The San Diego Padres continued their dominant surge to the top on Wednesday at Petco Park with an 8-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It marked the Padres’s sixth straight win against Pittsburgh this season.
MLB insider Yonder Alonso believes the credit for the win goes to key players like Xander Bogaerts, Kyle Higashioka, Donovan Solano, David Peralta, Martin Perez, Jason Adam, Tanner Scott and Robert Suarez. Alonso reckons the team’s long pending success commenced with Bogaerts’ return.
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“It starts with Bogaerts, and it ends with Bogaerts right there,” he said. “And I think when you look at the Padres, it’s not just the stars; it’s also these glue guys Harold. And you know it’s just so got me to watch. It’s just so much fun to watch.”
The Padres are riding a purple patch, marking the first time they have won 19 of 22 games. Meanwhile, the Pirates endured their 10th consecutive loss for the first time since last season.
Padres manager praises his players
The Padres delivered a second sweep victory against the Pirates. and their dominating roster is the reason for it. Martin Perez allowed only one run in five hits, with eight strikeouts and a walk in 5 1/3 innings against his former team.
Perez was acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline from the Pirates this season. Manager Mike Shildt believes it to be one of the best decisions made by the team.
“He’s been huge,” Shildt said. “He’s just a real veteran guy with moxie and he has the stuff to match it.”
Meanwhile, Jake Cronenworth and David Peralta hit home runs to contribute to Wednesday’s victory. On his 37th birthday, Peralta slammed a two-run drive in the third to put his team 8-0 in front.
Shildt praised Peralta for his presence on the field:
“He just continues to take good at-bats. He’s a positive presence on the field and in the clubhouse.”
The manager also said that he has always expected every player to perform their best on the field, which was evident on Wednesday afternoon:
“We’ve talked quite a bit about getting contributions from the entire 26. It was again on display today.”
The San Diego Padres will look forward to finishing this season with a bang in the upcoming series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers.