Padres hit 3 HRs as wind wreaks havoc in loss

CHICAGO -- The way the Padres started on Saturday, you would’ve thought they would be on pace for 10 runs or more. San Diego put on an early power display at a hot and lively Wrigley Field that had a heat index of 107 degrees at first pitch.

As a team that came into the game with the fifth-most home runs in the National League, the Friars continued their season-long power surge with long balls from Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Hunter Renfroe.

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“It was a crazy day out there,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “Wrigley does that from time to time. It definitely did that today.”

But the Padres found out in Saturday afternoon’s 6-5 defeat against the Cubs that it’s not how many you hit, but when you hit ‘em.

After the early homers, Padres starter Joey Lucchesi was tasked with holding the 4-3 lead and keeping the Cubs in the ballpark. A plan that under Saturday’s conditions was much easier said than done.

Lucchesi found himself in a tight spot in the fourth inning with two on, two outs and Javier Báez at the plate.

“After the first inning, I felt a little difference in my body, but I was trying to grind through for the boys,” Lucchesi said. “Lot of sweat because of the heat, but I don’t want there to be excuses. I wasn’t my best today.”

Baez got the best of Lucchesi by launching a go-ahead, three-run shot into the bleachers in left and giving the Cubs the advantage. Just like that, one swing at the right time shifted the game.

And just as the game shifted, so did the conditions. The hot, steamy weather was swept away by a cooling breeze, dropping the temperature 20 degrees and shifting the winds that were blowing out 15 mph, straight in.

A moment that was a simple act of nature was the difference in Machado playing or not playing the hero. The Padres third baseman, vying for his second homer of the day, lifted a deep fly ball that many in the ballpark thought was gone, but was knocked down on the warning track.

“I thought [it was gone]. I didn't even look. When the ball was hit, I didn't even look,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “I thought it was a home run. And I looked at [associate pitching and strategy coach Mike] Borzello, because he's standing right there and I'm thinking, 'Gone.' And then all of a sudden I sneak a peek and I saw [Kris Bryant] and he played it perfectly.”

“That ballpark changed drastically in the seventh inning right before Manny hit that ball to the track,” Green said. “That ball was 15 rows back an inning prior. It’s an unfortunate break right there.”

The shift in the game was so drastic that it even changed the offensive approach of Tatis Jr. in the ninth inning as he represented the tying run.

After hitting a mammoth blast earlier in the game, he attempted to move a runner by laying down a bunt attempt, which he popped out for the second out of the inning.

“Yeah, you applaud Tati for doing whatever he feels it takes to win a game,” Green said. “We trust his bat. He’s taken it upon himself to sacrifice himself right there and try to help the club. He’ll get it. He’ll get the understanding of, ‘You’re going to help the club by putting together one of your professional at-bats, not sacrificing yourself in that situation.’

“I love his attitude. Love his team-first demeanor. Just be you. We’re going to win by you being you. Love the fact that he’s that way. We trust him with the bat in his hand, too.”

Worth Noting

Machado’s third-inning homer was the 200th home run of his career. He becomes the second-youngest third baseman (27 years and 15 days) to ever hit 200 homers behind only Atlanta Braves great Eddie Matthews who reached the feat at 25 years and 242 days old.