Padres rookie shuts down Brewers in first MLB appearance
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Left-hander Logan Allen was brilliant for seven scoreless innings in his major league debut, Francisco Mejia hit a two-run home run and Manny Machado added an RBI double as the San Diego Padres beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 Tuesday night.
Allen, 22, was backed by three double plays as well as another dazzling play by rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis gloved Lorenzo Cain’s grounder with two outs in the third, spun and threw to first. Cain originally was called safe, but the Padres challenged and it was overturned after video review showed the throw beat the runner.
Allen (1-0) held Milwaukee to three hits while striking out five and walking two. He struck out the side in his last inning. Allen was acquired with three other players from Boston for closer Craig Kimbrel on Nov. 13, 2015.
The Brewers scored a run without the benefit of a hit off Trey Wingenter in the eighth, on a walk by Jesus Aguilar, two groundouts and a wild pitch. Kirby Yates finished the combined four-hitter when he pitched the ninth for his 26th save, most in the big leagues. He tied Heath Bell (2011) for the most saves by a Padres closer before the All-Star break.
Mejia, recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Monday, homered to right-center off Brandon Woodruff with one out in the sixth. It was his first. Mejia caught Allen in the minors.
Allen also got his first hit, a single to right in the two-run fifth. He eventually scored on a throwing error by third baseman Mike Moustakas. Machado followed with an RBI ground-rule double to right-center.
Woodruff (8-2) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out six and walked one.
SPECIAL FAN
WWE superstar John Cena, who became friends with Allen after a chance meeting in a Tampa steakhouse in January 2018, watched from the owner’s box, wearing Allen’s No. 54 Padres jersey.
PADRES SIGNING
OF Hudson Head signed with the Padres for $3 million, making him one of the highest-paid players in this year’s draft even though he was a third-round draft pick. He’s represented by Scott Boras.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: 3B Mike Moustakas left with a bruised left hand after the fifth, when he was hit by a pitch by Allen.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Zach Davies (7-1, 2.60) is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday afternoon. He I s 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four career starts against the Padres.
Padres: LHP Matt Strahm (2-6, 4.66) looks to snap a streak of three straight losses.
TOP PHOTO: San Diego Padres starting pitcher Logan Allen works against a Milwaukee Brewers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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