MERRILL, THEY’RE GOING TO THROW YOU A HIGH, OUT-OF-THE-ZONE FASTBALL!
In all the years since MLB introduced the runner-on-second format for extra innings, I’ve never seen a home team have such garbage at-bats when winning the game was on the line.
Three times the Padres started an extra inning with a runner on second and failed to score him.
Twice they tried to bunt the runner over to third, and twice the batter popped it up to the first baseman.
Dustin Harris did it in the 10th and Jake Cronenworth did it in the 11th.
But the defining moment came when Jackson Merrill stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th and promptly struck out on three pitches.
And that wasn’t the first time that happened to Merrill with the game on the line.
He came up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth and could have changed the game then.
Guess what happened?
He struck out on three pitches.
So Merrill had the bases loaded twice and struck out on three pitches TWICE.
Now, we love Merrill here at Jacked Up Sportz, but buddy, in case the Padres hitting staff hasn’t told you:
They’re going to throw you a high fastball out of the zone. DON’T SWING!
Pitchers know Merrill wants to be aggressive. They’re getting him to chase pitches outside the zone, and when they get him in that position, that high fastball is coming.
I’m starting to feel like I could strike Merrill out in a key situation.
Throw him breaking stuff down around his feet, get him thinking about it, then throw a high fastball way out of the zone and he’ll swing.
Jackson, take the pitch!
Especially when the bases are loaded.
Make the pitcher throw you a strike.
A walk would have done just fine last night.
CRONE WAS HOT. WHY ARE WE BUNTING HIM?
One of the highlights was Jake Cronenworth, who had an amazing night except for popping up the bunt in the 11th.
But we don’t blame him for that.
We don’t know what the manager was thinking.
Crone was hot at the plate. He had already driven in the Padres’ tying run in the eighth and had two hits on the night.
DO NOT HAVE HIM BUNT IN THAT SITUATION.
Let him swing the bat!
Absolutely Jacked manager call on that one.
The Padres had the winning run standing on second base with nobody out and one of their hottest hitters of the night at the plate.
Let Crone hit.
Instead, bunt popup.
One out.
The Padres eventually loaded the bases anyway, Merrill struck out, Xander Bogaerts lined out, and another opportunity disappeared.
THREE EXTRA INNINGS. THREE RUNNERS ON SECOND. ZERO RUNS.
That’s what makes this loss so frustrating.
The Padres got the automatic runner in the 10th.
Didn’t score.
Got him again in the 11th.
Didn’t score.
Got him again in the 12th.
Didn’t score.
Pittsburgh finally did what the Padres couldn’t do in the top of the 12th. Nick Gonzales singled home Jared Triolo to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.
Then San Diego got one more chance.
Runner on second.
Austin Hays struck out.
Luis Campusano struck out.
Dustin Harris struck out.
Game over.
Pirates 3. Padres 2.
That was a game the Padres absolutely should have won.
AT LEAST THEY DIDN’T LOSE GROUND
The good news for the Padres is that somehow they didn’t lose any ground in the Wild Card race.
Arizona lost 7-0 to the Cubs.
Philadelphia lost 9-2 to Seattle.
And the Dodgers were off.
So after one of the most frustrating Padres losses I’ve watched all season, the standings basically gave them a free pass.
Now go win tonight.
And Jackson…
DON’T SWING AT THE HIGH FASTBALL!
Check The Jacked List for today’s full injury report.
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