SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 04: Head coach Bob Melvin argues with umpire Ron Kulpa #46 after Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres was called out on a timed third strike during the first inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PETCO Park on April 04, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres lost Manny Manny Machado to a first-inning ejection, blew a four-run lead and lost 8-6 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who surged ahead with four runs in an ugly eighth inning on Tuesday.
José Herrera singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth, when the Diamondbacks were helped by two errors. Josh Rojas scored the final run when he stole home as part of a double steal. Rojas had three hits and two RBIs.
The big drama came seven innings earlier when Machado was ejected by plate umpire Ron Kulpa after being called out on strikes on a pitch clock violation ending the first. Machado was adjusting his batting gloves and called time as the clock wound down to 8 seconds, by which time a batter must be facing the pitcher under new rules adopted for this season to speed the pace of play.
Kulpa didn’t grant time and called him out. Machado stood at the plate arguing with Kulpa as manager Bob Melvin came out. Machado said something to Kulpa and was ejected. Machado, who was the designated hitter, was eventually escorted toward the dugout by another umpire.
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It was the 10th ejection of Machado’s big league career.
Machado committed the first pitch clock violation during spring training and shrugged it off after getting two hits that day. He signed a $350 million, 11-year contract on Feb. 28.
Nelson Cruz replaced Machado and homered to left leading off the fourth for a 2-0 lead, his first with the Padres.
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Xander Bogaerts, who signed a $280 million, 11-year deal as a free agent in December, hit a two-run homer to left-center with two outs in the fifth, his third, for a 5-1 lead. Juan Soto was aboard on a one-out double.
The Diamondbacks began their comeback by scoring three runs with two outs in the sixth to pull to 5-4. Geraldo Perdomo hit a two-run double and Rojas an RBI single. Rojas' at-bat followed a walk by Jose Herrera, who was awarded an automatic ball on a pitch clock violation by Nabil Crismatt. Herrera ended up walking.
Ace Yu Darvish made his season debut for the Padres, holding the Diamondbacks to one run and three hits in five innings.
Kevin Ginkel (1-0) got the win and Luis Garcia (0-1) the loss. Drey Jameson allowed Trent Grisham's homer in the ninth but earned his first save.
Arizona's Jake McCarthy made a spectacular running catch of Austin Nola's fly ball in foul territory just before tumbling over the low wall along the right field line to end the eighth. He was OK and stayed in the game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr., who has 14 days left on an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, was to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday night. He had surgery on his troublesome left shoulder a few weeks after the suspension was announced Aug. 12. He can be activated on April 20.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Merrill Kelly (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to start Arizona's home opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.
Padres: LHP Blake Snell (0-1, 6.23) is scheduled to start Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Atlanta.
