09/25/20 08:57:00
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09/25 20:56 CDT Giants power past Padres for key win in doubleheader Game 1
Giants power past Padres for key win in doubleheader Game 1
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Baseball Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --- San Diego pitcher Chris Paddack expected the San
Francisco Giants to swing for the fences with their playoff hopes at stake.
That's exactly what happened.
Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead homer in the fourth, Mike Yastrzemski returned
from an injury to splash a two-run shot into McCovey Cove the same inning and
the Giants beat the Padres 5-4 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday for a
key victory in a crowded NL playoff race.
"A hungry team that's trying to continue to make a little playoff run, I knew
they were going to come into this game aggressive with a good game plan,"
Paddack said.
The Padres clinched home-field advantage for the wild-card round next week with
the Cardinals' loss to Milwaukee in the first game of a doubleheader. San Diego
secured the National League's No. 4 seed headed to its first postseason in 14
years.
The Giants (29-28) bounced back --- barely --- after missing a key chance
losing in 11 innings to Colorado on Thursday. Wild card-leading Cincinnati
began the day 29-28 and was playing a night game at Minnesota.
Tyler Anderson (4-3) allowed five hits over six solid innings, striking out
four and overcoming four walks. Tony Watson gave up an RBI single to Fernando
Tats Jr. in the seventh and made a throwing error past first baseman Brandon
Belt for another run before Eric Hosmer's sacrifice fly.
The Padres were to be the home team in the second game, which is the makeup of
a postponement in San Diego on Sept. 12 after Giants outfielder Alex Dickerson
received a false positive COVID-19 test result.
Yastrzemski hit his second career splash hit homer in the bay, also doing so
July 29 against the Padres.
Tommy Pham hit an RBI double in the second before Brandon Crawford's homer off
Paddack (4-5) tied it in the bottom half.
Paddack was done after 3 2/3 innings and three home runs among his eight hits
surrendered. He seems unconcerned about finding himself for the playoffs.
"We feel like he's right there and really close," manager Jayce Tingler said.
"I'm sure he's frustrated because he hasn't been able to grab the traction he
wanted being able to stack a couple good wins back to back."
San Diego (34-23) is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, when
the Padres lost in the division series for a second straight year.
REFRESHED FERNANDO
Tats expressed feeling refreshed and well rested after he had a break
Wednesday in the series finale against the Angels at Petco Park then a day off
Thursday.
He went 1 for 4. Tats is 5 for his last 31 the past seven games and 6 of 41
spanning the last nine.
"Just resting, seeing the game from a different side, seeing if I could learn
some stuff ... just enjoy the day off," he said.
His father offered some encouragement.
"Right now it's just trust it, when this game attacks this way sometimes
players lose confidence," he said. "This game is hard for everybody."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: RHP Mike Clevinger received a cortisone shot Friday for his troublesome
elbow. General manager A.J. Preller said the Padres have not ruled out
Clevinger making a start in the wild-card round next week. Clevinger left his
start Wednesday after just one inning against the Angels. Tests showed he has a
right posterior elbow impingement. "I think we got really good news," Preller
said. Clevinger is expected to rest for 48 hours and then attempt to play
catch. He was obtained in a blockbuster trade with Cleveland on Aug. 31. With
questions around Clevinger, RHP Dinelson Lamet and RHP Zach Davies would be San
Diego's likely 1-2 playoff pitchers.
Giants: OF Yastrzemski, who had missed seven straight starts and six games with
a mild right calf strain, returned to start the opener and the hope was he
would play Game 2, manager Gabe Kapler said.
UP NEXT
RHP Jeff Samardzija comes off the injured list from a lengthy shoulder injury
and rehab to pitch the second game as the 29th player for the doubleheader. He
is 0-2 making just three starts this season and hasn't pitched since Aug. 7.
"This is an opportunity he has been asking for, been pushing for," Kapler said.
Lamet (3-1, 2.07 ERA) takes the mound for the Padres in the nightcap trying to
win a second straight decision. He is 1-1 over his last seven outings.
___
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