2 positive takeaways Padres fans can cling to after embarrassing series opener vs. Rockies

Playing the Colorado Rockies at home generally has Padres fans hoping for a sweep. However, San Diego hasn't quite played up to their typical standard through the first two weeks of September, so it's not realistic to think they can just go out and dominate another team, which includes the Rockies.

This series was still viewed as a pivot point for the Friars, as they ready themselves for the postseason. It's an opportunity to reset and remember that they are one of the best teams in the National League... or so that was how it was supposed to go down. San Diego dropped an embarrassing 4-2 loss to the Rockies to open the series on Friday night, dropping their September record to 4-7.

It's not an easy game to forget, but Manny Machado and Ron Marinaccio played well enough to let fans fall back on something positive.

Manny Machado looks to be working out of his slump

It's been one of Manny Machado's worst months at the plate in his career. Coming into Friday night with a batting average south of .100 in September, Machado quickly turned things around. In his first at-bat against Colorado, Machado powered a solo home run 415 feet to get the Friars out front early.

It was his 24th home run of the year, leaving him one shy of his 10th season with 25-plus home runs. It would also be his fifth straight year reaching that feat. Machado finished Friday's game batting 2-for-3, which suggests that he is thankfully digging himself out of this late-season slump.

Ron Marinaccio might be... good?

The 2025 season has been a rollercoaster for reliever Ron Marinaccio. He's be sent down to Triple-A and back up to the majors several times in his first season with San Diego, but he's handled it surprisingly well.

On Friday, Marinaccio tossed three scoreless relief innings. Now through 8 2/3 MLB innings this year, he's yet to allow a run. This spans five outings from July 27-Sept. 12, but he's proving that he can be slotted in at any time, and well get some outs for the Padres. That's a breath of fresh air, as Padres' star setup man Jason Adam is out for the year. Maybe Marinaccio can be a solid replacement moving forward.