The Padres have been asking Joey Lucchesi to work deeper into games to give their bullpen a rest. He’s delivering, even if he’s not getting credit for a win.
For the 2nd straight start Lucchesi went into the 7th inning, striking out 11 Blue Jays in a 6-3 Padres win on Friday night in Toronto. In his last outing he tossed 7.0 innings and allowed just two runs in a loss to Pittsburgh. This time Joey set a career high with the 11 punchouts and for a time it looked like he might go for 20.
Lucchesi, staked to a 3-0 lead thanks to solo home runs from Austin Hedges and Greg Garcia plus an RBI single from Eric Hosmer, struck out nine of the first 13 hitters he faced and took a perfect game into the 5th inning. He walked Randal Grichuk and surrendered a 2-run home run to former Friar Freddy Galvis, followed by a solo shot from Lourdes Gurreil, Jr. that tied the game 3-3.
Lucchesi only gave up one more hit before being lifted with two outs in the 7th inning. Matt Wisler, Robbie Erlin and Craig Stammen did not allow another Toronto baserunner and Wisler, who threw just four pitches, ended up getting the win.
In the top of the 8th inning Hunter Renfroe lofted a 3-run home run just over the left field fence for the game-winning blast. After losing three in a row to drop below the .500 mark for the first time this season San Diego has won four straight games and are still alone in 2nd place, 6.0 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West.
Padres prospect Josh Naylor, native of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and one of the top position players in the system, was called up to make his MLB debut. He went 0-4 as the San Diego designated hitter. Another Toronto kid gets to try and help the Friars on Saturday afternoon when fellow Canadian Cal Quantrill gets the start against former Padre (albeit for a very short time) Edwin Jackson.
