Whoever said you never get a second chance to make a first impression hasn’t heard of Kyle Hart.
After starting the year as the No. 5 starter in the San Diego Padres’ rotation, Hart lasted five starts before being sent to Triple-A El Paso with a 6.00 ERA and a 2-2 mark.
But Michael King’s trip to the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation has left a hole in the rotation, and Hart will get another opportunity to stick with San Diego, beginning with its series finale on Wednesday afternoon against the visiting Miami Marlins.
Hart made three road starts before his demotion, going 0-2 with an ERA of 10.80. But in two starts at Petco Park, site of the Wednesday game, the left-hander is 2-0 and has permitted just two runs in 11 innings for a 1.64 ERA. He’ll face Miami for the first time in his career.
Nick Pivetta was scheduled to make the start, but Padres manager Mike Shildt pushed him back to the series opener with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. That will give Pivetta a week between starts and a little extra rest going into June, when the Padres will have just two off days.
“Just taking advantage of the off-day to give Nick a little extra time,” Shildt said. “We’re always intentional about it. We’ve had a really good schedule taking place this year relative to off-days and been able to keep our starting pitchers pretty fresh.”
San Diego is seeking a series sweep over Miami after rallying from a 6-0 first-inning deficit Tuesday night to pick up an 8-6 win. Luis Arraez went 3-for-5, knocking in the tying and go-ahead runs, as the Padres rapped out 13 hits and scored in every inning but the sixth and seventh.
“Absolute team win,” Shildt said. “I stay even-keel because I know what this club is about.”
The Padres also beat the Marlins on Monday, 4-3 in 11 innings.
While San Diego tries for its fifth series sweep at home, the Marlins will aim to salvage a game behind right-hander Sandy Alcantara (2-7, 8.04 ERA). The former Cy Young Award winner continued his struggles Friday night in a 7-4 loss at the Los Angeles Angels.
Alcantara allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and six strikeouts. A three-run sixth inning knocked him out mid-inning, and he has finished six innings only once in 10 starts. Now, he’s seeking solutions.
“I think I’m just getting stuck in the same inning,” Alcantara said. “Just got to keep positive, keep working the way that I’ve been. Maybe miss too much in the middle, maybe try to be too perfect, but I don’t know. I’ve just got to keep working and keep believing in myself.”
In five career starts against San Diego, he’s 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA, allowing just one homer in 31 2/3 innings. The home run ball has been an issue during a personal seven-game losing streak that’s seen him permit seven homers in 31 2/3 innings.
Miami’s offense started strong and fizzled for the second straight night on Tuesday. It managed just five hits after a six-run, five-hit first inning, a night after getting six of its seven hits in the first two innings of the loss.
–Field Level Media
