The Padres won a wild, back and forth affair 9-7 over the Cubs on Monday night to begin their six-game homestand. The Padres scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, but the Cubs responded with a run in the top of the 2nd, and then took the lead in the top of the 3rd on Moises Ballesteros' grand slam off of Randy Vasquez, who allowed 5 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 5 innings of work. After scoring a run in the bottom of the 3rd on an RBI-fielder's choice by Miguel Andujar, Nick Castellanos came through in the 5th inning with a 2-out, 2-run single up the middle to put the Padres back on top. Ty France was the star of the game, ripping a 2-run double in the 1st inning and then a 2-run triple in the 7th inning. He also made several terrific defensive plays, both at first base and then at third base after moving over once Manny Machado exited the game with an apparent injury. Craig Stammen said after the game that Manny was fine, and they removed him as a precaution after it appeared like he was running gingerly after a tough slide into second base on a double. Once France moved over to third base in the 7th inning, Gavin Sheets entered the game to play first base, and proceeded to blast a solo homer in the 8th inning, giving the Padres a 9-5 lead.
Things got interesting in the 9th inning, when Mason Miller entered the game in a non-save situation after warming up in the 8th inning before Sheets' home run gave the Padres a 4-run lead. Matt Shaw was the first batter Miller faced as he tried to extend his consecutive scoreless innings streak, and hit a slow dribbler down the third base line. Ty France waited for the ball to cross the foul line, and as soon as it did, he grabbed the ball with the home plate umpire crouched down on one knee to get a close look, but he ruled the ball fair to France and Craig Stammen's dismay. After conferring with the third base umpire, they stuck with the call on the field, despite replays showing that the ball clearly rolled foul, but the play was unreviewable. Miller then allowed singles to Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong to load the bases with no outs, before Nico Hoerner hit a grounder to second base to bring home a run from third base, and end Miller's franchise record at 34.2 innings. After Swanson scampered home on a wild pitch to make the score 9-7, Miller retired the next two batters he faced to secure the victory for the Padres. Walker Buehler will draw the start for the Padres on Tuesday night.
You can watch the Jamul Casino Resort Padres Postgame Show below, with full highlights from the game and Craig Stammen's postgame press conference.
