SAN DIEGO — The Padres have received all method of shut video games this season. Their bullpen has been completely dependable because it added a number of key items ultimately month’s Commerce Deadline.
As such, the ending to Thursday’s collection finale towards Detroit didn’t merely qualify as a shock. It was downright beautiful — and a big blow to the Padres within the Nationwide League playoff image.
With the Tigers trailing by three runs and right down to their remaining strike, Parker Meadows launched a go-ahead grand slam towards nearer Robert Suarez. Detroit would maintain on for a 4-3 victory earlier than a dazed Petco Park crowd. It marked the primary time the Padres have misplaced a recreation wherein their beginning pitcher handed their bullpen a lead since June 2.
“He’s been implausible for us,” Padres supervisor Mike Shildt mentioned of Suarez. “Let’s give him his due, he’s been great. I wouldn’t say he’s spoiled us, however nothing’s computerized on this recreation.”
The Padres had been offered with an excellent likelihood to achieve floor within the playoff race. The Braves and Diamondbacks misplaced on Thursday, whereas the Dodgers and Mets had the evening off.
As an alternative, San Diego dropped 5 video games behind L.A. within the NL West race, whereas sustaining its half-game edge on Arizona for the highest Wild Card spot — three video games up on New York and Atlanta.
“Suarez has been doing an excellent job all yr,” mentioned left-hander Martín Pérez, who began. “That’s a part of the sport. We simply received the collection, that’s a great factor. Simply be prepared for tomorrow.”
The Padres led for eight innings after Jurickson Profar’s first-inning residence run. Xander Bogaerts adopted with a two-run shot within the second. From there, Pérez was wonderful, serving to to avoid wasting the bullpen an evening after San Diego used seven relievers on Wednesday.
Pérez labored 6 1/3 scoreless innings earlier than Jason Adam and Tanner Scott nailed down the seventh and eighth, respectively. However Suarez, pitching for the fourth time in 5 days, allowed a leadoff single and a pair of walks. With two outs, Meadows got here to the plate.
“I confronted him final evening, knew he had a great heater,” Meadows mentioned. “I took a pair massive swings within the at-bat. So I attempted to settle it down and never attempt to do an excessive amount of.”
Suarez threw Meadows six fastballs — every of them 100 mph or more durable. His 3-2 providing was a 100.7 mph heater on the prime of the zone, on the surface nook.
“I felt it was a great pitch,” Suarez mentioned by interpreter Pedro Gutierrez. “It was precisely the place I wished it, and he put a great swing on it. These issues occur.”
Besides with Suarez, these issues don’t occur usually. Thursday marked solely the third time this season that he’d blown a save within the ninth. Suarez hadn’t performed so since July 5 towards the Diamondbacks.
This season, Suarez has thrown extra innings (56 2/3) than he has since 2021, when he was pitching in Japan.
Not that Suarez was about to make use of any of that as an excuse. He acknowledged fatigue after throwing 26 pitches on the evening. However total, he’s not feeling any results of the grind.
“I really feel robust,” Suarez mentioned. “I really feel wholesome, and I really feel able to go for the top of the season.”
Since buying and selling for Scott, Adam and Bryan Hoeing forward of the Commerce Deadline, the Padres haven’t endured many nights like this one. Getting into play Thursday, the Padres’ bullpen ERA ranked second within the NL. Suarez, after all, is a significant a part of that. He entered the evening with a 1.93 mark.
“Simply flip over the web page,” Suarez mentioned. “Tomorrow’s a brand new day, a brand new recreation. Simply acquired to be ready for tomorrow.”
The precise angle, positive. However after such a heavy workload, Suarez appears unlikely to pitch on Friday.
Actually, that collection opener towards the Giants might show to be a little bit of a problem for Shildt. Adam, Scott and Suarez have all pitched 4 video games in 5. Estrada — who relieved Suarez after the slam — has additionally pitched two straight.
These are San Diego’s 4 highest leverage arms, leaving questions on who is likely to be accessible on the again finish Friday. The Padres have weathered loads of challenges already this season. With 20 video games left, it’s time for one more.
