Jackson Merrill marvels at Kiké Hernandez pitching in Padres rout

SAN DIEGO-- You can forgive the San Diego Padres if they don't feel any sympathy for the depleted starting rotation of the Los Angeles Dodgers, that resulted in a position player pitching the final three innings of an 11-1 blowout at Petco Park.

Outfielder Kiké Hernandez was summoned in the seventh inning in relief of rookie call-up Matt Sauer, who labored through 4.2 innings, allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits. Sauer wore it for the Dodgers, throwing 111 pitches in relief of opener Lou Trivino. 

For the Dodgers, who are without four of their projected starters, including Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, the effort by Sauer and Hernanez was an absolute necessity. 

"You have to manage one game and then you have to manage ensuing games," manager Dave Roberts said on Wednesday morning. "Matt's a big boy, he understood his role on this ballclub, and he served a purpose to help us win potential games going forward." 

Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill, who grounded out against Hernandez in the seventh inning was genuinely complimentary of Hernandez's cutter.

"That was the nastiest cutter I've ever seen. He would step out of the batter's eye, and they will go across the whole other batter box and the plate. I don't think I'll get it off if I face that again." 

Fortunately for Merrill, Roberts quipped Hernández will not be available out of the bullpen in the Wednesday finale.

"Kiké is down today. He better be down today. I think that's the only way to get Jackson out is to throw under hit and speed and throw 48 miles an hour cutters."

"Man, he's good for the game. He's great for the Padres, I love watching him play. I love the energy. Wish he was wearing a different uniform because we're going to have to deal with him for a long time."

Notable- 

Although the timeline for Michael King's return remains vague and unclear, Padres manager Mike Shildt says Yu Darvish will accompany the team on the upcoming road trip and likely throw a simulated game in Arizona. Darvish has not pitched this season as he rehabs from right shoulder inflammation. 

After his three-hit, five RBI performance on Tuesday night, Manny Machado is now third on the Padres all-time RBI list with 575, just behind Dave Winfield (626) and Tony Gwynn (1,138).