\u201cA lot of layers to this game, but a lot of fight from our team,\u201d Padres manager Craig Stammen said. \u201cThis team is not giving up. That\u2019s just a fact. We\u2019ve seen that the entire year. That is one quality that they have amongst a lot of the struggles that we\u2019ve had this year. They do not give up, and it\u2019s a tough group in there that seems to be very resilient, and that\u2019s going to bode well for the second half of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
That remains a hefty maybe.<\/p>\n
Last night was the Padres\u2019 24th comeback victory but just their third in their past 15 games. It was also the first time in the past six games in which they lost a lead that they ended up winning.<\/p>\n
While it was more spectacular than normal, last night was just another blow-up by a starting pitcher. And it was a rare pickup by the offense. It was the 15th time in their past 39 games the Padres allowed at least five runs and the second time the Padres won one of those games.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re gonna need more of that,\u201d Stammen said. \u201cOur pitching is \u2014 you know, we\u2019ve talked a lot about it with the injuries and mixing and matching and trying to figure it out. The offense, we\u2019ve got guys that are gonna be here for a while and they\u2019ve hit for a long time in their career, and for them to kind of carry the team a little bit is a little bit of what we need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manny handled it<\/p>\n
The Padres had seven baserunners before getting their first hit last night.<\/p>\n
Had that hit not come when it did, it is difficult to envision the rest of the night going the Padres\u2019 way. They have numerous times had an opposing starting pitcher on the ropes before and let him escape, and they have rarely punched back after that happens.<\/p>\n
That first hit came at the end of a fascinating and fantastic at-bat by Machado in the second inning.<\/p>\n
Part of the reason the at-bat must be considered so excellent was that he bounced back from having had such an unfortunate and ultimately poor at-bat in the first inning.<\/p>\n
Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage threw one strike to the first three batters he faced last night, and Machado came to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out in the first.<\/p>\n
After watching a ball and a strike, Machado checked his swing on a slider down and away, but home plate umpire Adam Hamari ruled he swung. Machado was livid. He animatedly kicked at the ground and took a step back while Hamari responded to the mass complaints from the Padres\u2019 dugout about why he had not conferred with first base umpire Jen Pawol. Before fully getting back in the batter\u2019s box, Machado called timeout and stepped back out.<\/p>\n
He then fouled off a slider in the bottom corner of the zone and watched a ball before getting under a slider hung in the heart of the strike zone and popping it up behind the plate, where it was caught for the first out.<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck swing, I didn\u2019t go, he called it,\u201d Machado said. \u201cIt kind of changed my at-bat. I got a little emotional. So it kind of ruined my whole at-bat. (Yesavage) gave me a pitch to hit a homer, and I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Padres ended up scoring twice in the first on a base-loaded walk by Gavin Sheets and Ty France\u2019s sacrifice fly.<\/p>\n
Down 4-2 by the time they came to bat in the second inning, Yesavage again walked the bases full. But this time he got two outs in between. Retiring Machado again and ending the inning would have been no small victory.<\/p>\n
Yesavage proceeded to throw three straight balls to Machado, and then he threw a fourth. But Hamari called that one \u2014 a fastball well below the knees \u2014 a strike. Machado did not ask for an ABS challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think it was a strike,\u201d he said. \u201c(Yesavage) just has such a high release, and it\u2019s hard to see down there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Machado had started to walk toward first base after the pitch crossed the plate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, yes and no, but I\u2019m not gonna burn a challenge so early in that situation,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I honestly couldn\u2019t tell.\u201d<\/p>\n
The at-bat resumed, and Machado fouled off a fastball up and over the middle to run the count full before lining a fastball down and on the inner third of the plate into left-center field to drive in two runs and tie the game 4-4.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can write that I took it on purpose to get two RBIs instead of one,\u201d Machado eventually said last night. \u201cBut I wanted four. I got greedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was being facetious, I think.<\/p>\n
