{"id":61342,"date":"2025-07-13T04:29:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-13T04:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/61342\/"},"modified":"2025-07-13T04:29:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T04:29:08","slug":"yu-darvish-building-nick-pivettas-game-leo-de-vries-in-atlanta-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/61342\/","title":{"rendered":"Yu Darvish building, Nick Pivetta\u2019s Game, Leo De Vries in Atlanta \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his second start off the injured list, Yu Darvish pushed his pitch count to 83 on Saturday. The shape of the bullpen as it was, he was pushed into the fifth inning, too.<\/p>\n

Also, because it\u2019s Yu Darvish.<\/p>\n

\u201cTook him a little further than we wanted to,\u201d Padres manager Mike Shildt said. \u201cBut he was in a range that we were comfortable with, and you know, a guy like Darvish, who was wanting the moment, we\u2019re going to give him the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n

\u201cA ground ball found a hole.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the Padres\u2019 preferred high-leverage arms all pitching three of the last four games, Darvish was asked to face the heart of the Phillies\u2019 order a third time.<\/p>\n

The 38-year-old veteran buckled, but only after nearly escaping a self-induced jam.<\/p>\n

After striking out Kyle Schwarber looking on three pitches with runners on first and second, Darvish walked Bryce Harper to load the bases and then allowed Edmundo Sosa to sneak a ground ball through the left side of the infield to chase the Padres\u2019 right-hander from the game.<\/p>\n

Bryan Hoeing entered and retired the next hitter, Nick Castellanos, on a fly ball to center field to close the book on Darvish.<\/p>\n

He topped out at 97 mph on the gun while striking out two, walking three and hitting a batter (Alec Bohm, who ultimately left the game with a left ribcage contusion and was replaced by Sosa).<\/p>\n

Darvish allowed five hits and four runs, all of which were earned despite Darvish\u2019s throwing error after scrambling to collect a comebacker complicating matters in a two-run second.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to build up my pitch count still, but to be able to have that last guy in the fifth inning and be able to pitch like that, it does mean a lot,\u201d Darvish said through interpreter Shingo Horie. \u201cAnd it allows me to build also. It allows me to build up my stamina as well. So yes, I think it was good that I was able to pitch that deep into the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The error followed hitting Bohm to start the inning. Bohm scored on the gaffe, yes, but he also would have scored on the one-out double from J.T. Realmuto that opened up a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n

The start was Darvish\u2019s second since returning from the elbow discomfort that first shelved him in spring training and persisted after a mid-May rehab game with Triple-A El Paso. The most recent ramp-up did not include any minor league rehab assignments, so pitchers fielding practice isn\u2019t the only rust he\u2019s looking to shake off as he folds back into the rotation.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrying to find the release point, like being really consistent with that,\u201d Darvish said. \u201cWhen it\u2019s live BP, it\u2019s kind of hard to go full intensity, compared to on a major-league mound. So trying to find that timing, trying to find out correct release point is probably what I need to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Game on<\/p>\n

Nick Pivetta<\/strong> will start the last game ahead of the All-Star break. He\u2019ll have likely worked up a good sweat before he heads out to the bullpen for Sunday\u2019s warm-ups.<\/p>\n

Among the Padres to make good use of the ping-pong table in the middle of the home clubhouse at Petco Park, Pivetta is easily the most competitive.<\/p>\n

Even on start days.<\/p>\n

Before beating the Diamondbacks with seven strikeouts over 5\u2154 shutout innings on Tuesday, Pivetta lamented an \u201cupset\u201d at the hands of Xander Bogaerts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Jackson Merrill<\/strong> and Gavin Sheets<\/strong> are Pivetta\u2019s most frequent opponents in these spirited games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just like to hang out with my friends and have fun,\u201d Pivetta said. \u201c \u2026 I think when \u2026 you\u2019re just having fun before the game, it\u2019s more about just being loose and not trying to take it too seriously and just having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

An All-Star Future?<\/p>\n

Shortstop Leo De Vries<\/strong> entered Saturday\u2019s All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta as a pinch-runner and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout in the NL\u2019s 4-2 win.<\/p>\n

De Vries replaced Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin<\/strong> in the bottom of the fourth and played the last two innings in the field.<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old De Vries is hitting .248\/.359\/.406 with six homers, 40 RBIs and six steals in 71 games so far at high Single-A Fort Wayne. He\u2019s been better over his last 16 games (.305\/.446\/.475) after enduring the sort of sharp growing pains (.214\/.331\/.310 over his previous 39 games) you\u2019d expect from the youngest player in the Midwest League.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are pitching him hard,\u201d Padres assistant farm director Mike Daly<\/strong> said. \u201cHe\u2019s not seeing as much velocity, not as many fastballs. They respect him as a hitter, so it continues to be maturation (process) for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notable<\/p>\n