Padres relieved to be home; open set vs. Brewers.
Mike Shildt, manager of the San Diego Padres, declared Wednesday that the MLB is a “results league.” His club finally grabbed a win in the final game of a dreadful road trip, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 on Wednesday to escape the Padres’ first six-game losing streak since 2009.
San Diego will look to build on that performance Thursday night, when it begins a four-game home series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
On Wednesday, the Padres stopped a five-game overall losing run and a nine-game road skid. Matt Waldron pitched seven good innings for San Diego, and light-hitting catcher Kyle Higashioka delivered a three-run triple in the eighth inning to break the game open.
We were able to find a way to be consistent and get the win at the conclusion of the game,” Shildt said. The Padres received additional encouraging news later Wednesday when Opening Day starter Yu Darvish (left groin strain) made a rehab start for Class-A Fort Wayne. While Darvish gave up seven hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings during an 8-3 defeat to Wisconsin, he emerged healthy and might return San Diego’s rotation next week.
“I’ve been looking forward to this,” Darvish said of his minor-league experience. “I was able to throw all of my pitches, and my splitter and slider were working well. With all that adrenaline, it’s time to return to a major league pitching mound. “I think I’m ready.” The Padres’ starting on Thursday will be youngster Adam Mazur (0-2, 7.82 ERA). He has failed to deliver strikes in three major league starts, walking 13 batters in 12 and 2/3 innings.
The Padres’ starting on Thursday will be youngster Adam Mazur (0-2, 7.82 ERA). He has failed to deliver strikes in three major league starts, walking 13 batters in 12 and 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander suffered a 5-1 road loss to the New York Mets on Saturday, walking six batters in 3 2/3 innings and giving up two runs on three hits. Mazur, who struck out four in the setback, will take on Milwaukee for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Brewers arrived in town late Wednesday night after defeating the Los Angeles Angels 2-0 in Anaheim, Calif., to win the three-game series. In the first game of the series, the Brewers will start Bryse Wilson (4-3, 3.84 ERA). He is coming off a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, during which he pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings, allowing only three hits and two walks while striking out six.
Wilson has four career appearances (two starts) versus San Diego, with a 1-0 record and a 4.26 ERA. He began against the Padres on April 17, pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings in a 1-0 Milwaukee victory that prevented a series sweep.
Consistency has been the Brewers’ calling suit this season. They have won four consecutive series and seven of their last eight, with the exception of a sweep at Philadelphia earlier this month. They have been an excellent run-prevention squad, allowing opponents to score more than four runs only six times over the last 26 games.
Milwaukee’s quality pitching has helped them overcome some issues in converting scoring opportunities. The Brewers are 10-for-84 (.119) with runners in scoring position over the last ten games, including 2-for-20 (.100) in the series against Anaheim. “We just have to put pressure on their pitchers and take advantage of the opportunities,” shortstop Willy Adames explained.
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