San Diego’s 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night was the 20th one-run victory of the year for the Padres.
“We’re good in close games,” San Diego manager Mike Shildt said. “We do a lot of things well that allow you to win close games. But it’s also legal to win 7-3 or 8-2.”
The Padres will try to make things a little easier on themselves and their fans when they start a weekend series Friday night against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.
San Diego is 4-3 on a season-high 10-game homestand, alternating wins and losses. The team’s bullpen has been a consistent strength, putting two relievers on the National League All-Star team — right-handers Jason Adam and Robert Suarez. And some feel left-hander Adrian Morejon could have been a third.
Morejon improved to 7-3 on Thursday night with 1 2/3 scoreless innings against Arizona and has allowed one run (unearned) since May 17. His 99 mph fastball and late-breaking slider often lead to weak contact — if contact can be made.
“He pitched like an All-Star tonight,” Shildt said of Morejon, whose ERA is 1.71. “He was fantastic. And to be as efficient as he has been allows us to use him more.”
The rest of the bullpen’s front-line arms closed the game, with Morejon and then Suarez mowing down Arizona in order in the ninth for his MLB-high 27th save.
Shildt said he went to his high-end options early because he had the chance but added it’s not a formula that can be replicated consistently.
To that end, the Padres hope right-hander Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.67 ERA) can eat some innings in his first start since June 24 against Washington, when he left after three innings after being hit on the arm by a line drive. That landed him on the injured list, but the rookie is back for his sixth start and first career appearance against Philadelphia.
Bergert will have to be on point against one of the top starters in the game, Phillies lefty Ranger Suarez (7-2, 1.99). He last pitched on Saturday in his team’s 5-1 home win over Cincinnati, lasting five innings and giving up a on off five hits and two walks while striking out six.
Suarez has dominated San Diego in seven previous appearances, going 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA and allowing only 24 hits over 31 innings. He also owns a win over the Padres in the 2022 NLCS.
Philadelphia had Thursday off after salvaging a game from its three-game series in San Francisco on Wednesday with a 13-0 rout. Bryce Harper walloped his first homer off Justin Verlander and added three doubles to support seven shutout innings from Jesus Luzardo.
It was the breakout game Harper has looked for since missing most of June with inflammation in his right wrist.
“I know when I’m going well,” he said. “I’m one of the best in baseball. I’m healthy. I’m strong. I feel great.”
Harper and the Phillies probably felt even better during the off day Thursday when their NL East lead increased to 1 1/2 games as the New York Mets were swept in a doubleheader at Baltimore.
Philadelphia took two of three from the Padres from June 30-July 2 at home and has won eight of its last 10 games at Petco Park, including a sweep in April 2024.
–Field Level Media
