Manny Machado picked up two more hits to move closer to the 2,000 hit milestone in the San Diego Padres’ 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on July 4.

Machado closing in on milestone

Manny Machado is inching closer to the 2,000 hit milestone.

The All-Star third baseman started the day with 1,995 career knocks. A home run and a single later, he needs only three hits to reach 2,000. It could happen before the Padres finish their 3-game series with the Texas Rangers.

Career hit No. 1,996 for Manny Machado is a solo home run off the batter’s eye, 440 feet to straightaway center. Rangers lead 2-1 in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/rJUylHbLZq

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) July 4, 2025

Machado’s home run came in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out and no one on, he turned on a 96 mph sinker that was middle-up. The ball traveled 440 feet to dead center, 30 degrees, and 109 mph off the bat.

Machado added a single in the eighth inning, again with one out and no one on. It was that kind of day for the Padres.

Kumar Rocker made the start for the Rangers, entering the game with a 5.09 ERA. However, the Friars had a tough time getting anything going. Rocker allowed two runs on four hits, striking out four.

The Padres scored their second run in the sixth to tie the score at 2-2. Fernando Tatis, Jr. hit a deep drive to right field that was dropped at the warning track by Adolis Garcia. Three batters later, Luis Arraez brought him home with an RBI single.

RISP struggles continue

That Arraez single was a rare clutch moment for the Padres in this game. The team went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position through the first nine innings. Hitting with runners on second and third has been a challenge for San Diego hitters over a large majority of the season.

The Padres had a chance to end the game in the ninth with a walkoff hit. Trenton Brooks hit a high pop fly to shallow left that landed between three fielders. He reached second on the error. The Rangers later intentionally walked Tatis with two outs.

Merrill walked up to the plate next. He swung at the first pitch for a lazy fly ball to left field. The team finished the day 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Cronenworth walks it off

The Padres loaded the bases in the bottom of the tenth. Machado was walked intentionally to start the inning. Merrill was the ghost runner on second. Gavin Sheets hit a single with one out to load the bases.

With two outs and two strikes, Jake Cronenworth hit a line drive to right field to end the game. Merrill scored from third.

Like a good neighbor, Rake Farm is there!! pic.twitter.com/jFBKAWwfv9

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 5, 2025

Next up 

The Padres play the second game of their three-game series against the Rangers on July 5. Stephen Kolek is scheduled to take the bump for San Diego, facing off against Texas’s Jack Leiter.

Mike Ursery

Mike is the sports editor for the Fayette Advertiser, and has been with East Village Times since 2015. His work has appeared on Bleacher Report. He is an avid Padres fan who is keeping the faith and trusting the process.