Machado hears an unfamiliar sound on the big day at Fenway; King pays to pitch – San Diego Union-Tribune

BOSTON — Boos erupt every time Manny Machado’s name is announced at a stadium other than Petco Park or Camden Yards.

In some places it’s louder and with a little more emotion than in others.

One of these places is Fenway Park.

Machado visited here 50 times while a member of the Orioles, hitting eight home runs in those games.

“I grew up playing here,” Machado said of his six and a half seasons in the American League East early in his career. “It’s always good to be back.”

He hit two more homers at the historic venue in the Padres’ 11-1 victory Saturday, and as he rounded third base after the second of those hits, there was a new sound.

“Manny. Manny. Manny.”

The thousands of Padres fans in the announced crowd of 33,003 began a chant.

“A lot of Padres fans here,” Machado said. “It’s a little weird to see this in Boston. I’ve played a lot here and it’s quite difficult. But there were a lot of Padres fans here. It was great to see a lot of yellow there.

The crowd in maroon and yellow had plenty to cheer about throughout the afternoon, with Machado providing the biggest moments.

His two-run homer in the third inning, which traveled a projected 403 feet, over the Green Monster and clear of ballpark, gave the Padres a 3-0 lead. His 421-foot home run to center field made it 8-0 in the fifth inning.

The team’s highest-paid player, the one who carried it through much of its last two playoff seasons, appears to be becoming who he should be.

He’s hitting .326 with an .871 OPS in 36 games since May 20. And after hitting six homers in his first 266 at-bats this season, he’s hit four in his last 36.

He hit .415 (17-for-41) with a 1.164 OPS as the Padres won nine of their last 10 games.

“It’s fun,” he said. “When you win games, it’s fun. When you don’t, it’s not. Things are going well right now. We just have to keep moving forward, keep working, not really looking at the stats right now, but looking at the long-term goal, which is to keep winning games, keep playing the way we’ve been playing so far.”

Home $sweet home

Michael King spent much of his childhood in Rhode Island and played baseball at Boston College.

He was a Yankees fan and began his career with that legendary franchise before joining the Padres via trade last offseason. But he was a freshman in college when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2013, and he attended the championship parade.

“Bogey said I probably threw a beer at him,” King said in reference to teammate Xander Bogaerts, who was a rookie on that Red Sox team.

So King’s start Saturday was essentially a home game. And unlike his New York debut, he hasn’t played much on the East Coast this year.

There were 45 friends and family members present on Saturday. At his expense.

“I definitely paid to play today,” he said.

Those close to him were able to watch him go six innings while allowing one run and earning his first victory at Fenway.

King was making his 14th appearance at the stadium, 12 of which came as a substitute. He allowed one run in 4⅔ innings in a loss in his other start here last September.

“Every time I come here, it’s always a pleasure to do well and see the team do well,” said King, who improved to 7-6 while lowering his earned run average to 3 .61. “And now I can go celebrate with my family and friends. »

Vásquez Update

Randy Vasquez’s right (throwing) forearm was still swollen a day after being hit near the elbow by a line drive.

There was no structural damage, but the Padres aren’t sure he can make his next start. If he can’t pitch in the next few days, his start Thursday at Texas will likely have to be postponed.

With an off day Monday, the Padres could manipulate their rotation until Vásquez is ready. King could be moved up to start Thursday with four days off.