SAN DIEGO—Jake Cronenworth’s two-out, walk-off home run in the ninth inning, the fourth homer of the game for the San Diego Padres, produced a dramatic 7–6 victory over the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.
Cronenworth’s drive deep down the right-field line, his 11th homer of the season, came off Joel Payamps (1–3) and carried well into the seats not far inside the foul pole. It came after Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jurickson Profar had struck out.
Tatis hit a 446-foot homer and added an emphatic bat flip in the fifth inning, and Manny Machado and rookie Jackson Merrill also homered for the Padres.
It was the Padres’ third straight walk-off homer at home. Like the others, it set off a wild celebration at the plate.
“It’s pretty awesome. The best part is coming home and everybody’s there,” Cronenworth said. “Your teammates are waiting for you and celebrating you. It’s a team effort and awesome win tonight.”
Three straight walk-offs at home “is the identity and resiliency we show,” Cronenworth said. “It’s just who we are. Three walk-offs in a row are pretty awesome.”
The Brewers tied the game with two runs in the ninth off Jeremiah Estrada (3–1), who was trying for his second save. One run came in on a wild pitch, and the second on Rhys Hoskins’ double to left field.
Tatis’ 14th homer landed near the top of the second deck in left field with one out in the fifth for a 5–3 lead. He knew it was gone and tossed his bat at the end of his follow-through. Left fielder Christian Yelich barely turned around as Tatis’ shot sailed high above him.
Tatis did his signature stutter-step around third base while wearing custom cleats honoring the late Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. Tatis matched his career best with four hits, the second time he has done it this season.
“That one felt really good. It definitely got me swaggy,” Tatis said.
“The guy laid out four ropes and a huge tank,“ Padres Manager Mike Shildt said. ”He’s clearly in a good spot, on balance. But man, that ball was launched. What a great swing.”
Machado hit a three-run blast with two outs in the first, and Merrill followed with a solo shot for a 4–1 lead. The first three homers came off Bryse Wilson.
Padres rookie starter Adam Mazur retired the first two batters in the fifth before allowing a single to Yelich and a homer to Willy Adames that pulled the Brewers within 4–3. The 23-year-old Mazur made way for Adrian Morejon, who got the third out.
Machado, who has been inconsistent since leaving a June 5 road loss to the Los Angeles Angels with a hip injury, homered for the first time since June 3. He hit an opposite-field shot into the short porch down the right-field line on a two-strike pitch from Wilson with two outs in the first for a 3–1 lead. It was his seventh this year and his first on an 0–2 count after having just one on that count in 2023.
Merrill also connected to right. It was his ninth overall and sixth in his past eight games.
Wilson allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, struck out five, and walked two.
Mazur gave up three runs and five hits, struck out three, and walked three.
After Yuki Matsui loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, Wandy Peralta came on and struck out Brewers pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez.
Profar doubled in Tatis in the bottom of the seventh.
