The Padres, struggling to keep themselves above .500 all year, suddenly are hot, and Boston felt the burn Saturday, falling to them again in lopsided fashion.
It was the Friars’ second straight rout of the Red Sox – this time they prevailed 11-1 – and their fifth win in a row.
In their latest victory they settled for a six-run fifth inning – ho-hum, following their nine-run explosion in the fifth on Friday – with the big blow coming from Manny Machado.
The Padres were up 4-0 entering the fifth, in part thanks to Machado’s two-run blast in the second. With Luis Arraez and Jurickson Profar on base, Jake Cronenworth singled to right to drive in Arraez. With nobody out, Machado drove the ball to center for his second homer of the day and an 8-0 Padre lead.
Before the inning was over, catcher Brett Sullivan had sent another ball out of the park for the Friars. His first home run of the year put them up 10-0.
Machado, putting his slow start behind him, finished the day with five RBIs, having bagged his ninth and 10th homers on the year. His batting average also is on the rise – it’s up to .268.