Jurickson Profar hits a grand slam, and Manny Machado adds a dramatic home run as the San Diego Padres overcome the Washington Nationals 9-7 in a thrilling game at Petco Park.
Bollywood Fever: In a high-energy game at Petco Park, Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado powered the San Diego Padres to a 9-7 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Profar’s grand slam and Machado’s dramatic two-run homer highlighted another wild encounter between these two teams.
Profar’s Grand Slam Ignites the Crowd
Jurickson Profar, who has been having a career year at 31 and is leading the All-Star balloting for NL outfielders, hit his fourth career grand slam in the sixth inning. This marked his 11th homer of the season. Profar’s blast came off Derek Law and sent the Petco Park crowd into a frenzy. Profar watched the ball sail just inside the foul pole, then tossed his bat aside, patted his chest, and gestured to the Padres’ dugout as he began his trot.
Despite his significant contribution, Profar downplayed the emotional aspect of his grand slam. “I just have the bases loaded, again, and I was trying to come through for my team,” he said.
Benches-Clearing Incident
The game’s intensity was set early when a benches-clearing incident occurred in the first inning. Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz initiated a confrontation with Profar, which led to players and coaches swarming the field. Machado intervened, putting a hand on Ruiz’s shoulder to de-escalate the situation. Despite the confrontation, no punches were thrown, and plate umpire Brian Walsh issued warnings to both teams. Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore later hit Profar with a pitch but was not ejected.
Padres manager Mike Shildt, however, was ejected for continuing to argue after the warning. “I got ejected across the field,” Shildt said. “If you’re going to warn both teams, and the guy gets hit 98 (mph) who’s in the middle of all the issue, we’ve got to do something about that.”
Machado’s Heroics
Following the incident, Manny Machado quickly made an impact by hitting a two-run homer off Gore, who had made his big league debut with the Padres in 2022. Machado’s homer sent the crowd into a frenzy, marking another key moment in the game.
Nationals’ Response and Padres’ Comeback
The Nationals initially took a 4-2 lead in the third inning, with Jesse Winker hitting a two-run homer, Lane Thomas contributing an RBI triple, and Jacob Young adding a run-scoring single. However, the Padres responded in the fifth inning, reclaiming the lead at 5-4 with an RBI single from Jake Cronenworth and a two-run single from Donovan Solano.
Closing Out the Game
The game remained tense until the final innings. Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his 20th save, securing the victory for the Padres. Rookie Adam Mazur, recalled from Triple-A El Paso, earned his first big league win despite allowing four runs and six hits over five innings.
CJ Abrams stood out for the Nationals with three hits, including an RBI single in the ninth, and walked twice, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Padres’ offensive firepower.
Looking Ahead
The Padres’ win continues their competitive push, with Profar and Machado leading the charge. The Nationals will need to regroup as they look to rebound in the series.
This thrilling game is another testament to the unpredictable and exciting nature of baseball, showcasing dramatic performances and high-stakes moments that keep fans on the edge of their seats.
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