Jackson Merrill saw just about every pitch that Carlos Rodriguez had in a 13-pitch, second-inning at-bat that ended with a single off a 95 mph sinker, down and in.
That means the 21-year-old rookie knew precisely what he was looking for when he came up two innings later with one out and runners on the corners.
He also knew what he wanted to do: Damage.
“Take your shots, take your shots,” Merrill said of the ensuing three-run homer that got the Padres started on a 6-4 win on Saturday afternoon over the Brewers. “I’m just learning when to take my shots and when not to. We got two guys on … and it was either one or (no outs). In that situation … you’re trying to drive somebody in. I’m not trying to just get a little single.
“So take my shots.”
He certainly did and the result was a 440-foot blast to center field, easily topping his previous furthest homer of 411 feet on June 15. It was also Merrill’s seventh homer in his last 10 games after managing three in his first 67 games.
“When you have an efficient swing, you grow into your power,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “ … If a guy makes consistent contact and has a feel for his swing, he’s going to develop into some power.”
That describes what Merrill has been doing to a tee.
He finished Saturday with the sixth three-hit game of the year, which began with wearing down Rodriguez in the second inning at the end of that 13-pitch at-bat, the longest for a Padre this season.
“I was just trying to get him, get him down,” Merrill said. “He didn’t really have a pitch that was straight. All of it was kind of moving one way or the other. So just trying to see everything. I did see every pitch in the first AB I think. So just try and keep grinding, keep grinding, keep grinding and get on base somehow.”
Spotlight
With Luis Campusano on the injured list, Kyle Higashioka figures to grab the lion’s share of the work behind the plate for the next 10 days.
Especially if that work looks like Saturday’s day at the office.
Higashioka threw out two runners from behind the plate and hit his sixth home run of the season and fifth this month, insurance that proved useful after Jhony Brito allowed a ninth-inning grand slam.
For the season, Higashioka has thrown out nine would-be base-stealers, tied for a career-high and one more than he had all of last year.
No one was more appreciative — or happier — on Saturday than right-hander Randy Vásquez, who threw five shutout innings and earned the win with all that help from his former Yankees teammate.
“He is a tremendous teammate, but he’s also a really good person,” Vásquez said through interpreter Danny Sanchez. “Obviously, coming over with me from the Yankees, I’ve known Higgy for a little bit and he’s almost like a father figure to me. You know, the advice that he gives me. I get really excited when he does something at the plate. He’s a great person and a great example for me.”
Notable
- RHP Yu Darvish (groin) will return from the injured list to start Tuesday against the Nationals, slotting after RHP Matt Waldron’s start on Monday. The rotation will remain in order after Darvish.
- LHP Yuki Matsui extended his scoreless inning streak to 7 ⅔ innings over his last eight games, a new career high.