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Matt Strahm didn’t have his electric stuff Tuesday night. Regardless, the lefty gave up just 2 ER over 6 innings. Strahm needed just 69 pitches, one of his most efficient outings yet.
In the top half of the 4th, Eduardo Escobar got an elevated 1-0 fastball and took Strahm deep. In the 5th, JR Murphy got the same pitch and hit one out for a 2-0. That was all the D-backs would get off of Strahm who pitched mostly to contact all night.
In the 6th inning, the Padres did all their damage with 2 outs. Machado’s RBI single cut the lead in half. One batter later, Eric Hosmer took matters into his own hands. He jumped at the 1st pitch and took Zack Greinke opposite field for a 2 run shot. That’s all the run support they’d need.
Outside of a single given up by Phil Maton, the Padres bullpen was perfect. Maton, Craig Stammen and Kirby Yates combined for 3 innings, 1 hit and 6 strikeouts.
Yates (who struck out the side again) got his Major League leading 19th save.
NEXT UP
The Padres give the ball to Eric Lauer at 12:40 PT looking for a sweep. He’ll be pitching against 30 year old right hander Merrill Kelly. Kelly is 4-4 4.21 ERA. He threw 5 1⁄3 scoreless innings vs. the Giants during his last outing. Lauer has been up and down all year, but pitched very well against Pittsburgh his last time out. The Padres would retake sole possession of 2nd place with a win.