For the first time since May, the Padres sent Michael King to the mound in a Major League Baseball game. San Diego’s Opening Day starter was out nearly three months with a nerve ailment. They made a few changes in between that had King awfully impressed.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been on a team as good as this one,” said King on Friday night. That’s a bod statement given he was on the club last year that came one win away from knocking off the eventual World Series champion Dodgers.
With the new additions, he might be right. Newly acquired outfielder Ramon Laureano got his first Padres walkoff knock with a 10th inning single to give San Diego a 5-4 win and even their weekend series against the Red Sox.
King only made one rehab start in the minor leagues so he’s not going to be going too terribly deep in games for a while. Boston’s lineup, one of baseball’s most potent attacks over the last two months, made him work. King allowed four hits and walked a pair with just one strikeout and was pulled after throwing 57 pitches.
Xander Bogaerts got the San Diego offense on the board in the 2nd inning with a solo home run. After hitting five homers in his first 96 games, Bogaerts has gone deep five times in the last 19 outings. Bogaerts struck again with an RBI single in the 3rd inning to continue his second half surge.
San Diego scored their other two runs in the 5th inning when Boston starter Lucas Giolito had a fit of wildness. After giving up a single to Fernando Tatis Jr., Giolito walked Jackson Merrill, Bogaerts, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramon Laureano in succession to bring home two more runs and put the Padres on top 4-3. With the way their bullpen has been rolling it looked like that would be enough.
Wandy Peralta allowed one run but then Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, and Mason Miller combined to strike out 10 Red Sox batters over 4.0 innings and turn the ball over the big league saves leader Robert Suarez with a one-run lead. This time Big Game Bob blinked.
Ceddanne Rafaela singled, stole 2nd base, and scored on a Roman Anthony double to tie it 4-4 and force extra innings. In a battle of bullpens the Padres should have the advantage.
Jason Adam masterfully kept the Red Sox off the board in the top of the 10th, setting up a walkoff opportunity. The trade deadline was good to San Diego. Laureano bounced a single to left field to bring home Bogaerts with the game-winner, setting off a wild celebration at a sold out Petco Park.
San Diego can take the series between playoff contenders on Sunday afternoon with Dylan Cease on the mound against Brayan Bello.
