In 2002, Wil Nieves made his MLB debut with the Padres. He was behind the plate for another rookie, a pitcher named Jake Peavy. Nieves got his first big league hit on that Sunday afternoon in July.
After that season Nieves left San Diego and played for six other big league teams, returning to the Padres for the 2015 season to be the backup for Derek Norris. In his first game back in a Padres uniform, another Sunday afternoon (although this time in April), Jake Peavy was on the mound again (although this time in a San Francisco Giants uniform).
If you’re a fan of symmetry, you’re going to love this.
Nieves hit his first career grand slam off Peavy to lead the Padres to a 6-4 win over the Giants. The big blast came in the 4th inning of a game the Giants were leading 2-nothing, and it was set up in a bit of a convoluted manner. Matt Kemp singled, Justin Upton walked, Yonder Alonso flew out, Will Middlebrooks hit a bloop single to center, and Alexi Amarista struck out.
All that brought up Nieves, who hammered a 1-1 pitch in to the left field seats just in front of the Western Metal Supply building. It was the 10th home run of Nieves’ career, and it came in his 1153rd at-bat.
After that, the Giants and Padres traded runs. San Francisco got one in the top of the 6th inning on a Gregor Blanco RBI triple … San Diego answered with a an Alexi Amarista RBI triple in the bottom half. The Giants scored on a Buster Posey solo homer in the top of the 7th. The Padres responded with a Will Venable solo shot in the bottom half.
It helped give Padres starter Tyson Ross his first win of the season. Ross did not have his best stuff but worked around it, throwing 6.0 innings, allowing three runs and striking out eight.
There was a nice moment in the top of the 7th inning. Left-handed pitcher Chris Rearick made his MLB debut and got Giants first baseman Brandon Belt to strike out swinging. Rearick then got to sit down and watch a pair of veterans go to work.
Joaquin Benoit threw a perfect 8th inning and Craig Kimbrel worked a scoreless 9th inning to get his second save of the season.
The win gives the Padres a 3-1 series win over the Giants and at 4-3, puts them over .500 for the first time this season. Their home stand continues on Monday when the Diamondbacks come in for a 3-game set.
