After a promising return to the major leagues earlier this month, Alek Manoah couldn't keep the momentum going Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres.
The Toronto Blue Jays' right-hander didn't make it out of the fourth inning in his second start after a one-month demotion to the minor leagues as Manoah struggled with his control versus the big-spending Padres.
The Blue Jays' opening-day starter needed 92 pitches (49 strikes) for his three-plus innings. He gave up four runs on four hits, walked five and struck out none, raising his season ERA to 6.18
In his return to the Blue Jays before the all-star break, Manoah fared much better against the light-hitting Detroit Tigers. He went six innings that night, giving up one run on five hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
The trouble started early on Tuesday as Padres star Juan Soto hit a two-run homer to left in the first inning on the ninth pitch of his at-bat. It came after a close 1-2 change-up by Manoah was called a ball, much to the dismay of the Blue Jays dugout.
In the second inning, Manoah thought he caught Trent Grisham looking for a strikeout and was heading off the field, but it was called a ball. Manoah went on to walk Grisham.
Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker then came out to the mound for a visit. As home-plate umpire Malachi Moore walked toward the mound to break up the chat, he threw out Walker, who never turned his head during the conversation with Manoah.
In the third inning, the Padres tacked on two more runs — the first on a line-drive double by Soto that Blue Jays right-fielder George Springer couldn't haul in. Soto came in to make it 4-1 on a sacrifice fly by Jake Cronenworth.
Manoah was replaced by Nate Pearson after giving up a walk and an infield hit to open the fourth. Pearson stranded those runners to keep San Diego's lead at 4-1.
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