Jake Cronenworth is greeted with the Padres home run string after blowing the fence.
Photo: Will Newton / Getty Images
On an explosive night in which one of their stars hit for the cycle, the San Diego Padres batted like never before in their history and delivered the big beating of the season in the major leagues by scoring 24 runs in the country’s capital.
Jake Cronenworth completed the third cycle (single, double, triple and home run) in Padres history to guide the 24-8 Friday night massacre over the Washington Nationals. San Diego’s racing record was 20.
Cronenworth hit a two-run double in the second inning, a one-run triple in the third and a solo home run in the fifth, then completed the cycle with an infield single in the sixth set.
As if being an All-Star wasn’t enough …
Jake Cronenworth has the third cycle in #Fathers history! pic.twitter.com/W9VDe9ijtA
– San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 17, 2021
Though Cronenworth was the man of the night, the most decisive hitter was Wil Myers, who hit a grand slam for a 10-touch second inning and finished the night with two home runs and 7 RBIs.
There’s no separation of powers in #SlamDiego. pic.twitter.com/Z57AHdxG99
– San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 17, 2021
They also homered for the Padres Tommy Pham – who had four hits and 5 runs scored – and Jorge Mateo. For Washington, Juan Soto hit two home runs.
The Padres improved to 54-40 and remain locked in a brutal fight in the Western Division with the San Francisco Giants (58-32) and Los Angeles Dodgers (57-35), which a few days ago they scored 22 runs for Arizona.
If the season ended today, San Francisco would be the best team in MLB, while Dodgers and Padres would have to play a life or death wild card game despite the fact that they are two of the most complete teams, if not the two most complete in all of baseball.
This Friday, the Giants beat St. Louis 7-2 and the Dodgers 10-4 over Colorado.
.