Michael King Reacts to Poor Outing in First Home Start With Padres

Eva Geitheim | Apr 1, 2024

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King made his first home start with his new team on Sunday as the Padres went on to win 13-4 against the San Francisco Giants. Despite the team earning a win in his first start at Petco Park, it wasn't King's finest day on the mound.

King pitched four innings, allowing two hits, two earned runs and seven walks before Pedro Avila, Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta took over after the fourth inning. While he began the game with three scoreless innings, King allowed two runs in the fourth amid a flurry of walks — seven in all. Luckily for King, the Padres' lineup had a great day. The Giants couldn't mount a threat even with the free passes.

King broke down his performance after the Padres' win on Sunday.

“I don’t think I ever found a rhythm,” King said, via Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I was searching mechanically out there. … It’s good that we put up 12 runs because I was lucky to get out of there with only two.”

“My next outing is against the Giants as well,” King said. "They didn’t really get to see me because I just walked everybody. Hopefully it’s like the first time they’re seeing me next time.”

King will not pitch for the Padres in their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, and instead will start again when the Padres play the Giants on the road later this week, giving King a chance to rebound.

The 28-year-old pitcher is seeing his first action for the Padres after previously spending his career with the New York Yankees. King was a Yankee from 2019-23, before he was traded to the Padres along with Jhony Brito, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vásquez and Kyle Higashioka in exchange for Trent Grisham and Juan Soto.