Clevinger’s return to form, Cronenworth’s breakout day lift Padres over D-backs 4-0
Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Chase Field- Phoenix, Arizona
The Padres desperately needed to put Tuesday night’s brutal loss in the rearview mirror. Mike Clevinger toed the rubber for the Padres to try and end their three-game losing streak. Opposite him for Arizona was four-time All-Star Madison Bumgarner.
San Diego hitters grinded at bat after at bat against Bumgarner, bloating his pitch count. Even without scoring a pile of runs on him, they were able to chase him after five innings after 105 pitches. The Padres got to him for one run when Jurickson Profar worked a walk and came around to score on an RBI single by Jake Cronenworth.
CRONE BACK IN THE ZONE!
The @Padres strike first š„#TimeToShine pic.twitter.com/wOeWpqQfPB
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) June 29, 2022
Kyle Nelson came on in relief of Bumgarner in the sixth and surrendered another run. Ha-Seong Kim worked a walk and then reached third on a two-base error on a pickoff attempt. C.J. Abrams lined a two-out single to left field to score Kim, giving the Padres a 2-0 lead. They added on further in the seventh. Cronenworth continued his hot day with a double down the right field line. Luke Voit then lined a single up the middle to score him, bringing the Friars’ lead to three.
All this while Clevinger put together the best outing of his short season thus far. In an economical outing, he tossed six shutout innings, allowing just one hit, one walk, and struck out six. It was the best he has looked since his shortened, seven-inning complete game shutout against the Giants in September of 2020. It was the first time he completed six innings since that start nearly two years ago.
Mike Clevinger, 95mph ā½ļøš pic.twitter.com/s0GuW3qkEs
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 29, 2022
“I felt more in control,” Clevinger said following the game. “I worked fast and attacked.”
Nick Martinez relieved Clevinger in the seventh. He tossed three shutout innings to earn the rare three-inning save.
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The Padres added on in the top of the ninth after Cronenworth’s second double of the game scored Profar once again. After a brutal stretch for the better part of a week, Cronenworth broke out for three hits, two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored.
Profar was instrumental in catalyzing the offense, working three walks. Abrams collected two hits as well.
The Padres split the quick two-game series in Arizona. Now they head to Los Angeles for a key four-game set with the Dodgers beginning Thursday.
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.