San Diego Padres: Richard, Offense Lead the Way in 11-4 Drubbing

Sure, the San Diego Padres have most recently beaten up on two last-place teams. But the surety they’ve developed in themselves has appeared to carry over against a more formidable foe.

Confidence is a powerful tool. Last night, against an Atlanta Braves team that was eleven games over .500 heading into the contest, the San Diego Padres exploded for eleven runs and rode yet another quality Clayton Richard start to their seventh win in eight games (6-1 in the Phil Hughes era).

The Friars’ veteran left-hander threw seven innings and got his fourth victory of the season last night, allowing three earned runs on six hits, striking out five and walking two.

After retiring the Braves in order in the first, working around a hit-by-pitch in the second and a walk in the third, Clayton Richard finally allowed his first hit in the fourth inning on a Nick Markakis single.

Tyler Flowers added another base hit, then Charlie Culberson drove a double to right field, scoring both runners to even the game a two runs apiece.

Richard pitched a perfect fifth inning, then allowed a Markakis double in the sixth followed by an Ender Inciarte RBI single to give up his third and final run. He worked around an Ozzie Albies double in the seventh to limit the damage, but the Padres were already ahead 10-3 at that point.

More from Friars on Base

• 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
• Padres got steal with Xander Bogaerts after Carlos Correa’s mega-deal

San Diego Padres started off on the right foot

The evening began with a bang when Eric Hosmer drilled a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the first.

Cory Spangenberg added his second homer in as many nights with his solo blast in the second to give the Friars a 2-0 lead.

Despite loading the bases later in the inning, Jose Pirela flew out to end the threat. That would prove to be inconsequential to the outcome, though.

Rafael Lopez hit the Friars’ third homer of the night with his solo shot to lead off the fourth to give the Padres a 3-2 lead, but the onslaught really began in the fifth inning.

Friars’ big inning puts things out of reach for Atlanta

Jose Pirela walked to begin the frame, then Hunter Renfroe doubled to put two runners in scoring position with none out.

Franmil Reyes grounded out, leaving the runners stuck for the moment, then Freddy Galvis brought home Pirela with a sacrifice fly to go ahead 4-2.

Spangenberg added his second extra-base hit of the game in the next at-bat with his over-the-bag triple down the first base line, scoring Renfroe to make it 5-2, Padres.

Raffy Lopez singled, then Luis Gohara (who replaced Julio Teheran after the Pirela at-bat) inexplicably walked Clayton Richard to bring Travis Jankowski up with ducks on the pond.

He doubled home Lopez and moved Richard to third, then Eric Hosmer added his second and third RBI of the game on his league-leading 18th double of the season.

Just for good measure, Pirela came back up to bat in the inning and brought Hosmer home with a double of his own to give the Padres a 10-2 lead. Renfroe grounded out to end the frame but what an inning!

Franmil Reyes hit his fifth homer of the year to lead off the sixth inning, giving the San Diego Padres an 11-3 lead that Clayton Richard and the Friars’ bullpen would make stand up, albeit allowing a run in the ninth on a Peter Bourjos RBI double.

Next: Padres Draft HS LHP Ryan Weathers

A huge win over a very good team who had their ace on the hill. What more could we possibly ask for? How about another one today?