Luis Arraez had four hits and an RBI in his first game after being traded from Miami, and the Padres routed the listless Arizona Diamondbacks 13-1 on May 4.
The Padres made a massive deal before the game, acquiring Arraez from the Marlins along with nearly $7.9 million in a trade for four players. The two-time batting champion didn’t join his new team until about 3:30 p.m., but wasted no time in producing, going 4 for 6 while scoring two runs.
“Clearly an amazing approach and I can see why he is the rightful moniker of ‘The Sprinkler,’” Padres manager Micke Shildt said. “You’re talking about he’s an artist being able to put the ball in the whole field. That was that was a sight to behold. What a talent.”
Arraez wasn’t the only San Diego player seeing the ball well at Chase Field.
Jurickson Profar had a two-run homer in the seventh inning among his four hits and Kim followed with a three-run shot. Manny Machado had three RBIs and Michael King (3-3) allowed six singles in six innings for San Diego’s season-high fourth straight victory. The Padres had 18 hits.
“I absolutely love him,” King said about Arraez. “He’s a sparkplug who’s a really tough out and just finds the bases. It’s going to be really fun to see him with the guys we have behind him.”
Jake Cronenworth’s grand slam against the Reds
Jake Cronenworth hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the seventh inning and Jurickson Profar had four hits for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-2 on May 1 to take two of three in the series.
Cronenworth hit his third career grand slam and the second for the Padres this season. It came after Tyler Wade opened the inning with a bunt single over the head of reliever Fernando Cruz (1-2), followed by Profar’s single and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s walk. Cronenworth connected to right on the first pitch he saw from Cruz.
Profar, re-signed in the offseason to a $1 million, one-year contract, extended his hitting streak to eight games. He had a two-run single in the fourth.
The Padres got six strong innings in a bounce-back performance from Joe Musgrove and ended a six-game homestand with two victories. They were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies and then lost the opener of this series to extend their season-high losing streak to five games.
“It’s huge, after a rough series to start the homestand and come back and beat a really good team in Cincinnati,” Cronenworth said.
Darvish earns first win off injured list
Yu Darvish earned his first win of the season, pitching five shutout innings after coming off the injured list, and Manny Machado hit a three-run double as the San Diego Padres beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on April 30 to halt a five-game slide.
Darvish (1-1) was in command throughout his outing, giving up three hits and no walks while striking out three.
“Obviously, you are in there trying to get us out of the funk, so that is the mentality — let’s stop the losing streak right here,” Darvish said through a translator. “Overall, the ball was coming out right. I had pretty good command for the most part.”
The Padres scored four times in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. The rally was keyed by Machado’s bases-loaded double to right-center with none out off starter Nick Martinez (0-2), who pitched for San Diego the past two seasons.
“Bad execution to the wrong guy,” Martinez said. “That’s kind of been my thing this year. Some bad luck and the bad pitch, four runs. It’s frustrating, but part of the game. I just have to keep going.”
San Diego’s first run came in the third when Jake Cronenworth singled in Fernando Tatis Jr., who doubled.
The Padres also loaded the bases with no outs in the first, but Martinez was able to wiggle out of the jam without allowing a run. Martinez lasted five innings, permitting five runs (three earned) and six hits.
“We had our chances to even score some more runs. Those are some opportunities we need to capitalize on. But, it was great all around,” Cronenworth said. “(Darvish) looked great. It didn’t even look like he took any time off.”
