SAN DIEGO — It’s not often that a Stephen Vogt team gets run out of the ballpark, but that’s what’s happened in the first two games of this series against the Padres at Petco Park.
It’s the Guardians, based mostly on last year’s success, who usually pressure the opposition into mistakes, but the relentless Padres have flipped the script.
“Relentless is a good way of describing our offense,” said San Diego manager Mike Shildt, after the Padres 7-2 win over the Guards on Tuesday night.
The Guardians’ defense kept things between the white lines Tuesday night through six innings before blowing a tire. The Padres entered the seventh with a 4-0 lead. It quickly became 6-0 as they scored two pressure-induced runs without a hit. Walks and stolen bases put the heat on Cleveland’s D.
Joey Cantillo walked Fernando Tatis to start the inning. Tatis immediately stole second and went to third on a ground out by Luis Arraez. Cantillo walked Manny Machado, who quickly stole second as well.
Xander Bogaerts, with the infield playing in, sent a bouncer to second baseman Gabriel Arias, who couldn’t decide what to do with the ball. He was going to throw home, but dropped the ball. Then he looked to third before finally throwing late to first. Tatis scored and Machado went to third.
Then it was Bogaerts turn to steal second. Machado scored on the steal as catcher Bo Naylor’s throw to second skipped into center field. The inning ended with two runs and three steals for the Padres, and two erros for the Guardians. Arias’ error was later changed to a fielder’s choice.
In the eighth inning, third baseman Jose Ramirez made a diving stop on a grounder by Jason Heyward, but his throw to second was offline because no one was on the bag. On the next play, catcher Elias Diaz sent a pop up to the third base side of the mound. He was called out on the infield fly rule, but Ramirez was charged with an error as the ball bounced off the heel of his glove as Jake Conenworth, who opened the innings with a single, went to third.
Tatis followed with a ground out to score San Diego’s seventh and final run.
The Guardians have run into the Padres at the wrong time. They’re 6-0 and doing everything right. The Guardians have scored just two runs in the first two games, which adds internal pressure to the pitching staff and defense.
“It seemed like there was a number of plays tonight where they just hit the ball in the perfect spot,” said Vogt.
Perfect for the Padres, not so perfect for the Guardians.
Breakfast and trivia
OK, so you skipped breakfast on your way to Petco Field to see the Guards and Padres. Never fear, grab a Hot Hen chicken sandwich at the ballpark and you’ll be ready to go. Meanwhile who were the two big league teams last year with the best records when they scored four or more runs in a game? Answer below.
Next
Wednesday: Guardians vs. Padres at Petco Park, 4:10 p.m. EDT. RHP Ben Lively (0-0, 5.40) vs. RHP Dylan Cease (0-0, 6.23). CleGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100 AM, WMMS/100.7 FM, Guardians Radio Network.
Thursday: The Guardians are off.
Friday: Guardians vs. Angels at Angel Stadium at 9:38 p.m. EDT. RHP Gavin Williams (0-0, 3.60) vs. RHP José Soriano (1-0, 0.00). CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100, WMMS will carry he game.
Guardians’ 2025 regular-season schedule
Saturday: Guardians vs. Angels at Angel Stadium at 9:36 p.m. EDT. RHP Tanner Bibee (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz (0-0, 3.00). CLEGuardians, TV, WTAM/1100 and WMMS will carry the game.
Sunday: Guardians vs. Angels at Angel Stadium at 4:07 p.m. EDT. RHP Luis Ortiz (0-1, 13.50) vs. LHP Tyler Anderson (0-0, 5.40). CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100.
Monday: The Guardians are off.
Tuesday: The Guardians open the home season against the White Sox at Progressive Field at 4:10 p.m. EDT. CLEGuardia ns.TV, WTAM/1100 and WMMS will carry the game.
Trivia answer
The Padres and Guardians had the best records in the big leagues last year when scoring four or more runs. The Padres went 77-13, while the Guardians went 77-14.
This year the Guards are 2-0 when they score four or more runs.
