Blake Snell, San Diego Padres' left-handed pitcher, in action
San Diego Padres' left-hander, Blake Snell, continues to impress with his stellar performances on the mound, and his latest outing at Petco Park was nothing short of sensational. The 30-year-old southpaw's Cy Young campaign for the 2023 season appears to be in full swing, and his impressive showing against the Colorado Rockies showcased his dominance.
In what might have been one of his last starts at Petco Park in a Padres uniform, Snell pitched seven remarkable innings, holding the Rockies hitless while striking out an impressive 10 batters. Snell's quest for a no-hitter was tantalizingly close, but it was ultimately spoiled by a hit allowed to lead off the ninth inning by Josh Hader. Nevertheless, the Padres extended their winning streak to six games as Xander Bogaerts delivered a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, securing a 2-0 victory.
As Snell exited the field to a standing ovation from the crowd of 39,809, it was evident that he had left an indelible mark on the Petco Park faithful. His performance saw him walk four Rockies batters while throwing 104 pitches, with his 10th strikeout of the night marking a new career high at 227.
The decision to pull Snell from the game and potentially curtail his no-hit bid was a calculated one.He consulted with former teammates like Alex Cobb and Sean Manaea, who had their own experiences with no-hit bids, to make an informed decision. With 104 pitches under his belt after seven innings, Snell recognized the importance of avoiding unnecessary strain.
The Padres' bullpen took over from Snell, with Robert Suarez stepping in during the top of the eighth. Suarez managed to strike out two of the three hitters he faced, passing the no-hit bid torch to Josh Hader. However, Hader couldn't preserve the no-hitter as Brendan Rodgers recorded a single, followed by another single from Nolan Jones. Fortunately for the Padres, Hader secured an inning-ending double play.
The game remained scoreless through nine innings, with both teams struggling to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Juan Soto's double and subsequent base-running blunder in the sixth inning and Jurickson Profar's double-play in the eighth inning were among the missed chances for the Padres.
In the end, it was Xander Bogaerts who played the hero, delivering a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the Padres' sixth consecutive win.
Blake Snell's remarkable 2023 season includes a league-leading 2.33 ERA and opponent average of .181. With 227 strikeouts to his name, Snell is undeniably a strong contender for the Cy Young Award, an honor he previously won in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays. As a free agent after this season, Snell's future in the MLB is uncertain, but his performances in 2023 have certainly positioned him as one of the premier pitchers in the league.