Austin Nola of the San Diego Padres hits an RBI double against the Cleveland Guardians in the sixth inning of baseball’s first game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
PA
CLEVELAND
Mike Clevinger had an impressive first start since undergoing elbow surgery in 2020, and Manny Machado hit a two-run homer as the San Diego Padres beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-4 in Game 1. a double Wednesday.
Machado connected in the third inning against Zach Plesac (1-3), and Austin Nola delivered an RBI double in the sixth as the Padres won for the sixth time in seven games — all on the road.
San Diego reliever Steven Wilson (3-0) picked up the win despite two walks in the fifth, and Taylor Rodgers pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
Padres rookie MacKenzie Gore will start Game 2 against Cleveland’s Cal Quantrill.
It was a solid comeback for Clevinger, who had Tommy John surgery shortly after pitching in Game 1 of the NLDS two years ago. Against his former team and Plesac, one of his closest friends, the right-hander allowed three runs and four hits.
Clevinger was just one away from a potential win before being pulled after 95 pitches by manager Bob Melvin.
Clevinger, who spent more than four seasons with Cleveland before being traded in 2020, led 3-1 when he beat Myles Straw with one out in the fifth. He set José Ramírez with two tries before being replaced by Wilson, who gave up a walk and Josh Naylor’s two-run single.
The Padres, however, came right back and scored two goals in the sixth on Nola’s brace against Enyel De Los Santos and Jake Cronenworth’s sacrifice fly.
Clevinger’s return was pushed back a day after Tuesday’s series opener was postponed by rain and wet forecasts.
Weather conditions were hardly like those in San Diego when Clevinger, nicknamed “Sunshine,” finally took the mound as low clouds shrouded Progressive Field during the opening innings.
Machado’s fifth homer put Clevinger and the Padres up 3-0 in third.
An error by Naylor first allowed Cronenworth to reach with one out before Machado, who beat .386 in April, drove a 1-1 pitch up the wall to center.
Eric Hosmer, who led the majors with an average of .382, gave the Padres a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first.
BAKER’S TENS AND TENS
Dusty Baker’s 2,000th career victory drew a wide smile and praise from Guardians manager Terry Francona.
“I’m happy for Dusty,” said Francona, who started the day with 1,792 wins. “I think it’s really cool when good things happen to good people – and he certainly qualifies on both counts.”
Baker became the first black manager to reach the milestone on Tuesday night when the Houston Astros beat Seattle 4-0. He is the 12th manager to reach 2,000, a mark that cements his eventual Hall of Fame induction.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: 1B Luke Voit (biceps crunch) went 0 for 2 with a walk, run and strikeout in Game 1 of a rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday. Voit could be activated from the injured list when San Diego returns home.
Guardians: INF Yu Chang continues to recover in the minors after being placed on the COVID list last month. Chang’s rehab moved to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.
NEXT
Padres: Return to San Diego for the weekend series against Miami. Nick Martinez (1-2) starts Thursday’s opener against Marlins RHP Jesús Luzardo (2-1).
Goalies: Open a four-game home series against Toronto on Thursday with Aaron Civale (0-2) facing Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (2-0).
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