Life can get a little confusing at times. A regularly scheduled reminder is very convenient. So here’s a refresher of what happened during the last week in faith.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs Padres @ Petco Park
by Scott Dunsmore
Game 136 – September 5
Diamondbacks 5, Padres 0
The Padres (74-62) were defeated by a score of 5-0 in first of three games at Petco Park with the Arizona Diamondbacks (65-69). Blake Snell (6-8, 3.73) allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out ten in six innings.
Bob Melvin on 5-0 loss to D-backs
Game 137 – September 6
Padres 6, Diamondbacks 5
The Padres (75-62) defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks (65-70) by a score of 6-5 in the second game of three at Petco Park. Joe Musgrove (9-6, 3.16) gave up five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts in four and a third innings.
Jake Cronenworth hit a two-run home run and Ha-Seong Kim hit a solo home run the next at-bat in the fifth inning. Josh Bell hit a solo home run in the seventh inning. Jorge Alfaro‘s bases-loaded walk-off single scored Cronenworth & Wil Myers in the ninth inning.
Cronenworth’s two-run homer (14)
Josh Bell homers to center (17)
Jorge Alfaro’s walk-off single
Game 138 – September 7
Padres 6, Diamondbacks 3
The Padres (76-62) defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks (65-71) by a score of 6-3 in the finale of their three-game series at Petco Park. Yu Darvish (13-7, 3.31) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over six innings.
Jurickson Profar hit a two-run home run and Jake Cronenworth added a solo home run in the second inning. Wil Myers hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. Josh Bell‘s fifth inning single drove in Trent Grisham. Ha-Seong Kim doubled to drive in Austin Nola in the eighth inning.
Podcast of the Week
By Nick McCann
Talking Friars – Shift Ban, Pitch Clock in 2023
On Episode 228 of this show, host Ben Fadden of Talking Friars broke down the new rule changes being implemented in MLB for the 2023 season.
The shift ban, pitch clock, and bigger bases are intended fixes to speed up the game and make it safer. This will be a noticeable altering of the sport we love and will surely cause controversy from die hard fans and players who fear change.
Ben Fadden is in the demographic that MLB needs to go for. Even though he is clearly a diehard that isn’t going anywhere, his generation is moving away from baseball and the higher ups know it.
Ben does a good job breaking it all down and navigating the anticipated repercussions, while illustrating the process for which the decision was made. His precise style is useful and tight, which works well for this kind of straight forward information dump.
For me, the biggest thing to watch in these matter is the player reaction next year. They will surely complain in a way that will further distance themselves from the consumers and leave them looking like spoiled children that nobody can relate to (SEE: Phil Nevin and the first Petco Fence). But baseball isn’t basketball or football. They have to do something to improve the product to increase the appeal in the sports entertainment market for causal fans, while not turning of their base who will be there anyways.
This 26 minute video is a good way to get caught up on what’s going on. Check out Talking Friars on YouTube or the audio version on the Gaslamp Ball Podcast feed.
Los Angeles dodgers vs Padres @ Petco Park
by Scott Dunsmore
Game 139 – September 9
Padres 5, dodgers 4 (10 Innings)
The Padres (77-62) defeated the Los Angeles dodgers (94-43) in the first of three games at Petco Park by a score of 5-4 in ten innings. Mike Clevinger (5-6, 4.13) gave up four runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts in five innings.
Trent Grisham hit a three-run home run in the second inning. Juan Soto scored on a Manny Machado single in the fifth inning. Jake Cronenworth‘s tenth inning walk-off single drove in Soto.
The start of the game was delayed for 45 minutes due to rain.
Grisham’s three-run homer (17)
Game 140 – September 10
dodgers 8, Padres 4
The Padres (77-63) were defeated in the second game of three at Petco Park with the Los Angeles dodgers (95-43) by a score of 8-4. Blake Snell (6-9, 4.02) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five in four innings.
Manny Machado hit two solo home runs, in the third and sixth innings. Josh Bell scored on a Jurickson Profar sacrifice fly and Luis Campusano‘s double drove in Wil Myers in the ninth inning.
Machado leaves yard in 3rd (27)
Machado pegs second homer of game
Game 141 – September 11
dodgers 11, Padres 2
The Padres (77-64) were defeated by the Los Angeles dodgers (96-43) in the finale of their three-game series at Petco Park by a score of 11-2. Joe Musgrove (9-7, 3.28) gave up four runs on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five and a third innings.
Jake Cronenworth hit a solo home run in the second inning. José Azocar scored when Juan Soto reached on a fielding error by Freddie Freeman in the third inning.