Cronenworth's big hit helps lift the Padres to a 6-4 win over Melvin's Giants
From a pregame moment of silence to Fernando Tatis Jr.'s custom cleats and a large heart in center field with the initials PS, the memory of late Padres owner Peter Seidler was everywhere at Petco Park.
The Padres ultimately honored Seidler the best way they could by rallying to beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 and spoil Bob Melvin's return to San Diego.
Jake Cronenworth's two-run double highlighted a four-run seventh inning for the Padres and Tatis and Tyler Wade contributed heads-up baserunning. Coupled with a 15-11 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers for a two-game split last week in Seoul, South Korea,the Padres appear eager to put their flop of 2023 behind them.
"Being able to be able to bounce back, and right away, I feel that's a good sign that this year is different," said Xander Bogaerts, who had an RBI single in the seventh-inning rally. "We should forget about last year and continue to build on what we have going on right now. That's a really good sign, a great indicator."
While it was opening day for the Giants, the Padres are three games into their season.
Melvin managed the Padres for the last two seasons before leaving for the Giants with a year left on his contract. He skippered the Padres into the 2022 NL Championship Series and then presided over a disappointing season that included reports of an irreparable relationship with general manager A.J. Preller. He was replaced by Mike Shildt.
Seidler, who pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in an effort to bring a World Series title to his adopted hometown, died on Nov. 14 at age 63. His widow, Sheel, threw the ceremonial first pitch.
Tatis wore a pair of custom cleats with an image of Seidler on the sides.
"I feel they came out just perfect," Tatis said. "It's part of our story; he's part of my story. The guy was with me, holding my back in my darkest moment and cheering me the most when I was in the highest. Everything we're doing this season is for Peter, and for the years to come, too."
Seidler was in attendance on April 20 in Phoenix when Tatis returned from an 80-game suspension for positive test for a performance-enhancing drug.
Jung Hoo Lee hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning of his first big league game to put the Giants ahead 3-2 in the seventh.
But the Padres responded in the bottom of the inning. Luis Campusano hit a leadoff single and took third on Tyler Wade's single to right. Campusano scored on catcher Patrick Bailey's errant throw when Wade stole second. Xander Bogaerts hit a go-ahead RBI single two batters ahead of Cronenworth's double.
Lee singled in the fifth for his first big league hit. He played seven seasons in Korea before signing a $113 million, six-year contract with the Giants. Nick Ahmed hit a tying RBI single ahead of Lee in the seventh.
Padres newcomer Yuki Matsui (1-0) got the win and Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save. He gave up Michael Conforto's home run for his third hit.
Luke Jackson (0-1) left with an injury in the seventh after facing three batters and failing to get an out.
Padres ace Yu Darvish allowed one run and five hits while striking out seven and walking one in his second start this season.
Logan Webb, the 2023 NL Cy Young Award runner-up to new teammate Blake Snell, was perfect the first time through the order. He allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, with five strikeouts and two walks.
In the sixth, Tatis went from first to third on Cronenworth's groundout down the first base line. He was stranded, but it impressed Shildt.
"Tati going first to third on a ball back to first base side, that was sexy. That was fun baseball," Shildt said.
"I agree." Tatis said with a laugh. "Aggressive baseball all the way around. That's what we're going to do for the rest of the year."
UP NEXT
Giants LHP Kyle Harrison is scheduled to start opposite Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (0-0, 16.88).