The San Diego Padres started their 2024 season with a bang, showing improvement in the little things that kept them out of the playoffs the year before. Manager Mike Shildt’s focus on details paid off as the Padres rallied to beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 on Opening Day at Petco Park.
Pitcher Yu Darvish had a strong outing, allowing only one run in 5.0 innings of work. The Giants’ Logan Webb also had a solid performance, but the Padres’ small ball tactics helped them come out on top. Singles from Manny Machado, Ha-Seong Kim, Jurickson Profar, and others led to crucial runs that gave the Padres the edge.
The game saw the Padres go ahead in the seventh inning, thanks to a rally sparked by Luke Jackson’s struggles on the mound for the Giants. A key RBI single from Xander Bogaerts and a double from Jake Cronenworth sealed the victory for the Padres.
The Padres improved to 2-1 on the season and are set to face the Giants again on Friday night at Petco Park, with Joe Musgrove slated to start on the mound. With a renewed focus on the little things, the Padres are hoping for a successful season ahead.