Xander Bogaerts delivered a crucial RBI single in the seventh inning, leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night. This win snapped the Padres’ five-game losing streak against the last-place Rockies and marked a significant moment in the season for both teams.
Martín Pérez made his debut for the Padres, pitching six strong innings. He allowed only one run on three hits, struck out seven, and did not issue any walks. Pérez’s sole mistake was conceding a home run to Hunter Goodman in the third inning. Reflecting on his performance, Pérez said, “It was awesome to go out there and do my job and we scored runs and we won the game. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to help the team win.” He also praised the support from his teammates, which made him feel comfortable and confident.
The Padres, who have won 10 of their last 13 games since the All-Star break, had recently completed a two-game sweep of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers before losing to the Rockies on Friday night. The game against the Rockies on Saturday saw the Padres struggle initially, held to one run and one hit over six innings by rookie Tanner Gordon. However, they managed to break through against reliever Peter Lambert in the seventh inning.
Jake Cronenworth initiated the rally with a single, followed by a double from Manny Machado. Bogaerts then singled to left field, giving the Padres a 2-1 lead. Rookie Jackson Merrill added a sacrifice fly, extending the lead. Bogaerts commented on the turnaround, saying, “It started off the same. The guy was throwing good, a young guy, and got to the bullpen and got some guys on base. We started a nice rally once we got to the bullpen.”
The Rockies fought back with pinch hitter Jacob Stallings hitting a home run off All-Star Tanner Scott in the eighth inning, ending Scott’s scoreless streak of 17 2/3 innings since June 17. Despite this, the Padres held on, with Jason Adam pitching the seventh inning to earn the win and Robert Suarez closing the game in the ninth for his 24th save of the season.
Manager Mike Shildt praised Pérez’s debut, noting, “Loved his pace, his control. Good rhythm what he was doing. Everything was for quality strikes.” He also remarked on the unique experience of starting a left-handed pitcher for the first time this season, which took some adjustment but ultimately proved effective.
Tanner Gordon, making his fourth start for the Rockies, was perfect through four innings before the Padres managed to get baserunners in the fifth. Gordon walked Manny Machado and allowed a single to Bogaerts, which eventually led to Machado scoring on a groundout by David Peralta to tie the game at 1. Gordon entered the game with an 0-3 record and an 8.80 ERA and was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier in the day.
The quick-paced game, lasting just 1 hour and 59 minutes, saw both teams’ pitchers working efficiently and effectively. Shildt reflected on the pace, saying, “We were talking about the fifth or sixth, like we went back in time for a second. We had guys that were really working quick, hitting their spots.”
The Padres’ victory marked a positive step as they continue their post-All-Star break resurgence, showing promise for the remainder of the season.