Padres Powered Again by Ryan Schimpf

The Padres built another big lead with home runs Friday and hung on to win 8-6. Providing 6 of those runs with two home runs including a grand slam was none other than NL July Rookie of the Month Ryan Schimpf.

Schimpf was signed under the radar in the offseason and has done nothing but hit for power since joining the Padres organization.

More from Padres News

• Jurickson Profar free agency update likely rules out Padres reunion
• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher
• This veteran DH target seems ideal for contending Padres roster

He started things off early against Mets starter Logan Verrett, forced into action after the season ending injury to Matt Harvey and this will likely be his last start for the Mets as he was pounded again. Schimpf hit a grand slam in the first to center field. Jabari Blash followed that with his third home run of the season.

Schimpf now has two multi-homer games and 12 on the year, tied with Derek Norris for fourth on the team. However, that is misleading as #1 (Matt Kemp) and #3 (Melvin Upton Jr. aren’t with the Padres. He certainly should surpass Upton Jr at 16 but Kemp at 23 might be a bit harder. That said – there are still 47 games left and at his current pace it does appear possible.

With the 6 RBI he now has 29 for the season though his batting average is still down at .218.

Paul Clemens tossed 5 innings and got the win despite allowing 3 runs on 5 hits. Buddy Baumann struggled in the 6th, failing to get an out and charged with 3 runs. Brad Hand picked up his 13th hold of the year by throwing 2 innings before Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer finished things off. Maurer picked up his 5th save of the season since taking over for Fernando Rodney.

The Mets are in quite the free fall right now, and the Padres were able to take advantage of it. The Padres now have a record of 50-65, and have a shot at besting last season’s mark of 74-88 which would be more of a nail in the coffin on what a failure last year than a true sign of improvement in this year’s club.

Next: Padres Bats Fall Silent Against Pirates

It is great to see many young players succeed in their playing time with the majority of the veterans shipped off from this years Padres. Alex Dickerson continues to produce in the clean up role with his average up to .282 and Wil Myers quietly still producing and continuing the best season of his career.

Jarred Cosart gets another start for the Padres tomorrow the day after Andrew Cashner struggled through 5 innings for the Marlins and took another loss. Cosart will be opposed by Jacob deGrom who is 7-5 with a 2.35 ERA on the year.