Looking to finish his career month, Mat Latos bounced back after a rough second inning to pitch the Padres to their 29 victory of the season – a 4-2 win over the Washington Nationals. Padres Manager Bud Black explains what he saw in Latos tonight.
Mat Latos (5-3) would go on to throw six innings while giving up just four hits and striking out eight for the win. It ended an incredible month for the 22-year-old right-hander in which he won four out of his six starts and saw his ERA drop from 6.20 to 3.08. But don’t think that he is worried about that. To Latos, the month on the calendar does not matter.
More audio from Bud Black, Mat Latos and Nick Hundley after the Jump:
After a Nick Hundley three-run blast in the first, Latos came out and gave up two singles, a walk and an RBI groundout to bring the Nationals back within one run. That score would stand until an RBI groundout from Chris Denorfia – after lead off triple by Hundley – in the bottom of the fourth gave the Padres a 4-2 lead. It was the kind of heads up play that Bud Black appreciates.
Hundley has been making quite a name for himself with these types of heads up plays and how he has been calling games. Unfortunately for him, the Padres have two standout catchers this year – Yorvit Torrealba is hitting .292 through his 26 games played. Black commented on how lucky the team is to have two potential starters behind the plate.
It is a good problem to have – especially when both are playing well and the team is winning. Because having a great catcher is so important to a winning team, other organizations will likely call about them, but be quickly shot down. Winning Pitcher Mat Latos spoke on his relationship with Hundley, and how he has seen him improve.
Hundley spoke about the initial pressure he placed on himself, and even with a great performance at the dish, he knows what is most important for the team, WINNING.
Jeff Creps is a contributor from our media partner SDNN
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