San Diego looking for consistency after commanding opener win

TORONTO — Not for the primary time this season, the Padres started a collection with renewed vigor. They arrived in Toronto this week vowing that it was time to reset, time to regroup, time to, in the end, put their wayward 2023 season on the right track.

Having misplaced three of 4 in Philadelphia, the Padres discovered themselves precariously near exiting the playoff image completely. The Commerce Deadline looms two weeks away, and what as soon as appeared unthinkable out of the blue looks like a risk: San Diego as a vendor approaching the Deadline.

However very first thing’s first: The Padres have an opportunity to make their case in any other case. The membership’s brass has made it clear it could love to close the Deadline as contenders trying to purchase. But when San Diego needs to be patrons, it must play like a workforce worthy of that label.

It’s going to take a couple of recreation, however Tuesday was a minimum of a begin. The Padres thumped the Blue Jays, 9-1at Rogers Centre. Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Gary Sánchez and Trent Grisham all went deep. Joe Musgrove pitched six innings of one-run ball.

All in all, it was a tantalizing efficiency from a workforce that has delivered loads of these this season — and too typically did not again them up. (Take Friday evening’s 8-3 win in Philadelphia, adopted by three straight defeats, for instance.)

“We’ve simply obtained to be constant,” mentioned Soto, who completed 2-for-4 with a stroll. “It’s been like that the entire yr. Now we have video games like this, then we come again and we don’t do something. We’ve simply obtained to maintain the identical tempo each day. Simply come to do the identical factor.”

The Padres turned in a feisty offensive efficiency from the beginning, making Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah throw 41 pitches within the first inning. Each hitter labored a plate look of a minimum of six pitches — apart from Xander Bogaerts, who walked on 4.

It was Soto who put the Padres on the board. After Fernando Tatis Jr.’s one-out stroll, Soto checked out a 2-2 changeup that gave the impression to be on the knees for strike three. Plate ump Malachi Moore dominated it ball two.

Fortunate break? Perhaps. However baseball is filled with these. The Padres haven’t capitalized typically sufficient this season. Their opponents have. Which made what occurred subsequent such a welcome sight: On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Soto smacked an opposite-field two-run homer into the primary row in left-center. San Diego had an early lead, and Musgrove didn’t appear to thoughts the lengthy wait.

“I’ll take the runs over a wait any day of the week,” mentioned Musgrove. “Any time they provide me an early lead, that offers me all the arrogance on the earth to go on the market and actually simply assault.”

Musgrove battled a bout of adductor tightness previous to his begin Tuesday, however he mentioned he feels advantageous. Exhausting to argue after he threw 109 pitches, his highest pitch depend since final August. He struck out seven and scattered 5 hits, all singles.

Quietly, Musgrove has reverted to the All-Star-caliber model of himself. After a gradual begin by which he handled accidents, Musgrove has now posted a 1.76 ERA throughout his previous 10 begins.

“To get some consistency,” Musgrove mentioned, “is the most important factor.”

In the meantime, the Padres continued to work Manoah, prompting his exit after three-plus innings. As soon as into Toronto’s bullpen, Machado and Sánchez went deep within the fifth. Grisham hit a solo shot within the eighth, earlier than San Diego tacked on two insurance coverage runs within the ninth. Rookies Tom Cosgrove and Alek Jacob mixed for 3 scoreless reduction innings.

“It wasn’t a lot concerning the runs early,” Padres supervisor Bob Melvin mentioned. “It was about including on a little bit bit later. After which: No drama on the finish.”

The Padres would by no means quibble with a drama-free victory. Although, as Melvin later identified, it’s their document in shut video games that has landed them the place they reside: 5 video games beneath .500 at 45-50.

And that is a deadly place, with the Deadline quick approaching. Not that they’re paying an excessive amount of consideration to that landmark.

“Now we have workforce as is, we simply haven’t carried out very effectively,” Melvin mentioned. “This workforce is sweet sufficient to do effectively in any situation. I don’t get too caught up in that.”

Added Musgrove: “I imply, truthfully, I don’t assume an entire lot of fellows in right here have thought quite a bit about shopping for or promoting. I really feel like whether or not we purchase or promote, we’re a extremely good workforce regardless.”