SAN DIEGO (AP) — Blake Snell walked off the mound to a nice ovation maybe a little earlier than he had hoped in his San Diego debut, knowing there are things to work on but overall happy with his effort.
The left-hander struck out eight before being pulled after 86 pitches through 4 2/3 scoreless innings, and Eric Hosmer homered and drove in three runs for the second straight game as the Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Friday night.
Snell worked out of some jams and held Arizona to four hits and two walks but wasn’t eligible for the win because he didn’t pitch five innings. San Diego manager Jayce Tingler lifted the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner after he got the second out of the fourth, with Ketel Marte aboard on a double and the Padres leading 3-0.
Snell, obtained from Tampa Bay on Dec. 29, said 86 pitches should have gotten him through the sixth.
“I’ve got to make better pitches and be a better starting pitcher and not put so many innings on the bullpen like I did.
“It’s the first game, I get that. But again, with how I felt and the stuff that I had today, I’ve got to be better. I’m going to watch it and I’ll learn, I’ll grow.”
Craig Stammen came on and retired Eduardo Escobar on two pitches. Snell had struck out Escobar twice.
Emilio Pagán (2-0) worked an inning for the win and Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his second save in two games. He got Marte to ground out with a runner on second to end it.
It was Snell’s first start since Game 6 of the World Series. Rays manager Kevin Cash yanked Snell with a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who rallied to win the game and the 2020 championship.
Snell was acquired by the Padres in a five-player trade with Tampa Bay, the same day San Diego acquired Yu Darvish from the…
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