Padres Notebook: Manny Machado delivers under urgency, Yu Darvish set to face former team

CHICAGO-- Talk about delivering amid a heavy sense of urgency. 

Facing elimination after scoring just one run in the wild card opener versus the Chicago Cubs in the Padres 3-1 loss, Manny Machado delivered in the ultimate moment of urgency. With the Friars clinging to a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning, Machado hammered the first pitch he saw from Shota Imanaga deep into the left field bleachers, giving the Padres a 3-0 lead. 

"Yeah, that's what postseason is about, man," said Machado. "It's a beautiful thing to be playing here in front of these crowds and with what's at stake. Our boys went out there and competed as well as we can, and leaving it all out on the field. Obviously we have a high energy team with Jackson, Tati and myself, Arráez, but whenever our pitching staff goes out there and does what he did today, Dylan, I think he set the tone for everyone."

Was Machado surprised that Imanaga didn't walk him with first base open? 

"I mean, I don't put a manager's cap on. I'm 0 for 6 at that point. So yeah, I'm not thinking about that. For myself, I was just thinking about trying to get to Imanaga." 

Machado, who was 0-for-4 on Tuesday in the Padres loss, said it was good to get some results after some hard-hit outs. 

"I hit the ball hard yesterday. It was just outs. Sometimes that happens. Both sides of the team yesterday, we hit balls hard and they just -- other than the two home runs that went out, both teams hit the ball hard, just right at people. It is good defense. You've got two good defensive teams, two staffs that are throwing well. Sometimes you've got to hit it soft and not hit it as hard to get stuff going. But yeah, I mean, swing is there. Just got to continue doing it and continue grinding. Having good at-bats I think at the end of the day, don't worry about your swing, it's just more about having good at-bats."

Now with the Padres 27 outs from either advancing to the divisional playoffs or packing their bags for a long off-season, Machado says the focus remains the same.

"Just like I told  the boys, man, let's just go out there and continue to grind," said Machado. "It's not easy. To climb these mountains isn't easy. You've got the best of the best playing right now who have all had a hell of a seasons and tremendous years and this is why we're here. Just go out there, compete, enjoy it, and just leave it out on the field."

Presumably everyone is available in some capacity in the game three finale on Thursday afternoon, but Yu Darvish will start versus his former Cubs team. Darvish, who was dealt by the Cubs to San Diego in December of 2020 in exchange for Zach Davies and four prospects, relished the opportunity of pitching in a postseason game in his former home ballpark. 

 "This place did me good," said Darvish.  "The organization, the fans did me good, too. Wrigley Field does have a special place in my heart, and I just feel fortunate that I may have the possibility to pitch on the mound here."

Padres reliever Mason Miller stunned the crowd and awed his teammates when he struck out Carson Kelly in the seventh inning on a 104.5 mph fastball. 

Miller, who struck out the first eight batters his first postseason, discussed what it feels like to throw 104.5 mph, which is the fast recorded pitch since MLB started tracking in 2008.

Padres manager Mike Shildt discussed a big game by the Padres bullpen, Dylan Cease's strong start and Manny Machado's big home run.