TORONTO -- Not for the primary time this season, the Padres started a collection with renewed vigor. They arrived in Toronto this week vowing that it was time to reset, time to regroup, time to, in the end, put their wayward 2023 season on the right track.

Having misplaced three of 4 in Philadelphia, the Padres discovered themselves precariously near exiting the playoff image totally. The Trade Deadline looms two weeks away, and what as soon as appeared unthinkable all of a sudden appears like a chance: San Diego as a vendor approaching the Deadline.

But very first thing’s first: The Padres have an opportunity to make their case in any other case. The membership’s brass has made it clear it could love to close the Deadline as contenders seeking to purchase. But if San Diego desires to be consumers, it must play like a group worthy of that label.

It'll take a couple of recreation, however Tuesday was at the very least a begin. The Padres thumped the Blue Jays, 9-1, at Rogers Centre. Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Gary Sánchez and Trent Grisham all went deep. Joe Musgrove pitched six innings of one-run ball.

All in all, it was a tantalizing efficiency from a group that has delivered loads of these this season -- and too usually did not again them up. (Take Friday night time’s 8-3 win in Philadelphia, adopted by three straight defeats, for instance.)

“We’ve just got to be consistent,” mentioned Soto, who completed 2-for-4 with a stroll. “It’s been like that the whole year. We have games like this, then we come back and we don’t do anything. We’ve just got to keep the same pace every day. Just come to do the same thing.”

The Padres turned in a feisty offensive efficiency from the beginning, making Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah throw 41 pitches within the first inning. Every hitter labored a plate look of at the very least six pitches -- apart from Xander Bogaerts, who walked on 4.

It was Soto who put the Padres on the board. After Fernando Tatis Jr.’s one-out stroll, Soto checked out a 2-2 changeup that seemed to be on the knees for strike three. Plate ump Malachi Moore dominated it ball two.

Lucky break? Maybe. But baseball is stuffed with these. The Padres haven’t capitalized usually sufficient this season. Their opponents have. Which made what occurred subsequent such a welcome sight: On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Soto smacked an opposite-field two-run homer into the primary row in left-center. San Diego had an early lead, and Musgrove didn’t appear to thoughts the lengthy wait.

“I’ll take the runs over a wait any day of the week,” mentioned Musgrove. “Any time they give me an early lead, that gives me all the confidence in the world to go out there and really just attack.”

Musgrove battled a bout of adductor tightness previous to his begin Tuesday, however he mentioned he feels high quality. Hard to argue after he threw 109 pitches, his highest pitch rely since final August. He struck out seven and scattered 5 hits, all singles.

Quietly, Musgrove has reverted to the All-Star-caliber model of himself. After a sluggish begin during which he handled accidents, Musgrove has now posted a 1.76 ERA throughout his previous 10 begins.

“To get some consistency,” Musgrove mentioned, “is the biggest thing.”

Meanwhile, the Padres continued to work Manoah, prompting his exit after three-plus innings. Once into Toronto's bullpen, Machado and Sánchez went deep within the fifth. Grisham hit a solo shot within the eighth, earlier than San Diego tacked on two insurance coverage runs within the ninth. Rookies Tom Cosgrove and Alek Jacob mixed for 3 scoreless reduction innings.

“It wasn’t so much about the runs early,” Padres supervisor Bob Melvin mentioned. “It was about adding on a little bit later. And then: No drama at the end.”

The Padres would by no means quibble with a drama-free victory. Though, as Melvin later identified, it’s their file in shut video games that has landed them the place they reside: 5 video games beneath .500 at 45-50.

And that is a deadly place, with the Deadline quick approaching. Not that they’re paying an excessive amount of consideration to that landmark.

“We have a good team as is, we just haven’t performed very well,” Melvin mentioned. “This team is good enough to do well in any scenario. I don’t get too caught up in that.”

Added Musgrove: “I mean, honestly, I don’t think a whole lot of guys in here have thought a lot about buying or selling. I feel like whether we buy or sell, we’re a really good team regardless.”

Content Source: www.mlb.com