Padres top Giants 5-3 for first win of opening road series

The Padres notched their first 4-1 start to begin a season for the first time since 1997 with a 5-3 victory over the Giants on Tuesday night.

The Giants were the first to get on the board in this one thanks in part to apparent errors by both LF Tommy Pham and 3B Manny Machado. On the very first pitch of the game, Giants CF Mike Yastrzemski singled to deep right center. 1B Pablo Sandoval followed it up by grounding out to the pitcher so Yastrzemski could advance to second. 3B Wilmer Flores then singled down the left field line and Machado somehow let it slip under his glove before Pham picked it up and let it slip through his fingers before he could throw it. By that point, the run was already scored.

Two innings later, SS Fernando Tatis Jr. did Tatis Jr. things to give the Padres the lead by sending a laser over the right field wall for a three-run homer. It was Tatis Jr.’s first home run of the 2020 season but certainly not his first big hit through the first five games of the season.

Wil Myers, who seems to be quite fond of playing at Oracle Park, helped push the Padres’ lead to four runs with a two-run homer in the fourth that also brought 1B Eric Hosmer home who had a single to begin the inning.

The Giants started to pressure the Padres in the sixth by scoring a pair of runs to bring the score closer at 5-3. After 2B Mauricio Dubon doubled to kick things off, Yastrzemski pitched in his own double to put runners on second and third. 3B Wilmer Flores then grounded into fielder’s choice to allow Dubon to score and then C Tyler Heineman sent a single to center to bring Yastrzemski home.

The score of 5-3 would hold as Drew Pomeranz delivered an efficient save, striking out three-straight end the final inning.

Winning pitcher Zach Davies worked five innings and allowed five hits, two runs, and struck out five, finishing with a 3.60 ERA. The Giants’ Jeff Samardzija called it a day after four innings where he allowed four hits, five runs, and recorded only one strikeout. His ERA on the day was a 11.25.

The Padres return to Oracle Park tomorrow for their second of three games in this series. The opening pitch is scheduled once again for 6:45pm PT.