Musgrove gives SD a chance with 5 hitless IP

For all the thrills of setting a franchise record with four straight extra-inning games -- and winning three of them -- that excitement came at a cost.

It put the Padres’ pitching staff in dire straits, especially the bullpen.

The Padres chose a surprise solution to cover innings and spare their relief arms during a 7-4 loss to the Astros on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park. Joe Musgrove, who was listed as the team’s starter for Monday against the Cubs, instead pitched five innings of hitless relief after Blake Snell struggled through three innings.

Though Musgrove’s appearance was unexpected, the right-hander got the heads up from manager Jayce Tingler the night before, after the bullpen covered seven innings in the Padres’ 11-8 victory in 12 innings. Musgrove response: Whatever the team needs.

“What he was able to do -- with that championship attitude, mindset, all those things -- what he did for this team, he reset the table for that bullpen group that’s been laying it out,” Tingler said. “He gave us a chance.”

When the Padres most needed a deep outing from their starting pitcher, Snell allowed seven runs on five hits and three walks. He threw only 43 strikes among his 81 pitches.

“When you’re facing a club like the Astros … they won’t chase,” Tingler said. “You’ve got to beat them in the zone. You’ve got to make them swing it and swing it early, because they just won’t get outside the zone. Blake just didn’t have the command today.”

Tingler again expressed confidence Snell will work through his issues, though the left-hander’s ERA has risen to 5.55. The manager said skipping a turn or shifting Snell to the bullpen until he regains form has not been discussed.

“I felt I threw good pitches,” Snell said, “but they were laying off the offspeed, at least the veteran hitters I’ve faced over and over. … Obviously, I’ve got to be in the zone better. There’s a lot I’ve got to do better.”

Snell’s batterymate had a more memorable game. Catcher Webster Rivas, in the big leagues for the first time at age 30, homered off Zack Greinke for his first career hit. After falling behind 0-2 in the top of the fifth inning, Rivas worked the count full and then yanked a curveball into the left-center-field seats for the Padres’ first run.

On Saturday, the Padres pulled out a victory despite trailing, 6-1, in the eighth inning. On Sunday, they scored three times in the ninth inning and had the potential tying run on deck before succumbing.

Just as he committed to giving the bullpen rest by altering his rotation -- Chris Paddack, Ryan Weathers and Dinelson Lamet will each move up a day to cover the three-game series vs. the Cubs -- Tingler was committed to resting position players, too. He resisted calling on Manny Machado or Jake Cronenworth during their rest days, even as the game got tight late.

“Right now, with what we’re in,” Tingler said, “we are committed to keeping our guys going, healthy as much as we can. Just because you saw Manny and Jake [rest] today, I’m telling you, you’re going to see other guys off their feet.

“These have been five-hour games. These have been long, grueling, knockout fights. We’ve been very consistent with what we’ve said, we’re going to do.”

With the Padres and Astros concluding business in nine innings, San Diego fell one game short of the Major League record for consecutive extra-inning games. The 1908 Tigers played five in a row.