On the most surreal of opening days, in a nearly empty ballpark, Chris Paddack fulfilled a dream.
It was Eric Hosmer who assured Friday night will be remembered fondly, as he tied a career high with six RBIs on a pair of bases-loaded doubles to help the Padres to a 7-2 victory that started a season that was tardy and will be truncated due to the spread of COVID-19.
Paddack, making his first opening day start, was his typically ferocious self as he faced off against Madison Bumgarner. That’s good news for a team that has long been in search of an ace.