Stammen wasn\u2019t sure about the reality either. But he knows Machado well enough to know anything was possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why Manny is Manny, because 99% of people would have challenged the 3-0 pitch,\u201d Stammen said. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t know whether \u2014 he said he was moving towards first base and didn\u2019t get a good look at it. But he has the belief in himself that he would rather swing the bat than take a walk. And there\u2019s times when it doesn\u2019t work out for him that way. And then there\u2019s other times where he\u2019s Manny Machado and he gets the big hit there when nobody else can get a hit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Said Machado: \u201cI trust myself. I trust myself in that situation to give him a strike there.\u201d<\/p>\n
France\u2019s blast<\/p>\n
The at-bat France had that resulted in his game-deciding home run was pretty excellent as well.<\/p>\n
On the ninth pitch he saw from Mason Fluharty in the sixth inning, France launched a sweeper left over the middle off the facing of the second balcony on the Western Metal building to break a 7-7 tie.<\/p>\n
Fluharty, as many pitchers do, was working France on the outer third of the plate most of the at-bat before his eighth pitch was a sweeper in that France fouled straight down. The next pitch was a sweeper in almost the same spot \u2014 just not quite as well-placed, which is often a recipe for disaster for a pitcher since it gives a batter a repeat look at the same (just not as good) pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first one he got in a little more, and I fouled it off my foot,\u201d France said. \u201cAnd I think he was trying to go back to that with a little more emphasis on getting it in, and he just missed. And I put a good swing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buehler? Buehler?<\/p>\n
Major league teams are winning almost 70% of the games in which their starting pitcher gives them exactly five innings and allows two or fewer runs this season.<\/p>\n
So we should consider a pitcher reaching those thresholds to have turned in a good start.<\/p>\n
The Padres have gotten 38 starts this season in which their starter has gone at least five innings and allowed no more than two runs, 10th fewest in the major leagues.<\/p>\n
Michael King leads the team with 11. Buehler is second with nine.<\/p>\n
But Buehler has not been good in July.<\/p>\n
After allowing one run in each of his five starts in June and going at least five innings in four of those, Buehler has allowed 20 runs in 11 innings in three starts this month.<\/p>\n
Last night, he was removed after allowing four runs in the second inning last night.<\/p>\n
He has surrendered at least three runs in four of the 11 innings he has pitched in that span.<\/p>\n
He did allow another home run last night, his sixth in the three games.<\/p>\n
But his main problem was that he could hardly throw a strike \u2014 missing all over but primarily with his cutter and four-seam fastball, especially above the zone \u2014 while walking four batters in the second inning and going to three balls against nine of the 13 batters he faced.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same miss over and over, left and high,\u201d Buehler said. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I think the All-Star break is coming at a good time for me. So try not to put too much stock into it. \u2026 Obviously, the past two or past three have been really rough, so good time to take kind of a step back and see what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buehler said he plans to throw next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s work that I need to be doing,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I certainly will.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was just two weeks ago the Padres counted Buehler among their reasons for optimism. At worst, he was a trade chip.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, maybe a little bit of break over the All-Star break,\u201d Stammen said. \u201cHe\u2019s not a spring chicken. He\u2019s got a lot of innings under his belt, and maybe he just needs a little bit of a breather. You can definitely see you know he\u2019s not as sharp as he was back in June. We\u2019ll get him right and get him back to that pitcher that we saw that was very effective for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Back in action<\/p>\n
Matt Waldron gave the Padres exactly what they needed on his first day back with the team, taking over for Buehler to start the third inning and throwing three scoreless innings while the Padres built a 7-4 lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew we needed innings,\u201d Waldron said. \u201cThree was kind of the goal. Just wanted to slow them down, cool them off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Waldron made five starts for Triple-A El Paso while rehabbing a forearm strain that landed him on the injured list in May. The longest was four innings and 60 pitches, which was 14 more than he threw last night.<\/p>\n
Waldron began the season on the injured list after a truncated spring and then posted a 9.88 ERA in three starts. He came out of the bullpen in three games, allowing seven runs over 9\u2154 innings before going on the IL.<\/p>\n
