Field Level Media
Aug 11, 2018
Right-hander Jacob Nix held Philadelphia scoreless over six innings in his major league debut and catcher Austin Hedges hit his fifth homer in a span of 12 games as the San Diego Padres defeated the visiting Phillies 2-0 at Petco Park.
Nix and relievers Matt Strahm, Craig Stammen and Kirby Yates combined on an eight-hit shutout - only the Padres' third shutout of the season. Yates earned his fourth save, retiring the final three hitters after giving up back-to-back singles to Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco to open the ninth.
Nix came away from his debut with the win.
The loss knocked the Phillies back into a first-place tie with Atlanta in the National League East race.
Nix, 22, gave up four hits and two walks with four strikeouts while throwing 88 pitches. He worked out of jams in the first and second innings before retiring 13 of the last 14 Phillies he faced.
The Southern California native signed as the Padres' third-round draft pick in 2015 after a signing deadline error the previous year prevented him from signing with the Astros.
Nix was expected to be in contention for a spot in the Padres' rotation this spring when a groin injury sidelined him until the last week in May. He had made 10 minor league starts with a 1.84 earned run average before being promoted to the Padres.
The Phillies loaded the bases with two out in the first, but Nix retired Herrera on a groundout to second. Rhys Hoskins lined out to right with two on to end the second.
Hedges had a hand in both Padres runs scored against Phillies starter and loser Zach Eflin (8-4).
The catcher singled with one out in the second, stole second as Cory Spangenberg struck out and scored on former Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis' single to center. With one out in the fourth, he hit his ninth homer of the season -- a 392-foot shot to straightaway center.
Eric Hosmer had three of the Padres' seven hits, with Hedges and Galvis getting two apiece. Franco and Nick Williams had two singles apiece for the Phillies.
--Field Level Media