Xander Bogaerts' 1st-inning blast sends Padres past Angels

Field Level Media|published: Thu 15th May, 24:32 2025

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at San Diego Padres

May 14, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) is congratulated by Luis Arraez (4) after hitting three-run home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Xander Bogaerts blasted a three-run homer Wednesday night and Randy Vasquez pitched six effective innings for the victory as the San Diego Padres stopped the visiting Los Angeles Angels 5-1.

Vasquez (3-3) won his second straight start, allowing one run and four hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Three relievers finished up as San Diego improved to 16-5 at home, where it has won all but one of its seven series

The Padres won the final two contests in the three-game set against the Angels.

Los Angeles starter Kyle Hendricks (1-5) gave up three runs on five hits over six innings. Hendricks walked one and whiffed four, holding the Padres scoreless after the first inning.

However, that inning in general and one pitch in particular cost Hendricks. After giving up one-out singles to Luis Arraez and Manny Machado, Hendricks got a lineout from Jackson Merrill and was a pitch away from evading damage. However, Hendricks left a 3-2 changeup over the middle, and Bogaerts bashed it into the left field seats for his third homer.

Los Angeles got its only run in the second inning on Taylor Ward's 10th homer of the year but didn't create many chances to score against Vasquez. The Angels had runners at the corners in the third with two outs, but Vasquez fanned Yoan Moncada to quash the threat.

It was the second straight start in which Vasquez, who entered the night with 25 walks and just 18 strikeouts, issued only one walk while fanning five.

The score stayed 3-1 until the last of the eighth, when San Diego tacked on two insurance runs against reliever Jose Fermin. Machado walked and Bogaerts reached when Moncada booted his grounder to third for the game's only error.

Jake Cronenworth coaxed a two-out walk to fill the bases, and Brandon Lockridge cashed in by lining a two-run single to left-center.

Machado extended his hitting streak to 14 games, tying the second-longest run of his career, with a pair of singles. He is 24-for-48 during the streak. Cronenworth also collected two hits for the Padres.

--Field Level Media