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Welcome to the bigs, Pedro Avila!
After getting out of a jam in the 1st inning, Pedro Avila retired 13 of the next 14 batters (giving up a meaningless single early in the 2nd inning) before losing his control and putting a couple of guys on base in the bottom of the 6th. He left the game with a 1.69 ERA.
For a guy that had started 1 game above high-A ball, it was an impressive display of stuff and nerve. So much so that it might be hard for the San Diego Padres to send him back to the minors, even though he’s now the 6th man in a 5-man rotation.
The bullpen creates a problem
After putting out a fire in the 6th inning, Robert Stock once again showed an inability to come out and pitch after sitting in the dugout. He got one out and left the bases loaded for Brad Wieck, who quickly poured gasoline on the situation and turned a 6-1 lead into a 6-6 tie.
The offense solves a problem
4⃣4⃣9⃣❗️#FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/MdtUgDNd58
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 12, 2019
After building a big lead in the 6th inning, the result of a rally (walk, single, single, sac-fly) that was capped with an Austin Hedges 3-run HR, the offense had to find more runs to put Arizona away and start the series off with a win.
Enter Manuel Margot.
The answer from Mar #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/HJyhcRA43L
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 12, 2019
In case you were wondering, Margot is playing good defense in CF and hitting .333 on the season, which would be the highest batting average of his career by a mile.
Just for fun
It’s very rarely recapped here, but the Padres infield defense is incredible and they get chances to show off just about every game....
Twenty. Years. Old.#ElNiño #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/fwg58UO9GO
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 12, 2019