Padres 3, Marlins 2: Richard deals, Franmil homers, Renfroe walks it off

In dramatic fashion the Padres are one step closer to closing out their 2018 month of May with a 4-game series win thanks to a fortunate walkoff. A healthy combination of good pitching, a donger, and a perfectly-timed final pair of runs spelled success for the Padres.

Clayton Richard came into today’s game after a shaky start against the Dodgers, where he allowed 2 homers. Tonight, he allowed a home run, but that’s just about all the Marlins would get from him. In 7 innings Clayton only gave up 4 hits, three of them in the 4th inning and one of them in the 5th. He was tagged for runs in the 4th, a 2-run HR, but closed out the night with a whopping 14 ground outs thanks to the action on his slider and fastball.

Craig Stammen came in for 2 innings of relief and cruised through unscathed, giving up not one hit and striking out one.

On offense, the Padres had only popped a single run on the board when Franmil Reyes went deep as hell, yet again, in the bottom of the 4th inning for his 4th home run and his 3rd against the fish.

Then, with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, with the bases loaded after a “tactical” intentional walk on Manuel Margot to load the bases (Margot was 1-for-2 with two walks tonight), Renfroe rolled his bat over a slow sinker and grounded softly to Miguel Rojas at third base.

All it took was a hesitant pump fake for Rojas to concede the tying run as Matt Szczur crossed the plate. Then, with an off balance ranging throw, spiked it at the feet of Renfroe as he crossed first base, sending the ball to the wall. Freddy Galvis, who was chilling at second base from his double earlier in the inning, was already rounding third and crossed the plate for the win.

With a walkoff he Padres effectively split the series and Renfroe was thoroughly bombarded with talcum powder.