Kim hits first MLB homer as bats carry SD
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No no-hitter hangover here.
A night after Joe Musgrove made history by twirling the first no-hitter in franchise history, the Padres’ offense held up its end of the bargain on Saturday night in Texas.
Ha-Seong Kim launched his first big league homer, and Trent Grisham hit his first home run of the season. Jake Cronenworth stayed red hot, as well, reaching base four times as the Padres rallied for a 7-4 victory at Globe Life Field.
“It was history, it was fun, it was awesome,” Grisham said of the previous night’s events. “I’m so happy for Joe and for San Diego. But at the end of the day, we know we have a job to do, and we’ve got big goals for the end of the season. So we’re going to keep showing up every single day.”
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The San Diego offense had fallen into a minor rut over the past week, held to three runs or fewer in five straight games.
Perhaps that rut even played into Musgrove’s favor. After his no-hitter, Musgrove noted that he was probably aided by some of the quick innings turned in by the San Diego offense. He was in a groove all night and was never thrown out of his rhythm.
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Of course, most nights, that strategy doesn’t work. And sure enough, the Padres’ bats came back to life on Saturday, working deep counts and doing damage in the game’s decisive moments.
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After facing an early 3-0 deficit, Kim’s towering solo home run off the left-field foul pole tied the game at 3 in the fifth inning. In the third-base dugout, Manny Machado hurriedly informed his teammates Kim would be getting the silent treatment for his first homer. Kim arrived at the top step and was spurned by Machado, then the rest of the Padres -- who quickly relented and mobbed him.
“I saw it coming,” Kim joked. “I’ve done it to a lot of players back in Korea. I knew how to handle it.”
The Padres fell behind in the bottom half of the inning on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s home run. But in the seventh, Grisham put San Diego on top for good with a two-run blast.
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No question the Padres’ have missed Grisham’s presence. He’s an elite defensive center fielder and a lefty on-base weapon for the top of their lineup. During the season’s first week, when Grisham was on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, San Diego badly needed both.
“The competitor in me, yes, it was very hard to watch all my boys go out there and not being able to help,” Grisham said. “But at the same time, the reality is we played 60 games last year, we have 162 this year. I’ve had hamstring trouble in the past. So I want to make sure that thing’s right before I go out there, because I want to contribute in the end.”
Machado was tossed after the top of the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes with plate ump Jansen Visconti. Machado wasn’t particularly demonstrative, but something he said prompted the ejection. Manager Jayce Tingler took issue with it after the game.
“I thought the two guys were walking away,” Tingler said. “I’m [mad] at myself I didn’t get out there quick enough, honestly.”
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No harm, no foul. The Padres’ bullpen continued its brilliant run with five innings of one-run ball after Chris Paddack’s early exit. San Diego relievers have combined to post a 1.04 ERA this season, which qualifies as the best mark in baseball.
Paddack, meanwhile, endured a rough second inning in which he allowed three runs on three extra-base hits. But after Joey Gallo’s leadoff single in the third, he retired five straight -- including a double play -- to end his night.
Paddack pleaded with Tingler for a fifth inning, but Tingler -- citing the bigger picture and his fresh bullpen -- wouldn’t oblige. Ultimately, that end result was just fine with Paddack.
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“I put my head down on the bench there in the end of the second inning, and I kept reflecting: ‘Three runs is all they’re getting,’” Paddack said. “I’ve got to make sure that I go out there and don’t show any lack of confidence, any frustration. That’s what I’m very pleased with myself for. When you get hit in the mouth a little bit, it’s hard to get back up. I thought we did a heck of a job.
“Obviously, I was a little frustrated [at not getting the fifth inning]. But it’s not all about that. It’s about the Padres getting a win, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Hits or no hits allowed, they count just the same.