Eric Hosmer’s grand slam puts Padres in a league of their own

With Eric Hosmer’s grand slam in the series finale, the Padres are the first team in MLB history to hit four grand slams in four consecutive games.

On Wednesday, the Padres became the first team since the 2006 Chicago White Sox to hit three grand slams in three consecutive games. In game one, it was Fernando Tatis Jr. Game 2, Wil Myers. Game 3, Manny Machado.

I think everyone was paying close attention to a bases-loaded situation in the series finale on Thursday. So when Eric Hosmer stepped to the plate with the bags packed, there was no way he would follow suit, right?

I don’t think so, Tim.

On a 1-1 pitch, Hosmer ripped a grand slam, on a pitch inside, into the right field bleachers, sending all of Padres Twitter into a frenzy.

The slam put the Padres in front 5-2 after Thursday night’s starter Dinelson Lamet yielded two runs off the bat of Rangers catcher Jose Trevino.

Padres bullpen allergic to scoreless outings

And it feels like a broken record around here, but the Padres desperately need to address the bullpen situation. It feels like it’s a prerequisite for any reliever to give up a run. The newly-promoted Michel Baez got a chance, and he struggled to get just one out. Fellow struggling pitcher Luis Patino came in – and was the victim of bad fielding – as both Jake Cronenworth and Trent Grisham should have made their plays.

I can understand Baez being thrown into the fire and having difficulties. Patino is learning on the job with barely any time above High-A. But Emilio Pagan has been perhaps the biggest disappointment out of any high-end reliever in this bullpen. He was specifically acquired in the offseason to bolster the back-end of this ‘pen, especially now with Kirby Yates’ injury status. But he’s done anything but that.

He gave up the game-tying home run to Nick Solak on the second pitch in the ninth inning. If not for Cronenworth’s heroics in the tenth inning, the Padres may not get the sweep.

We talk about how critical every game is in the shortened year. And offensively, the Padres have rebounded from their anemic effort against LA. But this bullpen continues to fail the team. And to make matters worse, Drew Pomeranz hasn’t been used since Tuesday. The team indicated that the big lefty is reportedly dealing with some shoulder tightness.

We’ll see what happens with that, but the Padres should be proactive in the trade market. They welcome in the Houston Astros, sans trash can, who have won their last eight straight games.