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The Padres were known for their explosive bats in 2020, leaving every opponent with the feeling that they could pop off at any moment. No deficit was truly safe in Petco Park and so far, the same can be said for your 2021 Friars, as well.
After the Diamondbacks notched an opening inning run for the early lead, the Padres stormed back, rattling off five-straight runs to take a commanding 6-1 lead at the halfway point of the contest. Despite Arizona seizing the lead back with their own scoring run, San Diego held on thanks to some excellent pitching down the stretch to down the D-Backs 8-7 on Opening Day.
FINAL: #Padres 8, Dbacks 7#PadresWin #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/nnbKnSnozD
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 1, 2021
Yu Darvish’s first regular-season appearance for the Padres ended up being a bit of a mixed bag. After allowing a run in the opening inning, Darvish would go on to strikeout five of his six total K’s through the second and third innings. Things started to unravel in the fourth as Darvish let up a pair of home runs which allowed the D-Backs to shrink a five-run lead at the start of the inning down to two. He would be replaced by Tim Hill following his second home run allowed, finishing with an ERA of 7.71 and six K’s through 4 2⁄3 innings.
Hill didn’t fare any better, allowing two more home runs before striking out Arizona’s Wyatt Mathisen to end the inning. The four deep shots for the D-backs were courtesy of Ketel Marte, Asdrubal Cabrera, Tim Locastro, and Stephen Vogt.
Following the four home-run inning by the D-Backs, San Diego was able to settle nicely due to the combined efforts of Keone Kela, Emilio Pagan, Drew Pomeranz, and Mark Melancon. The quartet combined to allowed just two more hits the rest of the game with five strikeouts, including three from Pomeranz, himself.
It may be April 1 but @Mark_Melancon_ wasn't fooling around.#PadresWin #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/D6cMUNfXQE
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 1, 2021
Hosmer and Caratini led the way offensively, both driving home three runs on the night. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado didn’t fare too well as they combined to go 1-of-10 at the plate. Tatis struck out three times, although some of the umpire’s calls were bit questionable early on.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. tomorrow with Blake Snell expected to make his San Diego debut on the mound. He’ll face 32-year old Merrill Kelly.
A win is a win, so go enjoy it Friar Faithful, and we’ll see you tomorrow.