Overview
- Padres manager Craig Stammen went to the mound in the third inning and began to pull starter Walker Buehler, but Buehler pleaded to stay and Stammen started back toward the dugout before umpires enforced a rule that mandated a change.
- MLB’s mound-visit rule requires a pitcher to be removed after a second visit in the same inning, and pitching coach Ruben Niebla had already visited earlier in that third inning.
- The umpires signaled to the bullpen and left-hander Kyle Hart was sent in to face the bases-loaded, one-out jam, retiring the side and throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
- The forced change worked on the scoreboard as the Padres rallied for seven runs over the next three innings to win 9-2, complete a sweep of the Nationals, and move to 78-68, tied for the final NL Wild Card spot with 16 games left.
- Stammen publicly owned the lapse and said he must be more decisive on the walk to the mound, while Buehler acknowledged he didn’t pitch well enough to stay, highlighting how split-second decisions can affect late-season roster and bullpen use.