Padres News: Seth Lugo Took Mound with Ease After Month-Long Injury Absence
Veteran pitcher Seto Lugo made his return to the mound on Tuesday and did so in a big way. He looked calm and composed out there against the San Francisco Giants. Lugo went five innings, only allowing one run and three hits against one of the hottest teams in baseball. It was the kind of performance that even the Padres probably didn't expect from him in his first game back.
"For being out as long as he did and really not even having a rehab assignment," manager Bob Melvin said, "I thought he was about as good as he could be."
Lugo joined San Diego this offseason with the idea of being a starting pitcher after spending a good amount of his career as a reliever. On the year, Lugo has an ERA of 3.86 with 43 strikeouts over 46.2 innings pitched.
Even with the strong start, the Padres would end up losing the game due to the bullpen. When Lugo left the game, San Diego held a 3-1 lead but when the final at-bat was hand, the Padres left the field losing 4-3 on a walk-off.
With all the uncertainty of baseball, Lugo is in good spirits and knows that even the bullpen will mess up at times through a season.
"Easier said than done, but you've got to flush it," he said. "Once we walk out of here tonight, we've got to get our rest and come back tomorrow, and play like we know how to play and forget like today ever happened."
San Diego has seen good results from their bullpen this season so it was a little odd that they blew the game. But there is another game to be played and the Padres don't have the luxury of looking back and need to simply look forward to taking the next game.
