Jul 4, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Tyler Wade (14) dumps gatorade on San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (9) after the San Diego Padres walkoff the Texas Rangers in the tenth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – On a picture-perfect Independence Day in San Diego, 45,114 fans packed Petco Park hoping for fireworks — and they got them, just a little later than expected.
Jake Cronenworth delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Padres to a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night, kicking off a critical 10-game homestand with a bang.
The game had everything: a sold-out crowd, All-Star performances, late-inning drama, and a walk-off moment that sent everyone home happy. And by the time Cronenworth flared a two-out single into right field to score Jackson Merrill, most of the fans were still in their seats — and on their feet.
It was a gritty win for a Padres team that had to claw its way back. Texas jumped ahead early, thanks to a rare defensive lapse from Fernando Tatis Jr. in the third. Marcus Semien’s deep fly to the gap slipped past Tatis’ glove for a two-run double, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead.
But that was the lone blemish on an otherwise impressive outing from Randy Vásquez, who gave the Padres six strong innings, allowing just three hits.
Manny Machado, named the National League’s starting third baseman for next week’s All-Star Game, got the Padres on the board in the fourth. He launched a 440-foot solo shot to dead center — his 14th homer of the year — and later added a single to move within three hits of 2,000 for his career.
Tatis led off the sixth with a triple — helped by some half-hearted glove work from Adolis García in right — and Luis Arraez brought him home to tie the game. San Diego loaded the bases with one out, but couldn’t capitalize, as both Xander Bogaerts and Cronenworth struck out.
The bullpen was lights out once again. Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam, Robert Suarez, and Adrian Morejon combined to throw four scoreless innings. Morejon (5-3) earned the win after stranding the Rangers’ automatic runner in the 10th.
In the bottom half, Machado was intentionally walked, Arraez struck out, and Gavin Sheets dropped a soft single into center. Bogaerts injured himself on a swing and was replaced by Bryce Johnson, who also struck out, setting the stage for Cronenworth. On a 1-1 pitch from Robert Garcia, he sent a flare just inside the right field line, and Petco Park erupted.
It was Cronenworth’s fifth career walk-off and the Padres’ fourth of the season. More importantly, it gave San Diego a much-needed boost heading into Saturday’s matchup, when Stephen Kolek takes the mound against Texas rookie Jack Leiter.
With the All-Star break around the corner, the Padres are making their move — and doing it in style.
