Padres News: Yu Darvish Struggles Heavily in Friars' Worst Loss in 2 Weeks

The Rays definitely came to play!

The Tampa Bay Rays walked into Petco Park on Friday and showed everybody why they are the first team in the MLB to have reached 50 wins with some electric offense and chemistry. We all knew that they were going to be San Diego's biggest test yet and even though the Friars came in on a bit of a hot streak, the Rays were not fazed.

At the end of the match, the final score was 6-2 but the worst part was that it was Yu Darvish who gave up all six of the earned runs thanks to a total of eight hits allowed with only five strikeouts. For the third time now in his last four starts, he has given up at least five hits and Tampa Bay jumped on every opportunity. This was the first time since June 4 that the Padres lost a game by at least four runs.

Isaac Paredes got his side rolling with a homer in the second inning and even though we were all hoping that would be it and that Darvish would clean things up, he gave up another one at the top of the fifth inning to Randy Arozarena which turned into three runs.

Nelson Cruz, who recently returned from injury, was able to connect on his own bomb in the seventh inning but it was too little, too late.

Cruz Missile 🚀 #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/9OOQE0903H

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 17, 2023

Always Paying Respect

Despite a poor start from Darvish, team manager Bob Melvin made it clear that he thought he was in a good rhythm and the Rays' lineup just got the best of him.

“It was a couple big swings, really,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “[Darvish] made some really good pitches today. That’s what they do. You make a bad pitch, and typically they capitalize on it. They hit a lot of home runs; that’s kind of their calling card.”

(Via MLB.com)

The Rays are not the best team in baseball right now for no reasons... they have been nothing but consistent from top to bottom and have been thriving in these first two and a half months of the season.

This is not the base you are looking for. #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/ZowEuoru3L

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 17, 2023

Darvish also explained what he was trying to accomplish at certain moments and showed love to the Rays as well.

“That was the plan,” Darvish said. “I was going to go in on that two-seamer, and that’s exactly what I did. He just got to that ball real well. You only have to tip your cap to him.”(Via MLB.com)

Let's hope the Friars can bounce back today!