Caratini and Kim play hero, Padres walk-off Giants 7-6
Sep 23, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Victor Caratini (17) celebrates with teammates against after defeating the San Francisco Giants in the tenth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
Petco Park- San Diego, California
The Padres looked to salvage one game of this tough series against the first-place San Francisco Giants as well as snap a five-game losing streak. Yu Darvish took the mound to try and turn things around for the Friars. He worked a strong 1-2-3 first inning.
In the bottom of the first, Padres hitters faced Logan Webb. They greeted him rudely as Adam Frazier led off with a double. After Fernando Tatis Jr. and Eric Hosmer worked walks, Jurickson Profar was hit by a pitch to score the first run. Trent Grisham lined a sac fly into left field, scoring Tatis. Ha-Seong Kim and Victor Caratini each singled home a runner as well, pushing San Diego’s lead to 4-0 after one inning.
The Giants responded immediately with a two-run homer by Mike Yastrzemski, cutting the lead in half.
Both teams settled down as both Darvish and Webb traded scoreless innings until Webb was lifted in the top of the fifth for pinch-hitter Alex Dickerson. Darvish got Dickerson to ground into an inning-ending double play to preserve the lead.
Jose Quintana took over in the bottom of the fifth for the Giants.
San Diego’s bats went silent after their outburst in the first. The Friars had just one hit from the second to the sixth inning.
Darvish ran into trouble in the top of the sixth. He left the game with one out and runners on first and second, to a standing ovation in what will be his final home start of the year. Tim Hill entered the game and surrendered a go-ahead, three-run homer to Austin Slater, erasing a solid start from Darvish. The Japanese hurler finished his game.
The deficit was short-lived as Trent Grisham hit a solo homer in the sixth to tie the game, his first home run since September 1. Kim then launched a ball over the center field wall for back-to-back, go-ahead home runs.
Back to back like i'm Jordan '96 and '97š¤© #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/hixFWSFrVk
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) September 23, 2021
The Giants rallied against Pierce Johnson in the top of the seventh to tie the game at six. The two bullpens locked it down after that, taking the tie into the ninth inning. Mark Melancon worked a scoreless top of the frame, giving the Padres a chance to walk it off in the bottom half, but the Padres were unable to take advantage.
Ross Detwiler tossed a scoreless 10th for San Diego after some early trouble with control.
Kim laid down a perfect bunt after an intentional walk to Grisham, putting runners on second and third with just one out. With the winning run on third, Caratini lined a grounder up the middle, and Profar broke for home. The throw was off-line, and he scored the winning run to walk it off. The Padres snapped their five-game losing streak and ended the series on a high note.
THE PADRES WINš„š„ #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/zFTzAGTABH
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) September 24, 2021
“I am happy to help the team win. That’s the most important thing. I just tried to make contact and put the ball in play,” Caratini said after the game. “Nothing has come easy the last two months, but we are going to keep fighting.”
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The Padres welcome the first-place Atlanta Braves to Petco Park this weekend.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.