Machado vs. Harper: Manny a grand winner

SAN DIEGO -- After Manny Machado and Bryce Harper dominated the baseball offseason, there was considerable debate about which free agent won the winter.

Was it Machado, who joined the Padres on a 10-year, $300 million deal? Or Harper, who went to the Phillies on a 13-year, $330 million contract? Which is better, higher annual salary or higher total compensation?

Those are questions that must be answered subjectively. There was no room for interpretation about who won their first meeting since they moved to their new teams. Machado scored a clear decision Monday night with a grand slam, over Harper’s head no less, to help the Padres to an 8-2 victory over the Phillies at Petco Park.

Harper, meanwhile, took an 0-for-4 collar and was left voicing disagreement with plate umpire Ramon De Jesus after a called strike three in the eighth inning.

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Taking the big picture, or perhaps practicing diplomacy with two more games left in the series, Machado called it even

“It’s good to find a new home,” said Machado, whose homer was his 10th with the Padres and his ninth career grand slam. “I found a new home. He found a new home. That’s the most excitement we could get, knowing that we’re going to be here for a long period of time.

“Now it’s all about baseball and winning some games. I know he’s having a good time over there. I’m happy here. Things happen for a reason.”

Machado had gone 71 plate appearance since his last home run on May 14 when he stepped in against right-handed reliever JD Hammer with two outs in the sixth inning. The Padres had chased Phillies starter Aaron Nola with three runs earlier in the inning.

Looking to get out of the jam and keep the Phillies within 4-1, Hammer took an aggressive approach and attacked Machado with a first-pitch fastball. The right-handed-hitting Machado handled the 94.8 mph delivery and sent it off his bat at 103.2 mph the opposite way, clearing both the right-field wall and the bases for an 8-1 Padres lead.

“My strength has always been hitting the ball to right field,” Machado said. “I tried to stick with it and adjust off of that. To be able to drive one out to right-center field in a big, big ballpark like Petco was huge.”

Added manager Andy Green: “That’s a huge swing. He’s got that kind of pop the other way. It was good to see it come out in that big situation.”

Machado finished the game 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout. His slam snapped an 0-for-15 stretch that included his first three at-bats Monday. He was coming off a particularly rough weekend in which he struck out six times while going 0-for-10 and leaving two runners in scoring position in three games vs. the Marlins.

“Just leaving runners in scoring position in key situations -- you’re not able to get the pitch you want and make good contact with it,” Machado said. “It felt good to finally barrel one up.”

The Padres have won four straight games started by left-hander Eric Lauer. He didn’t issue a walk in the first three of those starts, but he was wild against Philadelphia with three walks and a hit batter. But Lauer, pitching on his 24th birthday, allowed only two hits in six innings and limited the Phillies to one run with some help from his defense.

Catcher Austin Hedges cut down Sean Rodriguez attempting to steal second in the third inning with a strong throw. An inning later, left fielder Hunter Renfroe threw out J.T. Realmuto trying to stretch a single into a double.

In the first, second baseman Ian Kinsler started an unusual double play with veteran savvy. After Andrew McCutchen led off the game with a walk, Jean Segura popped up to the right side of the infield. As McCutchen held his ground at first and Segura got out of the batter’s box slowly, Kinsler intentionally let the ball drop.

McCutchen was caught in a no-win situation and headed haltingly to second as Kinsler threw to first baseman Eric Hosmer to retire Segura. With the force removed, McCutchen got in a rundown that ended with him suffering a left knee injury as he tried to avoid the tag, ultimately applied by Lauer for a 4-3-6-1 double play.