*Photo from AZ Central*
New year, same explosive San Diego Padres offense. The Arizona Diamondbacks also look like they have a pretty strong offense too. Eric Hosmer homered, Wil Myers added a homer of his own, and the Padres topped the Diamondbacks with an 8-7 opening day win, with offensive fireworks being the name of the game.
Asdrubal Cabrera got the D-Backs on the board in the first inning, with an RBI single to left field to make it 1-0. In the second inning, Victor Caratini hit a two run single to give the Padres a 2-1 lead. In the 3rd, Hosmer hit a solo homer, Myers hit a solo homer, and Caratini hit an RBI single, increasing the Padres lead to 5-1. In the 4th, Hosmer hit an RBI double to make it 6-1. In the 5th, the D-Backs erupted, with Cabrera, Ketel Marte, Tim Locastro, and Stephen Vogt all homering, giving Arizona a 7-6 lead. In the 6th, Hosmer hit an RBI single to make it 7-7. In the 7th, Jake Cronenworth scored on a sac fly to make it 8-7 Padres.
Hosmer said of the high flying Padres offense that "We think we can be a great offense. We think we can be the best offense in the league, we honestly do. Last year we made such a big stride in getting into the top 10 in most of the offensive categories and this year we’re looking to improve as well. When we stay to our approach, stay to our game plan and we execute as an offense, it’s fun to watch."
Emilio Pagan was the winning pitcher for the Padres, pitching a clean 7th inning, striking out one hitter. Yu Darvish started for the Padres, but did not last very long, going 4 2/3 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and one walk, striking out 6. Mark Melancon pitched a clean 9th to earn the save. Tim Hill, Keone Kela, and Drew Pomeranz also pitched for the Padres.
Hosmer talked about the late game rally to take the lead, saying that "We understood we had a nice little lead there and the momentum, the energy shifted quickly. So as an offense we wanted to do what we could to create the momentum back, to get the energy back on our side. That’s what good teams do, we find ways to win late in the game."
Alex Young took the loss for the D-Backs, pitching 1 1/3 innings of relief, allowing the go ahead sac fly that scored Cronenworth in the 7th. Madison Bumgarner started for the Padres, working just 4 innings, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6. Kevin Ginkel, Stefan Crichton, and Taylor Clarke also pitched for Arizona.
D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo said of the team's offensive effort, saying that "It was fantastic. The offensive machine was running today, and that's what we're capable of doing. And you know, you hit four home runs in one inning, obviously it's a big splash and you like that splashdown, but I want these guys to know that that's what they're capable of doing. I think it's going to be a pretty exciting offensive year for us."
The D-Backs and Padres play the second game of their series tonight at 10:10 eastern, with Merrill Kelly starting for the D-Backs, and Blake Snell starting for San Diego.
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