Manny Machado has come up big of late for the San Diego Padres, who are relying on small ball to remain competitive in the National League West.
The Padres will continue their three-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night after winning the opener 2-0 on Friday.
With San Diego leading 1-0, Machado began the eighth inning by connecting on an 0-2 sweeper for his ninth home run of the season and his second in as many games. The 388-foot shot to left field was Machado’s 351st homer of his career.
The Padres have just three home runs in their last eight games, and Machado has all three.
Machado, 32, has six home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 14 games for the Padres, who have won four of their last six games.
“It’s a team effort every night, but Manny’s chipping in a lot clearly,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “He’s just taking good at-bats, playing good defense. He’s just playing to the MVP-caliber player that he is.”
Milwaukee began a 10-game homestand by losing for just the second time in its last 11 games. The Brewers were shut out for the seventh time this season Friday while going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, with 10 runners left on base.
“We didn’t get the timely hit,” manager Pat Murphy said. “Give them credit. They executed and they hit the big home run when they needed it in the eighth that changed the game … their bullpen was outstanding.”
Christian Yelich had one of Milwaukee’s four hits in the loss. He is batting .423 (22-for-52) with six homers and 15 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak.
The Brewers on Saturday will turn to left-hander Jose Quintana (4-1, 2.77 ERA). He returned last Sunday after missing three weeks with a shoulder impingement and allowed two runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Philadelphia Phillies. Milwaukee won 5-2.
Quintana, 36, settled in after walking four in the first two innings.
“A little rust,” he said. “I was battling with my delivery. I didn’t feel a firm landing on a couple of those pitches. After the first inning, I checked my videos and it gave me a better idea of where I was.”
Machado is 7-for-27 (.259) with a home run against Quintana, who is 3-0 with a 4.25 ERA in nine career games (seven starts) versus San Diego, including 1-0 with an 0.73 ERA in two outings last season.
The Padres will counter with right-hander Stephen Kolek (3-1, 3.47), who pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings — giving up three hits — in a no-decision against the San Francisco Giants on Monday. San Diego won 1-0 in 10 innings.
Kolek, 28, has pitched at least five innings in all six of his starts this season and owns a 1.04 ERA in four road outings.
“I guess just a lot of ground balls help me,” he said. “The guys that we have behind me, it’s incredible and gives you all that much more confidence to just challenge them — here it is in the zone and let the defense work.”
Kolek is 1-0 with one unearned run allowed in two relief appearances covering three innings against the Brewers in his career.
–Field Level Media
