In every phase, the Padres have played smarter, more aggressive baseball. Look no further than Game 3, writes Tom Verducci
SAN DIEGO – A second year into his tenure as general manager of the Padres, A.J. Preller found himself in the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila in 2015 intrigued by a pitcher playing his first season of professional baseball at age 24.
Between a stout Blake Snell starting and a revitalized Josh Hader closing, the Padres built a bridge with a converted Fordham infielder, the erstwhile construction hand from Venezuela, and the mid-30s journeyman. It held like reinforced steel to get the ball to Hader.Preller signed Nick Martinez, the former Fordham Ram who had been pitching in Japan, just after the lockout ended , on the heels of the $11 million deal over two years for Suarez and the $7 million for two years for Garcia.
In Game 3, Turner was indecisive on a routine grounder with an out at second base on a force; he recovered, awkwardly, to get the out. He also dropped a pop-up he had no business trying to catch; it was a much easier play for incoming leftfielder Chris Taylor. In one delicious bit of theatre, when the lineup turned over a third time against Snell— starting with Mookie Betts—the Dodgers faced the same intersection they did in 2020 World Series Game 6. In the first instance, Rays manager Kevin Cash assisted the Dodgers by removing Snell; the Dodgers promptly came from behind against the Tampa Bay bullpen to win.
Snell rewarded his manager’s faith by retiring all three stars, with one run scoring a Betts flyball. He even obtained one more out the next inning before Preller’s pen – four relief pitchers he acquired over the past 10 months – kept throwing goose eggs, the appropriate metaphor given the Greater White-fronted Goose that interrupted Game 2. Since the goose landed in the eighth inning of that game, the Padres have held the lead after the end of every inning.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2022 NLDS Game 3 live updates: Padres host Dodgers in San DiegoFollow along for updates from SoCal News Group reporters Bill Plunkett, Jim Alexander and J.P. Hoornstra.
Read more »
Measure D empowers city to prioritize hiring Veterans -SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Measure D will protect state infrastructure funding by allowing the City of San Diego to use project labor agreements on construction projects. “CITY OF SAN DIEGO—Would amend the San Diego Municipal Code to allow the City of San Diego to use project labor agreements (PLA) on construction projects and make the City eligible for state funding...
Read more »
Mural honoring the Padres goes up overnight - San Deigoose!! -SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A mural popped up overnight leading up to the Oct. 14 Padres game against the Dodgers commemorating the goose that blessed Game 2 of the NLDS. Ground Floor SD painted the mural behind 226 Third Ave in Chula Vista, encouraging the Padres to go for the win!! Categories: Entertainment, Local San Diego News, Sports, Trending
Read more »
San Diego begins free digital literacy program to close digital divide -SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The City of San Diego has launched a digital literacy program offering free in-person classes for any San Diegan who wants to learn how to use a computer and better navigate the internet. City Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe spoke of the Tech on the Go program, a collaboration with the San Diego Futures...
Read more »
Boom is over: Funding for San Diego startups stalls as markets swoonSan Diego startups raise $1 billion in the third quarter but that’s a drop of 60 percent from last year’s record-setting pace
Read more »