Padres Score Early and Often to Gain Split of Four-Game Set With Giants

Padres Score Early and Often to Gain Split of Four-Game Set With Giants
Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres (L) congratulates teammate Ha-Seong Kim for his three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in San Diego on March 31, 2024. (Denis Poroy/AP Photo)
The Associated Press
3/31/2024
Updated:
3/31/2024
0:00

SAN DIEGO—Luis Campusano and Ha-Seong Kim hit three-run home runs, and the San Diego Padres routed the San Francisco Giants 13–4 on Sunday for a split of the teams’ four-game series.

A passed ball by Giants catcher Patrick Bailey and Manny Machado’s RBI double contributed to a five-run San Diego first inning. Campusano followed with a drive into the first row of seats near the right-field foul pole off Daulton Jeffries (0–1), who made his first big-league start since 2022.

Campusano added a run-scoring single for his fourth RBI, and Machado drove in three runs. Wearing camouflage uniforms on the season’s first Military Sunday, the Padres out-hit the Giants 16–5.

“Clearly, we got production from the whole lineup,” Padres Manager Mike Shildt said. “I love the fact that our bats started out good and were just relentless.”

Kim homered into the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. building beyond the left-field wall for a 9–0 lead in the second.

“It was definitely important to come back, bounce back, after a loss like yesterday, to get a win today,” Kim said through an interpreter. “I think we are a very good team, and hopefully we can keep this winning ... going.”

Four of the first-inning runs were unearned after San Francisco shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald misplayed Xander Bogaerts’ leadoff grounder for an error.

“We have a lot of kids down there that are really pushing for a lot of playing time,” Bogaerts said of the bottom of the Padres batting order. “Those guys are hungry.”

Pedro Avila (1–0) allowed two runs and one hit in three innings to win in relief of Michael King, who gave up two runs and two hits in four innings with seven walks—two more than his previous career-high.

“It could have gotten ugly for me, so offense was my best friend there,“ King said. ”I don’t think I ever found a rhythm. I was searching mechanically out there and really thankful that we put up a lot of runs. I just could not throw a first-pitch strike.”

Jeffries, a 28-year-old right-hander, made his first big-league appearance since May 18, 2022, with Oakland. He gave up nine runs—five earned—and nine hits in two innings, throwing 37 of 55 pitches for strikes.

Jeffries had his second Tommy John surgery in September 2022. His first was in April 2017.

Trainer’s Room

Giants: First baseman Wilmer Flores toppled headfirst over the upper railing of the Padres dugout at full speed while stretching for a foul ball. Flores was on the dugout floor for several minutes while being tended to by both Giants and Padres athletic trainers. San Francisco Manager Bob Melvin went over to check on him, putting him in the Padres dugout momentarily for the first time since he left to manage the Giants after last season. Flores left the game after the first inning with a bruised right shoulder.

Up Next

Giants: Right-hander Keaton Winn takes the mound on Monday in the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Padres: Right-hander Matt Waldron will be on the hill on Monday to begin a three-game set against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

By Richard J. Marcus