The Padres' slump worsens in a 4-2 loss to the Royals on June 21. A Bobby Witt Jr. homer off Nick Pivetta proved decisive. Can San Diego turn it around?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The familiar feeling of frustration settled over Petco Park on Saturday as the Padres dropped another winnable game, falling 4-2 to the Kansas City Royals. For a team with championship aspirations, the current skid is becoming more than just a blip on the radar; it's a full-blown crisis, testing the resolve of both players and fans.
The Padres have now lost nine of their last twelve games.
The game felt within reach for most of the evening, but a single swing changed the momentum. Starter Nick Pivetta battled through six innings, but a two-run homer by Royals' star Bobby Witt Jr. in the fifth proved to be the backbreaker. Pivetta finished with a respectable seven strikeouts but was tagged with the loss, his record falling to 7-3. The bullpen did its job, keeping Kansas City off the board, but the damage was done. The offense, meanwhile, couldn't find the big hit, stranding runners and failing to mount a significant threat against Royals starter Michael Lorenzen.
It wasn't all bad news. The Padres are still getting consistent production from a few key bats, which offers a glimmer of hope. Luis 'La Regadera' Arraez extended his hitting streak to seven games, while the surprisingly productive Gavin Sheets pushed his own streak to a blistering 11 games. Sheets is hitting a remarkable .361 over his last 10 contests. While superstars Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. were kept quiet on Saturday, they remain the offensive anchors, with Tatis leading the team with 13 homers and Machado ranking among the league's best with 45 RBIs. The team's social media accounts rightly celebrated the streaks, but fans are desperate to see that individual success translate into wins.
With no trades or roster moves on the horizon, this is the team Mike Shildt has to work with. The pressure is mounting. This recent 3-9 stretch has exposed the team's reliance on a few key players and a lack of consistent, top-to-bottom offensive production. While the farm system boasts elite talent at the top with Leo De Vries and Ethan Salas, immediate help isn't walking through that door. The solution has to come from the 26 men currently in the clubhouse. They need to find a way to string together quality at-bats and deliver in clutch situations.
The Padres will look to salvage the series finale against the Royals and stop the bleeding. One game won't erase the memory of the past two weeks, but it would be a crucial first step in turning the ship around. The talent is there, but the execution has been missing. It's time for the Friars to play up to their potential before this slump defines their season.
