Brashna Kasi
Updated on: October 11, 2024 4:01 am GMT
In a crucial September matchup, the San Diego Padres fell behind early and could not recover, losing to the Seattle Mariners 5-2 at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday. This result not only marked a disappointing performance for the Padres but also altered their position in the tight race for the National League wild card.
Pitching Struggles and Defensive Errors
The game turned on a critical third inning that saw the Padres’ defense falter. Starting pitcher Michael King struggled, allowing a walk and hitting a batter, setting the stage for disaster. The inning could have ended with a double play, but an error by Jake Cronenworth changed everything, allowing the Mariners to score three runs.
“We had three walks and a hit batter, all score,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt, reflecting on the team’s uncharacteristic errors. “And, of course, we don’t help ourselves with the defense, but very, very uncharacteristic of us.”
King, who entered the game with an impressive ERA of 3.06, left after five innings, having taken the loss. He faced 90 pitches during his outing and has now made decisions in 12 of his last 13 starts.
Mariners Capitalize on Opportunities
The Mariners took advantage of the Padres’ missteps to build an early 5-0 lead. Following the error in the third inning, a soft single from Cal Raleigh and a two-RBI single from Luke Raley turned a precarious situation into a commanding advantage for Seattle.
Seattle’s Bryan Woo was a formidable opponent on the mound, nearly achieving a perfect game before Fernando Tatis Jr. broke the spell with his impressive home run down the left field line in the seventh inning. Before this moment, the Padres had been left without a hit, highlighting their struggles to produce offensively.
Impact of Tatis’ Home Run
Tatis’ home run provided a moment of hope for the Padres, but it wasn’t enough to change the narrative of the game. With a blistering exit velocity of 115.6 mph, the hit was the Padres’ first real offensive show of the night.
“You want to break that,” Tatis commented after the game regarding Woo’s perfect-game bid. “You don’t want to go down on the opposite side of a perfect game or no-hitter.” Tatis also claimed another base hit later, but the Padres struggled to build any momentum.
Changing Wild Card Landscape
The loss is particularly significant as it caused the Padres to slide into the second National League wild-card spot, now half a game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and just 1½ games above the New York Mets. Meanwhile, both the Diamondbacks and Mets secured wins on the same day, further complicating the Padres’ playoff aspirations.
The Braves, who also lost, are now in close proximity as they contend for one of the new postseason spots. With only 15 games left for the Padres and 16 for their competitors, every match counts in this tightly contested race.
Next Steps for the Padres
With their loss fresh in their minds, the Padres now have a day off before returning to the diamond for the next stretch of crucial games. Shildt will be looking to address both the defensive lapses and offensive challenges that hindered his team against the Mariners.
As the National League playoff race intensifies, the Padres must regroup quickly. The ability to correct mistakes and capitalize on opportunities will be pivotal as they aim to regain their footing and secure a spot in the postseason.
The Padres have a tough challenge ahead of them after losing on Wednesday. This loss shows just how hard it is to make it to the playoffs as the season comes to an end.
