The Padres put Michael King to the mound in a Major League Baseball game for the first time since May. Due to a nerve injury, San Diego’s Opening Day starter missed over three months of action. In between, they made a few adjustments that greatly impressed King.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been on a team as good as this one,” King stated on Friday evening. Given that he was a member of the team that was just one victory away from defeating the Dodgers, the eventual World Series champions, that is a bold assertion.
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He might be correct with the new additions. Ramon Laureano, a recently acquired outfielder, singled in the tenth inning to earn San Diego a 5-4 victory and level their series against the Red Sox. It was his first Padres walkoff knock.
King won’t be going too deep in games for a long because he only made one rehab start in the minor leagues. He was forced to work by Boston’s lineup, which has been one of baseball’s most effective attacks in the past two months. After throwing 57 pitches, King was pulled after giving up four singles, walking two and striking out only one.
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In the second inning, Xander Bogaerts hit a solo home run to put the San Diego offense on the board. Bogaerts has gone deep five times in his last 19 appearances after hitting five home runs in his first 96 games. Bogaerts continued his second half outburst in the third inning with another RBI single.
Boston starter Lucas Giolito’s outburst in the fifth inning allowed San Diego to score their other two runs. Giolito allowed Fernando Tatis Jr. to single, then took consecutive walks from Jackson Merrill, Bogaerts, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramon Laureano to score two more runs and put the Padres ahead 4-3. It seems like it would be sufficient based on the way their bullpen has been performing.
Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, and Mason Miller combined to strike out 10 Red Sox batters over 4.0 innings after Wandy Peralta gave up a single run. This gave Robert Suarez, the league saves leader, a one-run advantage. Big Game Bob blinked this time.
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To tie it 4–4 and force extra innings, Ceddanne Rafaela stole second base, singled, and scored on a double from Roman Anthony. When it comes to bullpens, the Padres ought to be in the lead.
Jason Adam created a walkoff opportunity by brilliantly keeping the Red Sox off the board in the top of the tenth. San Diego had a strong trading deadline. At a packed Petco Park, Laureano sent home Bogaerts with the game-winning single after bouncing a single to left field, sparking a raucous celebration.
With Dylan Cease starting on the mound against Brayan Bello on Sunday afternoon, San Diego can win the series between the playoff candidates.
