Maybe it was because the San Diego Padres executed in a way they haven’t for most of the past two weeks.
Or perhaps it was because they were playing the visiting Cincinnati Reds, who also have struggled to win games lately.
Either way, the Padres finally received some run production Monday night during a 6-2 win. San Diego now has an opportunity to secure a series win against the visiting Reds on Tuesday night.
“It felt like we haven’t had one like that this season,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “I know that’s not the case but that creates some positive vibes in the dugout.”
Most of those came from Nos. 7-9 hitters Jase Bowen, Samad Taylor and Freddy Fermin. Each player collected two hits, with Fermin homering for the third straight game after failing to hit one before his game-winner Saturday night against the New York Mets.
Taylor, in particular, was a big factor on offense and defense. He had an RBI bunt single in the seventh that snapped a 2-2 tie and a two-run single an inning later. He also dashed to the wall to make a leaping catch in left-center in the sixth to deny Matt McLain of extra bases.
“We’re spark plugs,” Taylor said. “The engine doesn’t run without spark plugs.”
It also doesn’t run without effective starting pitching, something Lucas Giolito (2-1, 4.86 ERA) will try to deliver on Tuesday. Giolito absorbed a 6-4 loss Thursday in Philadelphia, allowing three runs, two of them earned, in four innings with a walk and five strikeouts.
The veteran right-hander has struggled in three career starts against Cincinnati, going 0-1 with an 8.16 ERA and allowing seven homers in only 14 1/3 innings.
While Giolito looks for his best form, the man he faces Tuesday night appears to have found it.
Chase Burns (7-1, 2.05) is pitching like a potential All-Star, recording 81 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings and allowing fewer than a baserunner per inning.
During his team’s 5-2 loss Wednesday to Kansas City, Burns struck out nine in six innings, yielding two runs on four hits and a walk. He was not part of the decision.
This will be his first career outing against San Diego.
“Every time I go out there,” Burns said, “I’m just trying to get six innings, just trying to put the team in the best position to win. As long as I can do that, I’m pretty happy.”
The Reds will ask Burns to play the stopper’s role and perhaps not ask their struggling bullpen to get too many outs. Cincinnati again lost a game it could have won Monday night after its bullpen couldn’t maintain a 2-2 tie in the seventh, allowing the inherited runner on base to score, then coughed up three runs for a 6-2 loss.
But the offense failed in key spots, too, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine. It added up to the Reds’ fifth straight loss and ninth in the past 11 games.
Cincinnati might be getting help soon. Catcher Jose Trevino is on track to be activated from a stint on the injured list when the team returns home on Friday, while reliever Pierce Johnson (elbow) will throw a bullpen session before Tuesday night’s game.
–Field Level Media
