Mariners at Padres
The San Diego Padres took a page from Seattle's playbook with a power display in the series opener and will look for a sweep of the brief two-game set when they host the Mariners on Wednesday afternoon. Franmil Reyes went deep twice in Tuesday’s 6-3 victory over Seattle, which began the series leading the majors in home runs.
Rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. extended his hitting streak to 11 games on Tuesday with a pair of singles and Austin Hedges added a two-run homer, but Reyes grabbed the spotlight with two mammoth shots and three RBIs. “We have a lot of guys with a lot of power, and Franmil’s at the top of the list,” Padres manager Andy Green told reporters. “To have a guy like that in the middle of the order is really good for us. I love the fact that he continues to make adjustments at the plate.” Seattle has lost eight of its last 11 games but received a spark on Tuesday from leadoff hitter Mitch Haniger, who doubled, singled and walked twice. The Mariners saw their 13-game streak of scoring five-plus runs on the road come to an end despite another strong effort from Tim Beckham, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (1-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. Padres RH Chris Paddack (0-1, 2.25)
Hernandez did not factor in the decision against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday after allowing four runs and nine hits in six innings. The six-time All-Star fanned three batters in the contest and passed Jack Morris for 37th place on the all-time list with 2,480 strikeouts. Eric Hosmer is 7-for-20 against Hernandez, who has gone 6-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 13 career starts versus San Diego – including 5-1 with a 1.63 ERA in eight turns at Petco Park.
Paddack allowed three runs and three hits while registering five strikeouts over six innings in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Cincinnati. “It’s an encouraging outing,” Green told reporters. “It’s good to see him get through six innings. There's a lot to like in him every time he takes the mound.” The 23-year-old rookie has given up a total of six earned runs while posting a 21-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first four starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seattle MGR Scott Servais announced that rookie LHP Justus Sheffield will be promoted from Triple-A Tacoma prior to Friday’s game against Texas.
2. Padres 3B Manny Machado went 0-for-4 on Tuesday and is 10-for-48 over his last 13 games.
3. Seattle activated Chasen Bradford from the 10-day injured list and optioned fellow RHP Ruben Alaniz to Triple-A Tacoma.