Jhony Brito was optioned to make room for Waldron.<\/p>\n
Playing Song<\/p>\n
Sung-Mun Song started nine times in his first 27 games with the Padres (May 5 to June 4) and seven times in the next 23 games (June 5 to June 30).<\/p>\n
Last night was his eighth start in the past 11 games.<\/p>\n
The playing time has clearly helped him.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/song.png\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m thankful for the opportunity the team is giving me right now,\u201d Song said through interpreter Jun Yi. \u201cI\u2019m trying to prove I deserve a spot \u2014 defensively, hitting, baserunning, whatever the team needs to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Song gave the Padres a 6-4 lead with a two-run single in last night\u2019s third inning. It was the left-handed batter\u2019s first hit in seven at-bats against a left-handed pitcher. Song also walked and scored in the second inning, and he stole second after his single. He is 11-for-13 on steal attempts on the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cFeels like he\u2019s finding his groove and playing like the player he played like in Korea,\u201d Stammen said. \u201cBig left-on-left hit today. Great play at third base, taking walks, making good swings, stealing bases. So complete player on display. We\u2019re going to continue to find ways to get him in the lineup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last night was Song\u2019s fourth time starting at third base, which is the position he played for nine seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization. All four of those starts have come in the past 11 games, as Machado has served as designated hitter three times and rested once in that span.<\/p>\n
Song started three games at second base in the past 11 days and once in place of shortstop Xander Bogaerts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe left side of our infield is a little older and they can wear down a little bit playing every single day,\u201d Stammen said of the 34-year-old Machado and 33-year-old Bogaerts. \u201c(Song) being able to play third, short, second, give (Jake Cronenworth) a day when he needs to or (when) Croney (moves) to first. Hopefully, the game plan is to keep these guys fresh for the end of the season, so they can get hot and we\u2019re playing our best baseball at the end. You\u2019ve got to get there to begin with, but in the meantime, Song is just providing very good production while those guys essentially aren\u2019t playing the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Song has played excellent defense from his first game, and last night he made a diving catch to end the fourth inning.<\/p>\n
Song is not as willing to praise his overall game as Stammen just yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHitting is really hard in the big leagues,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m facing the best pitchers in the world every day. Defensively and baserunning, I think I\u2019m performing well, just like in Korea. But hitting-wise, I need to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe\u2019s milestone, what\u2019s next<\/p>\n
This is big.<\/p>\n
Joe Musgrove reached 10 years of service time yesterday, a mark achieved by fewer than 10% of the nearly 24,000 men who have ever played in the major leagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of it,\u201d Musgrove said. \u201cI wish I was in different circumstances. But still, to get to the 10-year mark is pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Musgrove, who has not pitched since he walked off the field in Game 2 of the 2024 National League Wild Card Series and had Tommy John surgery a week later, continues to work to make those circumstances different.<\/p>\n
He threw his second bullpen session Friday and has another one scheduled for Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He and Nick Pivetta, who yesterday threw his fifth bullpen session, are targeting August returns.<\/p>\n
For Musgrove, his being shut down in spring training was not a direct result of his Tommy John surgery. He has been pitching with eroded cartilage in his elbow for years and essentially bone on bone. He had figured out how to pitch through the pain of a torn ligament and the lack of cartilage. When the ligament was repaired, it essentially created new issues.<\/p>\n
His recovery has involved figuring out adjustments in his delivery and working up to where he can manage the wear and tear.<\/p>\n
He and Pivetta could be throwing to batters by next week. While Pivetta has been a week or more ahead of Musgrove in stages of building up, Musgrove said he has reached a point where he is \u201ctrying to expedite that process a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
He is feeling pain-free during, after and between his bullpens.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I\u2019m recovering really well,\u201d he said. \u201c\u2026 (That) is different than it\u2019s been for the past handful of months.\u201d<\/p>\n
