Padres feel Machado's absence in loss

SAN DIEGO -- Not that the Padres needed a reminder -- and they certainly didn't want this kind of a reminder -- but their offense is a lot better with Manny Machado in it.

On Saturday night, for the first time this season, the Padres played a game without Machado. Their superstar third baseman, the anchor of their offense, the National League leader in hits, average and WAR -- he was on the bench as he deals with what the team is calling a minor elbow ailment.

Machado’s absence, as you’d probably expect, was felt in a big way. San Diego stranded a season-high 16 baserunners. Twice, his No. 2 spot in the order came up with the bases loaded, and the Padres didn’t score a run in either inning.

Still, they carried a one-run lead into the ninth -- only to see it slip when closer Taylor Rogers surrendered a go-ahead three-run homer to Ke’Bryan Hayes. It marked the first homer Rogers has allowed as a Padre and just his second blown save.

“We could’ve made it a little easier on ourselves,” said Padres manager Bob Melvin. “Taylor’s been so good that you just expect him to come in and shut it down. Every now and then, that’s going to happen. But along the way, we could’ve made it a little easier on ourselves for sure.”

Of course, having their best hitter -- and one of the best hitters in the sport -- would’ve helped. Instead, Machado was on the sideline with lateral epicondylitis, or what's more commonly known as "tennis elbow." It's an injury caused by repetitive motions and overuse, one that bothers Machado when he both swings and throws.

Melvin didn’t seem too concerned. But he insisted on taking a bigger-picture view of his team’s season. So when Machado lobbied Melvin to play on Saturday, Melvin shot down that request.

“It's too early in the season,” Melvin said. “He's too important to us to have something linger for too long. You're potentially looking at a longer stint if it gets worse. So we need to cut it off right now.”

After the game, Melvin noted the possibility that Machado could play on Sunday, though he added that it would likely be “prudent” to give him another day off.

As such, the Padres are suddenly without both halves of their all-world left side of the infield. When they lost Fernando Tatis Jr. in mid-March, Melvin’s message to the team was simple enough: There’s no replacing a player of that caliber individually. The effort has to be collective. Machado’s absence figures to be much shorter. But the same mantra applies.

“That’s the time you pick up your teammates,” Melvin said. “Just like we’re doing right now with Tati [out] -- guys take it upon themselves to go out there and put together a good offensive game when you have one of your guys that’s not in there."

Didn’t happen on Saturday. The Padres went 2-for-15 with men in scoring position in what became their first loss this season in a game started by Joe Musgrove.

“We didn’t get the job done,” said right fielder Wil Myers, who finished 2-for-4. “We left a ton of people on base. We obviously had some opportunities to win that game. But we fell a little flat. That happens sometimes. You just come back and get 'em tomorrow.”

On the mound, Musgrove pitched six innings of one-run ball, as he lowered his ERA to 1.86. At times this season, his stuff has looked unhittable. That wasn't the case on Saturday night. But no matter the stuff, Musgrove has done the same thing every time out: He's battled enough to give the Padres a chance to win.

They took the lead in the seventh on Trent Grisham’s go-ahead single. But Rogers put the first two men aboard in the ninth. With one out, he left a slider over the heart of the plate, and Hayes sent it into the Padres’ bullpen.

“That’s usually the story,” Rogers said of his hanging slider. “[I felt] fine. Still punched out three. Just gave up the homer.”

Ultimately, it was the Pirates’ rising star at third base who made the difference, while the Padres’ superstar third baseman watched from the bench -- the first game he’s missed in 2022.

“That’s the frontrunner for the MVP being out,” Myers said. “But it is what it is. Guys need days at times, and he's been grinding every single day out here.”

Said Musgrove: “Manny’s a huge part of the lineup, a big presence when he’s on the field, and that guy’s battled through countless injuries, fatigue, all kinds of stuff. ... Hopefully, he’ll be back in no time.”