The San Diego Padres defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Tuesday night, with Manny Machado and Juan Soto hitting their 20th home runs of the season. Blake Snell pitched six innings, allowing only one run. Gary Sanchez also contributed with a home run for the Padres, who ended a two-game losing streak. Snell’s performance was impressive, as he gave up just two hits, although he did walk five batters and strike out four. His ERA of 2.61 is currently the lowest among all major league starters. The Padres’ bullpen, consisting of Steven Wilson, Robert Suarez, and Josh Hader, each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
In the seventh inning, Soto hit a home run off Angel Perdomo, giving the Padres a two-run lead. However, Perdomo retaliated by hitting Machado with a 98 mph fastball, resulting in his ejection from the game. The umpires also ejected Pirates manager Derek Shelton for the intentional hit. The Pirates took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Carlos Santana walked and scored on a double by Henry Davis. Machado responded with a home run in the bottom of the inning, followed by a single from Xander Bogaerts, who later scored on Sanchez’s single, giving the Padres a 2-1 lead.
The score remained unchanged until the seventh inning when Soto hit his home run, extending the Padres’ lead to 3-1. In the eighth inning, Luis Campusano hit a double off Dauri Moreta, who replaced Perdomo after his ejection. Sanchez then hit his 10th home run of the season, increasing the Padres’ lead. Snell had a strong performance, retiring 10 consecutive Pirates batters after Davis’ double in the second inning. However, he faced some trouble in the fifth inning, issuing back-to-back walks and allowing an infield single that loaded the bases. Despite the threat, Snell struck out Connor Joe and Bryan Reynolds to escape the inning unscathed.
The Pirates struggled offensively, finishing the game with only three hits. Pirates starter Rich Hill allowed two runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Before the game, the Pirates placed infielder Tucupita Marcano on the 60-day injured list due to a right knee ligament injury. In his place, infielder Alika Williams was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis and made his major league debut, drawing a walk in his first plate appearance.
In conclusion, the San Diego Padres secured a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, with strong performances from Manny Machado, Juan Soto, and Blake Snell. The game was not without controversy, as Perdomo was ejected for intentionally hitting Machado. The Padres’ bullpen held the Pirates scoreless, and their offense was led by home runs from Machado, Soto, and Sanchez. Snell showcased his skills on the mound, retiring 10 consecutive batters and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning. The Pirates struggled offensively, finishing with only three hits.
