SAN DIEGO — The Padres will be riding plenty of good vibes into Chicago.
They completed their regular season with a sweep of the Diamondbacks, including a 12-4 thrashing on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park. San Diego finished its regular season at 90-72 — marking consecutive seasons with at least 90 wins for the first time in franchise history.
“Thatâ€s a big accomplishment,†said manager Mike Shildt, who has won at least 90 games in all four of his full seasons as a manager, including two in St. Louis. “This team is setting out to be consistent and year in year out play baseball that the city can be really proud of.â€
The reward for another 90-win season? A trip to Wrigley Field for a Wild Card Series against the Cubs beginning on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 12:08 p.m. PT. The Padres packed to leave for Chicago immediately after Sundayâ€s game, and theyâ€ll hold a workout at Wrigley Field on Monday afternoon.
“Obviously, playoffs has a little more emotion to it, a little bit more meaning,†said center fielder Jackson Merrill. “But for us, we take every game the same. We just play as hard as possible. Thatâ€s my mindset.â€
The Padres clinched their spot in the playoffs on Monday and knew by Thursday that theyâ€d be facing the Cubs, having been eliminated from contention in the National League West. But even with little to play for this weekend, the Padres made their postseason tune-up worthwhile.
The most encouraging part: The offense seems to be clicking. No doubt, the loss of Ramón Laureano to a right index finger fracture hurts. But the Padres†bats have come to life lately, even without him. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Merrill are suddenly red hot. Manny Machado homered and had two hits on Sunday. Luis Arraez is rounding into form.
Looks like an offense ready for October.
“Things are finally starting to click,†Machado said of the offense. “So letâ€s just continue to click. At the end of the day, the seasonâ€s over. It was a great season for all of us. We had our bumps and bruises and our ups and downs. … We accomplished a lot. [Regular] seasonâ€s over now. Now, itâ€s time to go out on the field and play some good baseball.â€
As their regular season came to an end on Sunday afternoon, the Padres waited on the field before returning to the clubhouse, applauding another sellout crowd at Petco Park. During Sundayâ€s game, the team announced a season-long attendance figure of 3,437,201 — breaking last seasonâ€s franchise record.
The Padres also finished with 52 wins at Petco Park this season, trailing only the 1998 team for the most home victories in franchise history. Now, the important question: Will they be back here in 10 days for Game 3 of the NL Division Series.
Theyâ€ll need to beat a Cubs team that finished with 92 wins, and if they do that, their prize will be the top-seeded Brewers.
Shildt formally tabbed right-hander Nick Pivetta as his Game 1 starter — which wasnâ€t exactly a surprise. The Cubs, who lost potential Game 1 starter Cade Horton for the series to a rib fracture, have not yet announced who will oppose Pivetta.
The Padres like their chances against anyone, given the way theyâ€ve been playing lately. They finished the season by winning seven of their final eight games.
“Weâ€re playing like weâ€re capable of,†Merrill said. “Weâ€re not giving anything away. Weâ€re playing hard every day. Everybodyâ€s doing their part. Itâ€s coming together.â€
And thereâ€s no better time for it.
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.