CINCINNATI —
The plan was being expertly executed.
They were swinging only at good pitches, hitting them, and letting bad ones go.
Three batters in, Greg Garcia and Manny Machado had singled, Josh Naylor had walked and the Padres had a lead.
The team that entered the game striking out in a little over a quarter of their plate appearances this season, more frequently than all but one club, appeared intent on not letting one the major leagues’ strikeout leaders have his way with them.
Then Trevor Bauer stopped cooperating, and the strikeouts started piling up.