Myers' bat helps Padres start season strong

Recap courtesy of San Diego Padres
Lauer deals 6 stellar innings in Opening Day shutout win; Tatis gets two hits

SAN DIEGO -- The burden is off Wil Myers.

The Padres signed Manny Machado during the offseason, and they promoted Fernando Tatis Jr. on Thursday. Veterans Eric Hosmer and Ian Kinsler are also on board, and Franmil Reyes has proven himself an equally potent corner-outfield bat.

Not long ago, Myers was the only bright spot in a dreadful offense. It’s clear that’s no longer the case. This year, when Myers was introduced before a raucous Petco Park on Opening Day, the crowd clapped politely, then hushed quickly with Machado due to be introduced next.

In a 2-0 Padres victory -- their first to open a season since 2014 -- Myers offered a reminder of what
he’s capable of. He crushed a long home run in the third, giving the Padres an early lead. He singled home a run in the sixth, doubling that advantage. In between, he made an excellent play on a liner off the wall, fielding and throwing to second to nab a greedy Evan Longoria.
 
On the mound, 23-year-old left-hander Eric Lauer rewarded the Padres for their surprise decision to start him in their opener. He threw six scoreless frames and became the youngest pitcher with as many shutout innings on Opening Day since Clayton Kershaw in 2011. The San Diego bullpen did the rest, marking the team’s first season-opening shutout since ‘08.

The youth movement didn’t end with Lauer. Tatis recorded the first two hits of his career, making him the youngest player with a multi-hit game on Opening Day since 19-year-old Robin Yount in 1975. Tatis singled through the left side in the second, then dropped a bunt single up the third-base line in the fifth.

The Padres are 1-0 -- over .500 for the first time under manager Andy Green, and for the first time since June 2015. They’d like to stay there.

AJ Cassavell covers the Padres for MLB.com.