Revitalized by returns, Padres offense has big night in win over Giants

SAN DIEGO – With Luis Arraez and Jason Heyward back in the lineup for the first time in over a week, the San Diego Padres offense came alive in a big way with a 7-4 win over the NL West leading San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night at Petco Park.

Xander Bogaerts hit his first home run of the season and drove in three runs for his first multi-RBI game of the year, while Heyward had a pair of hits and Arraez had a hit with an RBI in their returns from the Injured List. The Padres (18-11) snapped a four-game losing streak by cracking 11 hits, their 13th time with 10 or more hits and first time to do so in six games.

"I just look around and we draw confidence from each other knowing we've 'been there, done that,' doesn't mean it's going to take care of itself, but tonight was indicative of a very professional baseball game," said manager Mike Shildt. "It was a good teammate game, which means people trust each other, so that experience paid off."

The offense kicked into gear immediately, as Manny Machado singled and Gavin Sheets walked with two outs, then Bogaerts knocked an RBI single. Jose Iglesias followed with a rip to right field that drove in a pair for a 3-0 lead after one, giving San Diego their highest scoring inning since a four-run eight inning in the 10-4 win over the Cubs on April 14.

"This moment, it definitely helped," Bogaerts said after collecting his first RBI in nearly three weeks. "It helped us win a nice game, it felt good to be able to contribute.

"I didn't feel like many nights I've been able to contribute, so one like tonight can go a long way."

With Bogaerts moved down the lineup into the five spot and Heyward slotted in the eight hole, the bottom five had four hits their first time through the order - more than in any game while Arraez was on the IL. For the game they combined for eight hits and five RBIs and had all five of the Padres hits with runners in scoring position.

The offensive counter punch was back too, as after a solo home run by Willie Adames in the fourth, Heyward led off with a double and was driven in by Arraez on a sacrifice fly to left field. Machado followed up with an RBI single to drive in Elias Díaz and push the edge out to 5-1.

"Just having that intent on what we're attempting to do each at bat, each pitch, win the pitch and go up there and focus on that," Heyward said. "When you see guys do it, then it's 'okay, we'll buy in to that even more and more and more,' and continue to talk about the game."

Starter Nick Pivetta mostly rolled through the first four innings, but gave up four hits over the final six batters he faced. In total he threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits with three earned runs, nine strikeouts and a walk to earn his fifth win of the season.

"Me and Díaz stuck to the game plan, which was just attack, attack, attack these guys, never really give in...just making sure that I'm not allowing any free passes," Pivetta said. 

The majority of Pivetta's strikeouts came on off-speed with three swing and misses at the sweeper and a pair of looking K's on the curve. He threw a four-seam fastball that averaged 94.2 mph an elevated 60% (53 of 89 pitches), up from his season usage rate of 49.3%.

"(The fastball) was something that was feeling really well earlier on," Pivetta said. "I think it's always important, especially when the boys come up and they score three early, is just trying to continue to attack the zone—don't give up any weaknesses and just get them back in the dugout as soon as possible."

After the Giants (19-11) put up a three spot in the sixth, San Diego responded in the seventh when reliever Randy Rodriguez grazed Sheets’ left forearm for a hit by pitch with two outs. Bogaerts then laced a home run down the left field line, breaking a four-game stretch where the Padres went without a long ball.

"The homer's different, I haven't had one of those in a while so it was good to feel that," Bogaerts said. "I've been through some stuff like this before, it's not like it's the first time...all it takes is one, hopefully it'll continue from there."

Beyond Bogaerts’ big night, Machado had his first multi-hit game since the 4-2 win at Chicago on April 16 and Iglesias had his first multi-RBI night of the season.

Jeremiah Estrada (6), Adrian Morejon (3) and Jason Adam (10) all earned holds, while Robert Suarez closed out his 11th save by getting the Giants in order. The pitching staff combined for 14 strikeouts, the ninth time they’ve tossed 10 or more and the fourth time in the last five games.

Logan Webb took his second loss of the year after giving up season highs of nine hits and five runs, all earned, as he struck out six and walked one.

In addition to the returns of Arraez and Heyward, earlier in the day San Diego designated Yuli Gurriel for assignment and placed Mason McCoy on the 10-day IL retroactive to April 28 with a left finger sprain.

"That's what's been nice about our group. No panic, no discussions on who's there, who's not there, it's 'this is who've got today,'" Heyward said. "We like our chances, we like our group, we like the work we put in, we like the ball talk we put in."

The Padres will close the two game set with Michael King (3-1, 2.18 ERA) heading to the hill against San Francisco’s Landen Roupp (2-1, 4.56 ERA) at 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday at Petco Park. It will be the last home game for an 11-day stretch that begins with an off day on Thursday ahead of a nine-game road swing, starting with a three-game set at Pittsburgh on Friday, May 2.

This story was updated at 11:58 p.m.