Padres' offense unleashed with nine run outing against Rockies

SAN DIEGO -- Things are starting to fall into places for the San Diego Padres (9-6). 

Not only did they capture their four consecutive victory and won the series following their 9-5 win on Saturday night against the Colorado Rockies, but they did it firing on all cylinders at the plate.

Does this mean the Padres are finally turning the corner?

"We got good players and they can hit homers," Padres manager Craig Stammen said. "I think we're taking good at-bats and then we're taking advantage of some mistakes that pitchers are making." 

The offense finished with a season-high nine runs scored and have homered in five straight games. They now have posted a long ball eight times in the last five games after only having five in their first 10 games of the season. 

It did take the offense a bit to get going and early on were facing a four run deficit by the third inning when Padres starting Germán Márquez (2-1, 5.54 ERA) gave up three homer runs to Edouard Julien and a pair by Mickey Moniak. Both of Moniak's home runs came on Márquez four-seam fastball, the first located in the zone but away and the second going right down broadway. 

Looking for a spark in the bottom of the third inning, left fielder Ramón Laureano s generated a seven pitch walk. Fernando Tatis Jr., who made his first major league start at second base, churned out a single and then Jackson Merrill grounded into a RBI force out to get the Padres on the board. 

Moments later, Manny Machado stepped in the batters box and turned on four-seam fastball the other way on a 3-0 hitter's count for a two-run homer to make it 4-3.

That flipped a switch and changed all the momentum. 

The offense continued to rake in the next inning, starting with a double to center by Miguel Andujar and a walk by Freddy Fermin. With two-out in the frame, Laureano unloaded on a 87 mph changeup down the middle for a three-run homer to give the Padres the lead. 

During the sixth inning, they tacked on another three runs with a Tatis Jr. bases loaded walk and a two-run ground ball double by Merrill to make it 9-4. 

This is the type of night that makes poor starting pitching not the end-all be-all. It may not be sustainable, but it shows that they can have explosive outings when needed. 

"It feels good," Márquez said on the team having his back. "You know, we grind to be like that and (it) feels good."  

After limiting the damage after the third inning, Márquez threw a total of 86 pitches through five innings and allowed four runs, four hits with five strikeouts. 

"That's my mindset, like don't give up," Márquez said. "Sometimes those pitches are going to be outs... I feel like everything was working. Everything was working. Just good pitches right there that I missed it." 

The right-hander was replaced by Wandy Peralta, who went an inning and a third, and eventually was relieved by right-hander Ron Marinaccio. 

The bullpen did have to step up a few times as the game went on following Peralta's exit. Marinaccio gave up a run and a pair of hits through an inning and two thirds, Bradgley Rodriguez recorded the first two outs in the ninth inning but wasn't able to slam the door. Righty Jason Adam, in his second straight appearance, answered the bell to get the final out and earned himself his first save of the season. 

In a night where the Padres needed their stars to shine, they definitely got that plus extra especially from a struggling Tatis Jr. 

Before the game, Stammen mentioned that Tatis Jr. playing second could "unlock" him and help him not think too much when at the plate. Tatis Jr. finished 3-for-4 with a pair of singles, a double, a walk and a RBI. 

"Well it worked today," Tatis Jr. jokingly said. "I did good on the plate today and but staying aggressive and just trying to put good at-bats out there."

While it wasn't any spectacular, he made some nice routine plays defensively, including turning in a 6-4-3 double play in the seventh inning.

"It was fun though," Tatis Jr. said. "Just a lot of work, a lot of good help from the coaches and you know stay in the game and then let your abilities just take over."

"I don't know if you can unlock offensively by playing them at a different position but he had a great game tonight," Stammen said. "You know, that's what we expect out of Fernando... (He) look like a normal everyday second baseman with a rocket arm."  

"I think he did all right, Machado said. "He looks kind of swaggy up there."

The main contributor on this night was Laureano, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two walks and three RBIs. Despite going 1-for-4, Merrill posted a double, a walk and three RBIs. 

First pitch of Sunday's fourth and final game of the series will be at 1:10 p.m. and will feature both club's aces on the mound. Right-hander Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.54ERA) will make his fourth start of the season for the Friars, while lefty Kyle Freeland (1-1, 2.30 ERA) will be on the bump for the Rockies.