Gavin Sheets and Ty France did everything they could to help the San Diego Padres get a series opening win against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Sheets drove in the first run of the game with an RBI-single in the top of the first inning and France launched an opposite field grand slam home run to give the Padres a 5-0 lead after their half of the first inning. San Diego starter Randy Vasquez seemingly did all he could to give Texas the win, as he committed an error on a throw from France at first base that would have been an out for the first batter he faced. Instead, Joc Pederson was standing on first base and kicked off what resulted in a six-run bottom of the first. After one complete inning the Padres trailed the Rangers, 6-5.
France hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game, 6-6 but Vasquez returned to the mound in the bottom of the fourth and promptly allowed a single and a double to the first two batters of the inning, which resulted in another run for Texas to make the score 7-6 heading into the top of the fifth inning. It should be noted Vasquez did not complete the inning and was removed from the game after 3.1 innings pitched. He allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits with three walks and a strikeout. Yuki Matsui was called on to complete the inning.
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The Rangers tacked on an additional run in the bottom of the sixth when David Morgan allowed three hits to the first four batters and the Padres found themselves trailing by two. San Diego cut the deficit to one run when Sheets hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning, but as was the case throughout the game, Jason Adam took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and allowed a leadoff home run to Wyatt Langford to make the score, 9-6.
For much of the season the San Diego pitchers have done their part to keep the Padres in games. It has been the offense that has failed to provide run support, so it was about time for the rotation to have a dud in the same game that the lineup scored seven runs on 10 hits. France finished 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, five RBI and two runs scored. Sheets finished 2-for-4 with a single, a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Samad Taylor also contributed finishing 3-for-5 with three singles and a run scored. The big four of Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts combined to finish 0-for-17 with two walks, two runs scored and seven strikeouts.
The Padres will see if they can get a better pitching performance from Walker Buehler and any contributions from Tatis, Merrill, Machado or Bogaerts when they take on the Rangers today at 1:05 p.m.
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