoon at Petco Park.
Carlos Cortes led off the game with a home run, giving the Athletics a lead they never relinquished. It was the first of two hits in the game for Cortes, making him one of four Athletics with a multi-hit game.
Left-hander Jacob Lopez — piggybacking off opener Luis Medina — scattered six hits across 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball. He outdueled Padres starter Michael King, who did not survive the fourth after surrendering four runs on five hits and four walks.
Athletics – Padres Game Summary
After taking a 1–0 lead on the Cortes home run, the Athletics added two more runs in the second. The first came on a double from rookie Henry Bolte, and the second came on a single by Alika Williams. It became a 4–0 lead in the fourth when a bases-loaded wild pitch by King scored Jonah Heim from third.
A Manny Machado sacrifice fly made the score 4–1 in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, a solo homer by Ty France off reliever Justin Sterner made it a 4–2 game. However, scoreless relief from Mark Leiter Jr, Hogan Harris, and Scott Barlow kept the Padres at two runs for the rest of the game. A Tyler Soderstrom single in the top of the ninth gave the Athletics an insurance run, carrying them the rest of the way to their 5–2 victory.
What Went Right for the Athletics
Took Early Lead
The Athletics scored four runs off King and knocked him out of the game before the fourth inning had even ended.
Hit Parade
Soderstrom, Heim, and Nick Kurtz joined Cortes in notching multi-hit games with two hits apiece. The RBI hits from Bolte and Williams combined with these eight knocks to give the Athletics ten total hits.
Stranded Opposing Runners in Scoring Position
Athletics pitching held the Padres hitless with runners in scoring position (0-for-8). Of the eight Padres runners left on base, four were in scoring position.
Soderstrom’s Arm
Tyler Soderstrom hosed Fernando Tatis Jr at second, keeping him from stretching a single into a double with two outs in the third. The next time Tatis batted — fifth inning, two outs, Ty France on first — Soderstrom did it again. With the count 3–2, France broke for second on the pitch. Tatis roped a double off the wall in left. France tried to score. However, a strong throw from Soderstrom and accurate relay from shortstop Alika Williams nabbed him for the third out.
What Went Wrong for the Athletics
Missed Opportunities
Though they still grabbed a 5–2 win, the Athletics could have scored even more. Of the eleven runners left on base, five were in scoring position. In both the fourth and the ninth, the Athletics left the bases loaded.
Looking Ahead
Lopez (4–2) earned the win as King (4–3) took the loss. Barlow, entering with two on and one out in the ninth, retired both batters he faced and notched the save.
Both the Athletics (27–26) and Padres (31–21) will play at home Monday. In West Sacramento, Aaron Civale (5–1, 3.31 ERA in 10 starts) will take the mound for the Athletics against fellow righty Luis Castillo (1–5, 6.41 ERA in nine starts) for the Seattle Mariners. First pitch will be at 6:40 pm Pacific, the last game of a 13-game Memorial Day slate across the league. In San Diego, Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez (5–2, 2.96 ERA in 10 starts) will face Philadelphia Phillies lefty Jesus Luzardo (3–4, 4.85 ERA in 10 starts). First pitch will be at 3:40 pm Pacific.
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