Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider didn’t take into account the fire-breathing San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado in July. He was wary of left-hander Juan Soto and played a right-right matchup that resulted in a 2-0 loss.
In the second game of the interleague 메이저놀이터 series at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on Tuesday, the Padres’ Darvish Yu (7-6, 4.36) and Blue Jays’ Jose Berrios (8-7, 3.39) were locked in a scoreless pitching duel.
In the top of the fifth, the Padres loaded the bases with one out when No. 9 Trent Grisham drew a walk from Berrios. Top hitter Ha-Sung Kim was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Berrios struck out right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. on a wild pitch to load the bases with two outs. With left-hander Soto on the mound, Schneider from the bench called for Berrios to hit a high fastball to load the bases.
He chose to face right-hander Machado. With the count 1-1, Machado swung at Berrios’ sinker. The bat broke and it was a double to center field. It was the only hit and run of the game.
Machado, who re-signed with the team this year, struggled with a back injury. However, in 13 games in July, he was batting .340 with nine home runs, 19 RBIs, and a 1.350 OPS. His home runs and RBIs are the most in MLB during that stretch. Schneider got a taste of the postseason as he tried to stay out of the showers. The Padres led 7-6 in hits.
Kim completed his multi-hit game with a single to right in the third and an infield single down the third base line in the ninth. He was called out at first, but was overturned on a challenge. It was his third multi-hit game of the second half. Finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, raising his average to .264 and his OPS to .768.
After opening the second half with a 1-3 record against Philadelphia, the Padres took the first two games of the series in Canada to give themselves some solace. Darvish earned the win with six innings of four-hit, three-run ball with seven strikeouts, while the Blue Jays’ Berrios took the loss with six innings of four-hit, four-run ball with nine strikeouts.
Closer Jose Hader, who has been the subject of trade speculation ahead of the deadline, walked Danny Jansen with one out to tie the game. But he struck out pinch-hitters Alejandro Kirk and George Springer to earn his 23rd save of the season.