Gavin Sheets is having a career year for the San Diego Padres.
And he showed it again Saturday when he went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning of the Padres’ 6-4 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds.
The two teams will meet again Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati to conclude a three-game series.
“That was fun,” Sheets said after the game Saturday. “We had runners on first and third and one out, so he [pitcher Lyon Richardson] was just trying to get me to hit it on the ground. So I knew I needed to get it in the air, and fortunately I did and it did some damage. I have been taking a lot of BP off the machine before games, and it is paying off.”
Sheets made his debut in 2021 with the Chicago White Sox, who didn’t offer him a contract following the 2024 season. He signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training with the Padres in the offseason, and the change of scenery has done wonders.
Sheets is batting .265 with 71 hits, 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 49 RBIs in 79 games, providing a left-handed bat that is a perfect complement to a star-filled lineup that includes right-handed stars Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts.
Sheets, 29, is on pace to shatter his previous highs in almost all categories. His career highs are 105 hits, 24 doubles, 15 homers and 53 RBIs.
His versatility in the field helps as well, as he fits in at first base, in left field and at designated hitter. Saturday, he played left and squashed a Reds’ rally with a diving catch.
“His ability to go play left field … he’s done a nice job for us,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “It frees us up to use different lineups.”
The Padres will send Stephen Kolek (3-3, 3.95 ERA) to the mound Sunday to try to take the series from the Reds.
The right-hander, who is in his second major league season, has made 10 starts, going 57 innings. He has struck out 42 but walked 20. Kolek has made two relief appearances against the Reds in his career, throwing just two-thirds of an inning total and giving up one hit.
The Reds will counter with left-hander Nick Lodolo (5-5, 3.63 ERA). The team has won Lodolo’s past two starts.
Cincinnati is in fourth place in the National League Central but is playing over .500 ball (43-40) and is in the thick of the wild-card race at the midway point of the season. A victory on Sunday would give the Reds wins in six of their past seven series.
“It’s fun,” Lodolo said about pitching for a winner. “We’re playing pretty good and complete baseball. Everyone is contributing in different ways.”
In his most recent start, the left-hander went 4 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and one earned run while striking out six as the Reds beat the Yankees 6-1 on Monday.
He has just one win in June — a weather-shortened victory on June 18 against the Minnesota Twins — which has turned out to be a tough month. He’s 1-1 with a 5.49 ERA, giving up 12 runs in 19 2/3 innings.
Still, Reds manager Terry Francona was encouraged and complimentary after the start against the Yankees.
“When his velocity ticks up, I like that,” Francona said. “Everything is more crisp when that happens.”
Lodolo is 1-1 in two career starts against the Padres with a 3.00 ERA.
–Field Level Media
