Timely Hitting Helps Padres Edge Diamondbacks

Bogaerts tagging Moreno in the Padres - Diamondbacks game.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

April 22, 2023

Padres 5, Diamondbacks 3

PHOENIX, Apr. 22 — Timely hitting helps San Diego beat Arizona: The San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5–3, Saturday night in front of 28,419 fans on a warm but pleasant evening at Chase Field with the roof open in downtown Phoenix. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his first home run in the top of the first to get the Padres going early.

Padres Take Early Lead over Diamondbacks

To begin the game Trent Grisham flied to right before Tatis Jr. hit his first home run, and the Padres led very early, 1–0. Xander Bogaerts walked and Matt Carpenter doubled on a deep sharp fly ball to center field and Bogaerts scored to make it 2-0. Merrill Kelly struggled to finish the inning on 26 pitches.

Bottom of the first Joe Musgrove made his season debut. He was out after he suffered a fractured left big toe in late February when he dropped a kettlebell in a weight room accident. Ketel Marte singled and Corbin Carroll advanced him to third on his single. Christian Walker singled to score Marte, and Musgrove finished the inning. Padres 2 Diamondbacks 1.

In the bottom of the inning, the Diamondbacks got a single from Gabriel Moreno but Geraldo Perdomo grounded into a double play, as first baseman Jake Cronenworth threw to Bogaerts and Moreno out at second and Perdomo out at first.

Interesting Bottom of the Third

Musgrove came to the mound to face Rojas and, when the clock got down to one second, tossed the ball out of play. The umpires gathered, and after almost one minute and 30 seconds, finally called a ball, but Rojas struck out. After Marte grounded out, Carroll doubled and Walker followed it up with his third home run. Diamondbacks 3 Padres 2.

Exciting top of Fifth

In the top of the fifth, Ha-Seong Kim walked, Rougned Odor grounded into a double play from Walker to shortstop Perdomo back to Walker then to second baseman Marte. Kim was out at second and Odor out at first. After a walk to Austin Nola walk, Grisham was called out on strikes.

Merrill Kelly replaced in the Sixth

Kelly began the sixth with a walk to Tatis Jr. Juan Soto singled on a ground ball to right field, advancing Tatis Jr. to second. Kelly walked Bogaerts, and Kyle Nelson relieved him. Nelson Cruz, pinch-hitting for Carpenter, struck out before Cronenworth struck out on a foul tip. Kim singled on a ground ball to left, plating Tatis Jr. and Soto. The third out came on a ground out to Perdomo by Odor, as he flipped it to Marte for the force play. Padres 4 Diamondbacks 3.

Bottom of Seventh

In the bottom of the seventh, Ryan Weathers replaced Steven Wilson as the Padres hurler. Moreno led off with a single. Evan Longoria, pinch-hitting for Alek Thomas, flied out. Perdomo flied to right before Josh Rojas struck out, leaving Moreno stranded at first.

Top of Eighth

In the top of the eighth, Soto singled on a ground ball to right field. Bogaerts grounded to Longoria, who replaced Rojas at third, Soto moving to third on the grounder. After Cruz struck out, Andrew Chafin came in to get the third out. But Cronenworth singled, scoring Soto. Kim tried to bunt but popped to Moreno in foul territory for the third out. Padres 5 Diamondbacks 3.

Bottom of Eighth

In the bottom of the eighth, left hander Tim Hill came in to pitch. After getting Marte and Carroll out, he hit Walker. Gurriel Jr. singled, Walker taking third. Nick Ahmed came in to pinch-hit but ended the inning on a grounder, shortstop Bogaerts flipping to Odor for the force play.

Josh Hader Comes in

In the bottom of the ninth, the Padres’ excellent closer — Josh Hader — came in. Moreno popped to catcher Austin Nola in foul territory. Longoria grounded to short on a close play, the Diamondbacks losing the replay challenge. Perdomo, the last hope, lined to right, ending the game and giving the Padres a 5–3 victory.

Comments

Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo

From Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo: “It was a frustrating game, and the Padres got the timely hits. … Kelly was effective but appeared to tire out. … I need to manage my pitcher better. … I think the fatigue might have caught up to him. … We have a quick turn-around, and we’ve got to find a way to win the early Sunday game.”

Merrill Kelly

Diamondbacks Pitcher Merrill Kelly, always candid about everything he does when he pitches, said, “I felt good. When I’m in a zone, I am effective. But it bit me in the ass tonight…. The walks hurt me, and it comes down to I need to make better pitches.”

Bob Melvin

Padres manager Bob Melvin: “Musgrove threw the ball well. We limited him and it was good to get the win for him. Great defense. Joe keeps the ball on the ground. … Kim does not play third much but looked good for us. … Not off to the start we want, but (we’re) getting guys back, and it will be a good feeling.”

Interesting and Stats to Know

It was Zac Gallen bobblehead give-away to the first 15,000 fans, and he was handing them out to the fans. … Christian Walker looks like he is heating up. He had two hits — a home run, HBP, three RBI, scored a run, and had a stolen base. … Padres were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, but that led to them getting the lead and eventually winning. … The three, four, and five hitters for the Padres scored all the runs. … Steven Wilson leads the majors with 12 appearances, lowered his ERA 0.66, and has a nine-inning scoreless streak.

Looking Ahead

The Padres (11–12) and Diamondbacks (12–10) will play game the final game of their four-game series Sunday. Yu Darvish 0-2 with a 3.44 ERA goes up against Drey Jameson 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. First pitch will be at 1:10 pm Arizona Time. The game can be seen on Bally Sports Arizona for Diamondbacks fans and on Bally Sports San Diego for the Padres fans.