:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57528849/485224708.0.jpg)
Just as they did in Game 1, the Padres wasted a strong start from staff ace and National League Cy Young Award frontrunner Cal Quantrill, and once again it was the result of a flat showing in all other aspects of the game: hitting, baserunning, fielding, and relief pitching.
San Diego drew first blood in the second inning; they have now scored first in each of the first five World Series games. Austin Hedges drew a one-out walk, took third on a single by Carlos Asuaje, then crossed the plate after a sacrifice fly from Asdrubal Cabrera. Asdrubal giveth and Asdrubal taketh away, as his throwing error in the bottom of the fourth inning gifted the Mariners the go-ahead run.
The score remained 2-1 until the top of the seventh inning. The Padres tied the game at twos with singles from Asuaje, Ichiro, and Manny Margot, then took the lead when Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Mitch Garver led off the following inning with back-to-back doubles. That lead would hold until there was two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Phil Maton’s seventh save of this postseason seemed like a certainty as he sent the first two Mariners he faced back to the bench with strikeouts, but it’s incredible how quickly a walk and two singles can just happen. Maton left with the score tied, two outs, runners on the corners, and his first blown save since May 13. Eric Lauer came in to record the third out and send the game to extras.
The Padres threatened in the top of the tenth inning when Franchy Cordero led off with a walk, and Tatis followed with a single. They stayed put as Josh Naylor struck out, then Adam Jones ended the frame by grounding into a 4-6-3 double play. Their half of the eleventh was equally fruitless as Hedges, Luis Urias, and Cabrera went down in order.
Jake Nix threw a perfect tenth inning, but came unraveled in his second inning of work. In the course of getting two outs — including a deep fly ball that took center fielder Margot all the way to the wall — he allowed a sharp line-drive single and two four-pitch walks to load the bases. Miguel Diaz was brought in to face veteran Mariners first baseman Robinson Cano, who immediately ripped Diaz’s first pitch down the left field line for a game-ending single.
8. Manuel Margot - 2-5, 2B, RBI
7. Franchy Cordero - 0-4, BB
6. Fernando Tatis, Jr. - 2-4, 2B, R, BB
3. Mitch Garver - 1-4, 2B, RBI
__PH/3. Josh Naylor - 0-1
9. Adam Jones - 0-5
2. Austin Hedges - 1-4, R, BB
5. Carlos Asuaje - 2-4
__4. Luis Urias - 0-1
4/5. Asdrubal Cabrera - 0-5, RBI, SF
D. Ichiro - 1-3
__PH. Wil Myers - 0-1
Cal Quantrill - 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, 7 K
Jeremy Jeffress - 1.1 IP, H
Matt Harvey - 1.0 IP, K
Phil Maton - 0.2 IP, 2 H, BB, ER, 2 K
Eric Lauer - 0.1 IP
Jake Nix - 1.2 IP, H, 2 BB, ER, K
Miguel Diaz - 0.0 IP, H
Tomorrow will be a travel day as the series returns to San Diego for Game 6 and, if needed, Game 7. The Padres and Mariners split the first two games in San Diego before the Padres took two of three in enemy territory. Scheduled Game 6 starter Felix Hernandez will be well rested thanks to the two off days in addition to the three games since his Game 2 victory.