SAN DIEGO – In the first meeting of a pair of teams with designs on postseason play, the San Diego Padres had an uncharacteristic pitching night in a 10-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
The Padres allowed ten or more runs for the sixth time this season, with the main culprit being freebies as their pitchers walked a combined eight and had another hit by pitch. Boston added to their Majors-most with their 18th time with ten or more scored.
Nick Pivetta couldn’t limit the damage when there was traffic, as Boston brought home four of seven runners who got into scoring position against the San Diego starter, who threw more than 100 pitches for the fourth time this season and took his first loss at Petco Park.
"He was really good, the first three were fantastic, breaking ball was good (and) the fastball had life to it, (in) the fourth he just lost the plate a little bit and then the two run homer to cap that off," said manager Mike Shildt. "But the first three were really good and (he) gutted through the five."
Meanwhile, Walker Buehler continued his recent upward trend in an up-and-down first season with Boston since being signed as a free agent from Los Angeles. He pitched through six innings for the seventh time by limiting the Padres to seven base runners and only two opportunities with runners in scoring position to earn his seventh win.
San Diego had men on second with two outs in both the third and fourth innings, but each time their liners found Red Sox defenders. The only time they advanced runners against Buehler came on a walk or a hit by pitch following singles.
Finally in the eighth inning the Padres were able to advance runners with the ball in play after reliever Chris Murphy walked the first three batters, then Ramón Laureano had his fourth game with an RBI in seven appearances by hitting into a fielder’s choice. Jake Cronenworth followed up with an RBI knock, but that would be all as Garrett Whitlock came in and got the final two outs.
Boston had loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth on the backs of an Alex Bregman leadoff single and then consecutive walks where Pivetta was unable to get either Jarren Duran or Trevor Story to chase outside fastballs.
Masataka Yoshida drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to center field, then Pivetta threw the ball away on a pickoff attempt at first base that allowed Duran to score. Then with two outs Wilyer Abreu got the bathead around on an inside curveball and hit a two-run home run to right-center field.
"I think they saw some good pitches, were able to work some good walks and then do some damage out there," Pivetta said.
"I got myself into some damage. I walked guys, didn't locate pitches, allowed them to get back into (at bats) and they were able to execute on the pitches that I missed on."
The visitors added another run in the fifth after singles by Connor Wong and Roman Anthony put runners on the corners, with Bregman hitting a three-hopper that Manny Machado had to go to first for the out. But Pivetta got out of the inning by freezing Duran with an inside, knee-high fastball then got a flyout.
The San Diego starter finished with five hits and runs allowed, to go with a trio of strikeouts and walks in six innings.
"I was happy with the fifth and six inning, being able to scratch through those, they still put some good at bats on me, but I was happy to be able to extend it as much as I could and get the bullpen as much rest as I could," Pivetta said.
Yuki Matsui came on to pitch in the seventh, leaving runners on the corners by getting Story to chase a low splitter. The lefty finished with 1 ⅓ innings pitched and allowed two hits to go with the K.
Then Boston worked three-straight walks against Sean Reynolds, who was making his first appearance back with the Padres since June 27. After Connor Wong doubled to clear the bases, the Sox loaded the bases again on a walk and hit by pitch before Cronenworth caught a shallow pop-out and caught Wong in a rundown for an inning-ending double play.
Reynolds remained in to pitch the ninth and allowed a two-run home run by Yoshida after a leadoff walk. His final line was three hits and five runs allowed on five walks in 1 ⅔ innings.
Game two of the series will see Michael King (4-2, 2.59 ERA) start for the first time since May 18 after missing nearly 100 days with a nerve issue. Right-hander Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.57 ERA) will take the hill for Boston, with first pitch scheduled for 5:40 p.m. at Petco Park.
"(I'm) just looking forward to seeing Michael King pitch, it's a pretty good day when Michael's back on the mound for us," Shildt said. "Uncharacteristic game, got away from us today and we don't play many of those at all, and so we'll be ready to go tomorrow and Michael will lead the way."
This story was updated at 10:16 p.m.