Machado Shows Off Power As Martinez Nets Marlins in Padres’ 2-1 Win

Nick Martinez improved to 2-2 in the Padres’ win over the Miami Marlins Thursday. Photo credit: @BallySportsSD

The Padres returned to Petco Park Thursday and rode the hot bat of Manny Machado to a 2-1 win over the Miami Marlins.

Machado accounted for all the offense with two solo homers, in the first and fourth innings. Nick Martinez did his part, going seven innings and giving up one run and four hits. He also struck out four, to improve to 2-2.

Luis Garcia and Taylor Rogers took over, each pitching an inning of scoreless ball. Rogers notched his 11th save of the year.

Machado acknowledged the slow starts of most of the lineup outside of himself and Eric Hosmer, but as he said, the team, at 17-9, is coming up victorious anyway.

“That’s dangerous whenever you’re winning ballgames like that and the whole offense is not clicking yet,” he told Bally Sports San Diego.

Manny's 50th home run at @PetcoPark was a moonshot #TimeToShine pic.twitter.com/3CRO6QX0mA

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 6, 2022

Bench coach Ryan Christenson, meanwhile, managed the club Thursday for an ailing Bob Melvin.

The team split a doubleheader Wednesday in Cleveland – made necessary by a Tuesday rainout – winning the first game 5-4 and dropping the second 6-5 in 10 innings.

Starter Mike Clevinger returned in the opener, pitching four-plus innings and giving up three runs while striking out four. He had missed all of 2021 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Other injured Padres set to return soon include fellow starter Blake Snell and infielder Luke Voit.

Their home stand includes three more with Miami, as Yu Darvish, Sean Manaea and Joe Musgrove are set to start. The Chicago Cubs follow on Monday.