Randy Vásquez helps Padres shut out Nationals
Luis Arraez and Jurickson Profar crushed back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning, and Randy Vásquez was about as productive as a pitcher could be as he helped the San Diego Padres shut out the Washington Nationals 4-0 Tuesday night.
Vásquez (3-5, 4.17 ERA) only needed 68 pitches to work six-plus scoreless innings to earn his first victory since June 22. The San Diego right-hander only allowed four hits and no walks while striking out one.
Adrian Morejón, Jeremiah Estrada, and Robert Suárez each threw a scoreless inning of their own and helped secure the Padres’ third shutout win in July.
San Diego has won three in a row and improved their record to 53-50.
Here are the takeaways:
Vasquez on point
Vásquez has continued to prove his worth to the Padres, throwing six shutout innings and recording the fourth consecutive quality start from a Padres starter in his win over the Nationals Tuesday. He was at only 50 pitches when the bottom of the sixth began and then got pulled at 68 pitches after surrendering a leadoff double in the eighth.
Since his last win on June 22nd, Vásquez is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA and has lowered his ERA from 5.70 to 4.17.
Back-to-back homers
Arraez, at the plate with two out in the fifth inning, suddenly dropped to the dirt to avoid a 94 mph fastball that flew near his face. The ball bounced off the handle of Arraez’s bat, which was inches away from the left thumb that had been bothering him for weeks.
Three pitchers later, Arraez blasted a 1-2 slider that just went over the wall in right-center for his third home run of the season. On the very next pitch, Profar lined a 425-foot home run that landed in the seats over the visitor’s bullpen in left-center for his team-leading 15th homer.
Merrill doesn't miss
Jackson Merrill helped out offensively when he brought in Manny Machado with his two-out single in the sixth. He also added a run-scoring groundout in the eighth to bring in Xander Bogaerts and give the Padres a 4-0 lead.
With Paul Skenes suffering his first loss in the majors Tuesday night, Merrill finally has life in getting a shot at National League Rookie of the Year.
San Diego right-hander Matt Waldron (5-9, 3.59 ERA) will pitch Wednesday night seeking his first victory since June 19, while Washington rookie left-hander Mitchell Parker (5-5, 3.90) looks for his first win since June 16.