SAN DIEGO _ A visiting broadcaster had called him "bush league." He'd collected six singles in his first 27 plate appearances. Outside of the supporting cast willing the team to its first wins and a handful of defensive gems, Manny Machado's first week in San Diego provided little to write home about.
One loud swing Wednesday afternoon amended the script.
Machado, the Padres' $300 million man, yanked reliever Matt Andriese's 0-2 fastball down the line in left field in the seventh inning for a two-run shot that helped secure a 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks and a 4-3 season-opening homestand.
Machado also walked twice, including to start a sixth-inning rally in which Eric Hosmer's bases-loaded walk opened up a 2-0 lead.
Beyond that, Machado's greatest contributions at the plate had been protecting the two-hole hitter. The Padres hitting directly in front of him _ Wil Myers against left-handers, as was the case against Robbie Ray (51/3 IP, 2 ER) on Wednesday, and Hosmer against right-handers _ are 12 for 26 with one homer, three doubles, five RBIs and two walks to start the season.
Left-hander Joey Lucchesi won for the second time in as many starts, striking out six while extending his scoreless streak to 101/3 innings to start the year. He scattered four hits and a walk and wound up the winner when pinch-hitter Francisco Mejia doubled in a run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Craig Stammen fired two shutout innings in relief, Trey Wingenter turned in a perfect eighth and Kirby Yates shut down Arizona's comeback hopes after allowing a pair of doubles that cut the Padres' lead to 4-1.
