Padres win 4-3 on Cronenworth walk-off
Credit: AP Photo
Jake Cronenworth‘s walk-off home run gave the San Diego Padres the win, 4-3, and the series against the Houston Astros.
Crone and Done. pic.twitter.com/Hzz7vJ4ug9
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 5, 2021
“[Cronenworth] has been clutch for us all year,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. “He’s come up with big moments, big at-bats, and big plays, so it’s pretty appropriate for him to finish this one-off. He’s just been so steady and so consistent.”
After Saturday’s explosive offensive performance, The Padres got the ball rolling early again, continuing what they did the previous night. They loaded the bases with one out, and Will Myers got the Padres on the board with a sacrifice fly. Eric Hosmer, who failed to make a pick in the top of the first inning that likely cost the Padres a run, drove in Manny Machado and Cronenworth with a double to left-center field. Hosmer went 2-for-2 before being pinch-hit for by Jurickson Profar.
Once the first inning ended, the San Diego offense shut down and didn’t score until Cronenworth ended the game. They were able to stay in the game despite not scoring because of a quality start from Chris Paddack.
“Paddack was just outstanding,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. “He was as efficient as I’ve ever seen.”
Paddack got through six innings without striking out or walking any Astros. In those first six innings, he allowed just one run that could have very easily been an unearned run.
Choose your fighter:
⚪️ Manny in the shift
⚪️ Crone Zone
🔘 Both pic.twitter.com/GiXaXbKSiO— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 5, 2021
When Paddack came back out to pitch in the seventh inning, things went south. His fastball velocity dropped, and Yuli Gurriel and Carlos Correra core hit back-to-back home runs on back-to-back pitches. All of a sudden, Paddack was done, and the game was tied at three.
Also, like Saturday, the bullpen came in and didn’t allow a hit or a run. Craig Stammen needed to get warm quick to supplement Paddack, Emilio Pagan got through the top of the Astros lineup, and then Melancon overcame three walks to throw a scoreless frame in the ninth inning.
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The Padres will also get Labor Day off on Monday before completing their season series with the Los Angeles Angels. Starting Tuesday, the Angels will come to Petco Park for a short two-game series. Tingler announced that Blake Snell will pitch on Tuesday, while Yu Darvish goes on Wednesday.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”