3 things we learned from the Padres 8-4 loss to Arizona

Fernando Tatis Jr. (still) has a pretty swing

Just in case we didn’t learn this lesson from last night’s game, “El Nino” gave us a refresher course when he came to the plate in the top of the 5th inning.

Judging by MLB Statcast, Tatis Jr. hasn’t hit the ball exceptionally hard in the early portion of the season. What we have seen, though, is that when he does barrel one up it goes a long, long way.

Andy Green is (still) tinkering

Tatis’ sweet swinging aside, the Pads didn’t have much going against AZ ace Zack Greinke today. Across 7 innings, Greinke surrendered just 4 hits, and induced several double plays when we did manage to actually get men on base.

This is especially disappointing when considering how the game got started. Hitting leadoff with Franmil Reyes now offering protection in the second spot, Manuel Margot cracked a home run to left field to put us on top 1-0 in the first.

This Margot-Reyes pairing atop the batting order is yet another attempt from manager Andy Green to bring our simmering offense into full boil; unfortunately, any batting order was likely to struggle with what Greinke was dealing this afternoon.

David Peralta is (still) a bad man

The San Diego Padres hadn’t swept Arizona in a four game series since…wait for it…1998. Welp, that’s one ignominious streak that should continue for a little longer, thanks in large part to resident Padre killer David Peralta. Pinch hitting against Matt Wisler in the 6th inning with 2 on and 1 out, Peralta deposited a deep opposite field drive into the AZ bullpen, bringing the score to 6-2. I won’t link a video because, you know, it sucked.

Peralta’s career batting average against the home team now sits at a clean .500. Let’s hope he sprains a finger or something before we see him next, because Padre pitching seems to have no solution to the problem his bat poses.

After those wheels came off in the 6th, Wisler balked home another run in the 7th, adding more fuel to the fire of concern regarding our middle relief options.

We made a bid for a comeback in the top half of the 8th, with back-to-back to back hits from Greg Garcia and the aformentioned Margot/Franmil tandem (FranManuel? ManMil?).

That was all for naught, though, as we retired quietly 1-2-3 in the ninth inning. The Padres will get right back at it tomorrow, coming home to face the 4-12 Colorado Rockies. First pitch is slated for 7:10 PM.