Jul 24, 20236 min read

Darvish, Padres Blank Blue Jays 2-0 in Pitching Clinic

Updated: Jul 27, 2023

Some things suggest that the San Diego Padres could possibly turn a corner and find their groove to get back into the playoffs.

One of which was their rotation, which has been outstanding, headlined by their 3.71 ERA, the best in the National League heading into their second game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Though Yu Darvish hasn't been at his peak form for most of the season, he, Steven Wilson, Nick Martinez, and closer Josh Hader combined for one of their best pitching performances, allowing just six hits combined, to go with 10 combined strikes in a 2-0 shutout.

Darvish returned to form in Toronto, striking out seven batters, walking three, and allowing four hits to propel the Padres to their 8th victory in their last 12 games.

This season has been a rather bizarre one for Darvish. He was pitching in relief in the World Baseball Classic Final for Japan, which delayed his season debut for the Padres. While he had solid numbers in April, he hit a wall around mid-May. Then he caught an illness in June.

In the three starts since his return, he has put up a 2.25 ERA. This stellar performance from him in this game may have flipped the team's status to being a buyer at the trade deadline.

Manny Machado's two-run base hit in the 5th inning drove the deciding runs of the game with his broken-bat hit to center. The two RBIs boosted his July total to 21, the highest in the NL.

The rally started with a one-out walk from Trent Grisham, followed by Ha-Seong Kim getting hit by a pitch from José Berríos. Though Fernando Tatís Jr. struck out, a double steal put both Grisham and Kim at third and second, respectively, before an intentional walk for Juan Soto, setting up Machado's base hit.

Soto had three walks in this game, upping his total to 90, easily leading the league.

With the Padres' rotation healthy, there are not many in the MLB that are like them. Michael Wacha is set to come back around August after he landed on the IL with a shoulder injury. They reached outside their starting rotation of Darvish, Wacha, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove, and Seth Lugo 17 times this season, where those depth starters combined for a 7.74 ERA in those games.

Their bullpen came up in the clutch, including Hader, who had his 23rd save in 27 chances, showing why he is one of the best closers in the MLB, for their 9th shutout of the season.

And even though Berríos is winless in four starts, that doesn't mean he had a bad game. Aside from the two runs, he allowed four hits in six innings, walking four and striking out nine.

They lost for the 5th time in his last 27 home starts dating back to 2021, but this loss was by no fault of his own. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't get going in what has been a disappointing night for them, going without an extra base hit for a second straight game after falling 9-1 in the first game of this series.

The closest they were to scoring was when they had loaded bases with two outs in the 1st inning, but Whit Merrifield lined out to second base.

Injuries

Padres: RHP Robert Suárez (elbow) joined the team in Toronto ahead of the game. He was activated off the IL the day of the third game. He signed a five-year, $46 million contract to stay with the team last November. Up until this point, he had yet to pitch in an MLB game this season.
Blue Jays: In optioning outfielder Nathan Lukes to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, Toronto selected the contract of outfielder Jordan Luplow. To make room for the roster, they transferred right-handed pitcher Adam Cimber from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.

Welcome to the Big Leagues

With Tatís Jr. starting at designated hitter, Padres outfielder Taylor Kohlwey made his MLB debut at right fielder and batted 8th. He had a base hit off Berríos in the 6th for his first career hit in the major leagues.

Scoring

SD, Top 5th: Manny Machado singled to center, Trent Grisham scored and Ha-Seong Kim scored, Juan Soto to third. 2-0 SD

Batting

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Ha-Seong Kim: 4 at-bats, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .264 batting average, .352 on-base percentage, .416 slugging percentage
Fernando Tatís Jr.: 5 at-bats, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, .286 batting average, .344 on-base percentage, .522 slugging percentage
Juan Soto: 2 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts, .264 batting average, .419 on-base percentage, .488 slugging percentage
Manny Machado: 5 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .258 batting average, .313 on-base percentage, .469 slugging percentage
Xander Bogaerts: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .255 batting average, .339 on-base percentage, .396 slugging percentage
Jake Cronenworth: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, .210 batting average, .308 on-base percentage, .350 slugging percentage
Luis Campusano: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .200 batting average, .192 on-base percentage, .360 slugging percentage
1. Josh Hader: 0 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .000 batting average, .000 on-base percentage, .000 slugging percentage
Taylor Kohlwey: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .250 batting average, .250 on-base percentage, .250 slugging percentage
Trent Grisham: 3 at-bats, 1 run, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, .218 batting average, .329 on-base percentage, .406 slugging percentage

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

George Springer: 5 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .272 batting average, .333 on-base percentage, .422 slugging percentage
Bo Bichette: 3 at-bats, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, .321 batting average, .350 on-base percentage, .499 slugging percentage
Brandon Belt: 3 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, .250 batting average, .369 on-base percentage, .418 slugging percentage
1. Cavan Biggio: 0 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .201 batting average, .277 on-base percentage, .382 slugging percentage
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .271 batting average, .338 on-base percentage, .442 slugging percentage
Matt Chapman: 3 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, .262 batting average, .350 on-base percentage, .462 slugging percentage
Whit Merrifield: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .288 batting average, .343 on-base percentage, .398 slugging percentage
Daulton Varsho: 3 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, .213 batting average, .276 on-base percentage, .360 slugging percentage
1. Santiago Espinal: 1 at-bat, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .224 batting average, .302 on-base percentage, .304 slugging percentage
Danny Jansen: 3 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .226 batting average, .284 on-base percentage, .451 slugging percentage
Kevin Kiermaier: 3 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .275 batting average, .336 on-base percentage, .424 slugging percentage
1. Alejandro Kirk: 1 at-bat, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .230 batting average, .311 on-base percentage, .297 slugging percentage

Pitching