This talk of acceleration is different, but it is what the Padres and Musgrove have expected would happen once he got to a certain point.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we want to get back here as soon as possible,\u201d Musgrove said. \u201cSo, being smart along the way but probably skipping a few of the extra lives and the extra (simulated) games. Just try to get right to it. \u2026 I think in a month I can make up a lot of ground and get in a really good spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be somewhat dictated on where we\u2019re at and the plan of the team. But I\u2019ll tell you right now, I\u2019m not going to shut down just because we\u2019re out of it. It\u2019s really important for me to get back and pitch and earn my stay here. Obviously, I\u2019m not going to force things and rush things back if there is no race. But I want to get back, and I want to pitch this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
So he anxiously watches the Padres play even as he pushes himself. He believes a return to health by the pitching staff can supplement any additions the front office makes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to hold tight until we can get back in there,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you know you got me and Nick running out there, and you got (relievers Jeremiah) Estrada and Jason (Adam) back in and things start to look like our team again, guys play a little more confident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I think the next two weeks are super important \u2014 the next week, really \u2014 for me and Nick to show them that there is a realistic chance that we get back and we could be good. It might encourage or swing their decision on whether to move guys or add guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Musgrove\u2019s desire to return in 2026 is also with an eye toward the looming work stoppage, as owners are expected to lock out players on Dec. 1. The prevalent belief in baseball is that at least some games (and possibly the entire \u201827 season) will be lost to the labor war. That is the final year of Musgrove\u2019s contract with the Padres.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a big part of it,\u201d he said. \u201cWho knows what opportunity we\u2019ll have next year?\u201d<\/p>\n
What is most clear is that Musgrove does not intend for 10 years to be the end. He thrives on the competition, cherishes the relationships, considers sacred the role of teammate and leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the game so much, I don\u2019t plan on stopping soon,\u201d he said. \u201cAs long as a team will take me, I want to play this game as long as I can. Especially now. I envisioned myself in a lot different position when my 10-year mark came and envisioned our team in a lot different position. And I feel like I have a lot of energy and passion for the game still. The physical part is not allowing me to do it right now. But every part of me still wants it, and I\u2019m still ready and committed to work to get it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tidbits<\/p>\n
Jeff Sanders wrote (here<\/a>) about the pitcher the Padres selected in the first round and wrote (here<\/a>) about all of their picks yesterday. The draft continues today. All right, that\u2019s it for me. Huge computer problems while doing this newsletter. Early game today (1:10 p.m. PT) and then a flight to Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Talk to you tomorrow.<\/p>\n \t\t\t
\nSix of the Padres\u2019 runs were scored by players who reached base via walk or being hit by a pitch.
\nThe 20 baserunners (eight hits, 11 walks, one hit batter) were the Padres\u2019 most in a game this season.
\nSheets was 0-for-2 but walked three times to extend his on-base streak to 12 games. He is reaching base at a .367 clip during the streak. His .184 average during the streak is the lowest by any player with an on-base streak of at least 12 games this season.
\nFrance\u2019s home run was his 11th of the season and his 20th with the Padres, for whom he played in 2019 and \u201820. He also was hit by a pitch and scored in the third inning. He finished 2-for-3. It was his second consecutive two-hit game, and he is batting .341 (15-for-44) over his past 13 games.
\nCronenworth (2-for-4) had multiple hits for the fourth time in his past 10 games. He is batting .316 (12-for-38) with a double and two homers in that stretch.
\nCronenworth stole two bases for the first time in 797 career games.
\nMerrill was 2-for-3 with two walks. His 21 multi-hit games are second most on the team behind Fernando Tatis Jr.\u2019s 27. Merrill is batting .288 with a .723 OPS over his past 15 games, which has his season average up to .222 and his OPS up to .634. Those numbers were .209 and .617 before this stretch of 15 games.
\nMerrill was caught stealing for just the second time in 21 attempts. Except it sure seemed he was not out. What he seemed to be was a victim of the rule that the replay official must have definitive evidence that the call on the field was wrong in order to overturn it. Here is video of the play.<\/a><\/p>\n