The way San Diego’s Yu Darvish and Seattle’s Bryan Woo pitched their last time out, one run might be enough to win Wednesday afternoon’s series finale in Seattle.
Heck, one hit might be an accomplishment.
Both right-handers are coming off wins last Friday in which they each allowed one hit — a solo homer.
The 39-year-old Darvish (3-3, 5.36 ERA) beat the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in a showdown that squared the National League West race. Alex Freeland’s homer was the lone blemish over six innings for Darvish, who has won his past three decisions.
“He was so good,” teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. said. “He was so nasty. He moved the ball really well. … He has done that all his life. So nothing new.”
Woo snapped Seattle’s five-game losing streak Friday with a 3-2 decision against the visiting Athletics. A first-inning homer by Brent Rooker was the only hit off Woo (11-7, 2.94 ERA) over seven innings. He has pitched at least six innings in all 25 of his starts this season, the only major leaguer to do so.
“I felt it was important to come in and set the tone after such a bad road trip,” said Woo, referring to Seattle’s 2-7 excursion to Baltimore, New York (to play the Mets) and Philadelphia. “If you get off to a bad start today, it just kind of leaks a little bit. And I just wanted to make sure I came out with good energy and flip the page, turn the page, make sure the road trip is over.”
Both pitchers have had success against Wednesday’s opponent.
Darvish is 8-4 with a 3.58 ERA in 16 career starts vs. the Mariners, and Woo is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two starts against the Padres. Woo beat San Diego 6-1 on May 18 at Petco Park, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings.
The Padres beat the Mariners 7-6 in the series opener Tuesday. Ramon Laureano hit a grand slam in a five-run first inning, then the Padres had to rally.
Randy Arozarena and Eugenio Suarez hit three-run shots in the fifth as the Mariners took a 6-5 lead. The Padres regained the advantage in the sixth on Freddy Fermin’s squeeze bunt, and their bullpen did the rest. Adrian Morejon, Mason Miller, Jeremiah Estrada and Robert Suarez each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the victory.
The Padres have five homers in the first two games of this series, though their 116 for the season are the second fewest in the majors.
“We know there’s power on this team,” said Gavin Sheets, who homered Monday. “A little bit is playing to our ballpark. You can’t go into Petco and try to hit home runs. … We’re an offense that’s built to our ballpark and has a really good, solid approach. We have plenty of power up and down this lineup.”
–Field Level Media
