The San Diego Padres posted a convincing 9-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, fueled by an outstanding performance by Yu Darvish on the mound.
Darvish, showing impressive form since his return from a brief neck injury, pitched seven innings without allowing a run against the Braves, extending his streak to an impressive 25 consecutive scoreless innings.
Yu Darvish Unstoppable
This accomplishment marks a historic milestone for Darvish, setting the longest streak without allowing a run by a Japanese-born pitcher in the history of MLB. MLB HISTORY.
Darvish's outing also marked a personal milestone as he secured his 200th win as a professional, combining wins in both Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Japanese Professional Baseball League (NPB).
His professional tally includes 107 wins in MLB and 93 in NPB, placing him among a select group of pitchers who have reached the 200-win mark spanning both North America and Japan, including notable names such as Hiroki Kuroda and Hideo Nomo.
Padres manager Mike Shildt praised Darvish's crucial role in the team's recent successes, noting his influence on the pitching rotation and his ability to set a positive tone, especially in crucial series like the current one against the Braves.
The game itself saw Braves starter Bryce Elder struggle early, especially in a challenging first inning where he threw 41 pitches and allowed three runs.
Elder, who was celebrating his 25th birthday on the mound, failed to find his rhythm against the Padres' potent lineup, enduring less than four innings and conceding six clean runs on nine hits allowed.
Take a look back at the historic outing from Yu Darvish on #SundayNightBaseball. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DQX4iEeFpu
- MLB (@MLB) May 20, 2024
Padres Power Offense
San Diego capitalized on Elder's early struggles, quickly securing a three-run lead in the first inning. Jake Cronenworth started the scoring with a two-run homer, his eighth of the season, followed by a driving single from Jackson Merrill.
The Padres continued their offensive onslaught in the fourth inning, adding four more runs highlighted by Fernando Tatis Jr.'s two-run double and Jurickson Profar's one-run RBI double.
The Padres' offensive prowess was evident throughout the game, racking up a total of 14 hits against Braves pitchers. Every starter in the Padres lineup contributed at least one hit, underscoring the team's depth and offensive capabilities.
In relief for Atlanta, former Padre Ray Kerr struggled to contain San Diego's relentless attack, conceding additional runs, including solo homers by Luis Campusano and Ha-Seong Kim in the late innings.
Despite Atlanta's efforts to avoid a shutout with Ozzie Albies driving in a run in the ninth inning, the momentum clearly favored the Padres. With a 2-0 lead in the four-game series against the Braves, San Diego aims to continue its dominance and possibly secure a sweep in the next few games.
Ohtani Also Shines
Outside of the Padres-Braves showdown, Shohei Ohtani delivered the decisive go-ahead single for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their extra innings win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Ohtani's decisive performance helped the Dodgers secure the series victory, highlighting the competitive and dynamic landscape in Major League Baseball.
The Padres' dominant win, coupled with Darvish's historic accomplishments, underscores their status as a formidable contender in the MLB season, while showcasing the international impact and diverse talent within the league.
