'For Peter': Padres win emotional home opener

SAN DIEGO -- Fittingly, the Padres’ first hit at Petco Park this season found its way to the giant heart carved into center field to honor Peter Seidler.

Xander Bogaerts’ fourth-inning single up the middle bounced to the edge of the darkened grass that surrounds Seidler’s “PS” initials. It was yet another reminder that Seidler, the Padres’ owner and chairman who died in November, remains ever present in San Diego.

“I can feel his presence here today,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said before his club’s 6-4 victory over the Giants on Thursday afternoon in the home opener. “He’s going to be with us in spirit and in memory. … He’ll be in our hearts all season.”

“Heart” is a key word for the 2024 Padres. The heart shape with “PS” inside also is on the uniform patch players are wearing on the chests. And the logo is permanently part of Petco Park, on the wall fronting the press box, where longtime broadcaster Jerry Coleman and former owner Ray Kroc also are honored.

Players have spoken about playing with heart this year in a way that escaped them last season, when they spent the year out of contention and needed a fast finish just to post a winning record.

Credit heart or timely hitting, but the Padres did something on Thursday that the 2023 squad rarely did -- they came from behind to win. A four-run seventh inning against the Giants’ bullpen allowed the Padres to pop above .500 at 2-1. Bogaerts had a go-ahead single, and Jake Cronenworth delivered a two-run double for some insurance runs.

Last year, the Padres posted only seven wins when they trailed in the seventh inning or later. That was tied for 26th among the 30 MLB teams.

The Padres got five-plus innings from Yu Darvish and led, 2-1, through six innings before surrendering the lead in the top of the seventh. They answered back in the bottom half.

“Being able to bounce back right away is a good sign that this year is different,” Bogaerts said, “and we should forget about last year and continue to build on what we have going on right now. That’s a really good sign; it’s a great indicator.”

The Padres played with aggressiveness -- Fernando Tatis Jr. went first to third on a dribbler to the right side of the mound in the sixth inning, and Tyler Wade set up the tying run in the seventh with a stolen base that drew a wild throw with a runner at third base. They played smart baseball -- Cronenworth cut off a throw as the Giants’ third run scored to start a rundown that ended the top of the seventh inning. And they played team baseball -- Yuki Matsui recorded five outs as a setup reliever, while rookie Jackson Merrill drew a walk from the No. 9 spot in the lineup to keep the line moving in the seventh.

The emotions of the day -- there was a moment of silence for Seidler before his wife, Sheel, tossed the ceremonial first pitch to Manny Machado -- did not cause the Padres to play tight. Instead, they met the moment.

“There’s a lot of energy all around,” Tatis said. “I feel like everybody saw what kind of group we are, what kind of group is coming out of the gate. Now it’s up to us whether we can keep it up the rest of the year.”

Tatis played wearing a pair of custom cleats that featured a portrait of Seidler on the side. He wanted to honor Seidler with more than the uniform patch.

“They came out just perfect,” Tatis said. “The guy was with me at my darkest moments and cheered me at my highest. Everything we do during the season is for Peter.”