Padres Win Late Rally.
Manny Machado Sparks Late Padres Rally as San Diego Defeats Blue Jays 5-4.
The San Diego Padres beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday, snapping a brutal stretch of play. It was just the fifth win in 16 games for San Diego, according to AP News.
Manny Machado sparked a late comeback with a clutch single in the eighth inning. Ty France then delivered a sacrifice to bring in the go-ahead run. Mason Miller closed it out in nine pitches for his 25th save of the season.
Machado's Eighth-Inning Single Breaks the Game Open
The Blue Jays led 4-3 heading into the eighth inning. Then Machado stepped up and singled in the tying run, keeping San Diego alive. France followed with a sacrifice that scored the go-ahead run, giving the Padres a 5-4 lead, SF Examiner reported.
It was a quiet but key moment for Machado, who has been one of the few bright spots during San Diego's rough stretch. The Padres have struggled to string wins together, making this late-inning rally especially important for the club's confidence.
Mason Miller Slams the Door in Nine Pitches
After the Padres took the lead, all eyes turned to Mason Miller in the ninth. The closer — San Diego's only All-Star this season — retired all three batters he faced. He needed just eight pitches to do it, CBS Sports reported.
The save was Miller's 25th of the year. That number puts him among the best closers in baseball right now. For a team that has lost 11 of its last 16 games, having a lockdown closer is one of the few things going right.
Blue Jays Fall to 45-51 Despite Late Lead
Toronto had control of this game late, holding a 4-3 advantage heading into the eighth. The lead slipped away in just a few at-bats. The loss drops the Blue Jays to 45-51 on the season, according to Newsday.
The Blue Jays have been hovering around the .500 mark for much of the summer. Giving up a late lead to a struggling Padres team is the kind of loss that stings. Toronto will need to find more consistency to stay in playoff contention.
Padres Desperately Need to Build on This Win
San Diego came into this game having won just four of its previous 15 games. That kind of run can damage a team's confidence fast. Tuesday's comeback win — however close — gives the Padres something to build on, WRAL noted.
The Padres have the talent, with Machado leading the way and Miller locking down saves. But they need to string wins together to stay relevant. One gritty victory against a below-.500 Blue Jays team is a start, but the road ahead is steep.
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