SAN DIEGO—Luis Arraez and Fernando Tatis Jr. contributed consecutive RBI singles in a four-run sixth inning, and the San Diego Padres beat the New York Yankees 5–2 on Sunday to avoid being swept in consecutive home series.
Joe Musgrove pitched well for the Padres in his second start back from the injured list, and Jeremiah Estrada (2–0) struck out five consecutive batters for the win.
New York’s Alex Verdugo homered in the ninth off Robert Suarez, the Yankees’ sixth long ball of the series. Suarez was summoned in the eighth after Wandy Peralta issued two two-out walks, and struck out Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Suarez allowed his first run since March 28, but remained perfect in 15 save chances.
The Yankees struck out 12 times. The Padres raved about the performance of Estrada, who relieved Musgrove after he allowed Juan Soto’s RBI double with one out in the sixth. Estrada not only punched out Judge—who had homered both Friday and Saturday—but also Verdugo. After the Padres rallied to take the lead, Estrada struck out the side in the seventh, starting with Giancarlo Stanton, who had homered Friday night.
“He’s nasty,“ Tatis said of Estrada, who was claimed by the Padres in November after being waived by the Chicago Cubs. ”He’s locked in right now. He’s pounding the zone. He’s not afraid of who’s coming to the plate, and the guy’s believing in himself right now. I’m really happy for him, where he’s at right now.”
Estrada has struck out 15 of the past 18 batters he has faced since May 17 at Atlanta. He is the first Padres pitcher to strike out 10 consecutive batters, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The previous high was nine by Jake Peavy on April 25, 2007, the season he won the National League Cy Young Award.
“There’s not really much to think about,” Estrada said about his mindset Sunday. “I think when you get ready before the game, there’s a lot to think about, but once I have that baseball, man, it’s just more of knowing that me and the catcher are ready to go to war.
“Joe [Musgrove] did a great job today, and seeing how Joe was just shutting them down, that builds confidence in a team and that gets you thinking, like, ‘We’ve got this game,'” Estrada said.
The Padres trailed 1–0 entering the sixth and scored four runs on three singles, an error, and two walks. It was their first lead at home since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–0 on May 12. They never had the lead in being swept by the Colorado Rockies—who have the NL’s worst record—from May 13–15 before losing the first two games to the Yankees 8–0 and 4–1.
The Padres’ sixth-inning rally began with an error when second baseman Gleyber Torres let Jake Cronenworth’s grounder go between his legs. Starter Clarke Schmidt (5–3) walked Manny Machado, and made way for Victor González, who loaded the bases with a walk to pinch-hitter Donovan Solano. Jackson Merrill hit into a forceout that brought in Cronenworth, and Ha-Seong Kim’s bunt single scored Machado for the lead.
With two outs, Arraez hit an RBI single to center, and Tatis greeted Dennis Santana with a swinging bunt for an RBI single.
“Just keep putting the ball in play. That’s how we’re going to win ballgames over here,” Tatis said.
Cronenworth and Machado hit consecutive doubles in the seventh.
Musgrove went 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run and six hits while striking out five and walking none.
Musgrove was chased when Anthony Volpe singled with one out in the sixth, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games. Volpe scored on Soto’s double to right-center.
Volpe’s hitting streak is the longest for the Yankees since Derek Jeter’s 19-game streak from Sept. 4–25, 2012.
Schmidt allowed two runs, one earned, and three hits in five innings, with six strikeouts and three walks.
Yankees starting pitchers have allowed two runs or fewer and thrown five-plus innings in 14 consecutive games, tying a major-league record since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893.
Trainer’s Room
Yankees: Manager Aaron Boone said reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole will probably throw batting practice again sometime midweek in Tampa, Fla. The ace threw two 15-pitch innings in a simulated game on Saturday as he works to come back from a right-elbow injury. “It seems like everything went according to plan yesterday, so we keep moving,” Mr. Boone said.Up Next
Yankees: Left-hander Nestor Cortes (3–4, 3.29 earned-run average) is scheduled to start Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif.Padres: Right-hander Michael King (4–4, 4.28) is scheduled to start Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins and lefty Trevor Rogers (1–6, 6.11).
