When Ian Kinsler’s name appeared in the leadoff spot for Thursday’s matinee in Atlanta pretty much every Padres fan groaned (audibly). The free agent 2nd baseman had 13 hits for the whole season but manager Andy Green kept running him out there and the Friar Faithful kept scratching their heads wondering why.
For a day, at least, the move paid off. Kinsler homered and doubled twice as the Padres reached double digits in runs for the first time all season in an 11-2 win at Sun Trust Park.
Every hitter in the Padres starting lineup got a hit except pitcher Matt Strahm but he did his job on the mound. Strahm threw 6.0 innings and allowed two hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Of course it’s nice when you’re pitching with a hefty lead.
The Padres got a run in the 3rd inning on Kinsler’s solo shot, his 3rd of the season. But they went bonkers in the 5th. Kinsler doubled to drive in Austin Hedges to make it 2-0. The Friars got a gift run when Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz fielded Manny Machado’s comebacker and threw the ball away, allowing Kinsler to score and make it 3-0.
An Eric Hosmer sacrifice fly made it 4-0 then Manuel Margot got an infield single to plate Ty France and give the Padres a 5-run inning. That was so much fun they went ahead and did it again the next inning.
Kinsler led off the 6th with another double then Machado traded places with him to make it 7-0. Eric Hosmer singled up the middle to score Machado and scored when France got his first big league triple and RBI. France scored when Wil Myers, who came into the game one for his last 30, laced a 2-run home run to left field to put the Padres on top 11-0.
The Padres split their 4-game series with the Braves and finish their 7-game road trip with a 4-3 record. They start a 6-game homestand on Friday night when the Dodgers come to Petco Park for the first time in 2019. Eric Lauer gets the start against Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers have a 1.5 game lead over the Padres in the National League West.
