​SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Jake Cronenworth’s bat proved pivotal in the San Diego Padres’ 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. Cronenworth, who wasn’t sure he would play after taking a ball to the face during batting practice and being escorted from the field for evaluation, ultimately stepped back into the lineup. “I was just taking my usual picks at first base and it clipped the lip,” he said. “It bounced up, hit me right in the nose, and bleeding started everywhere.” About an hour later, he tested himself in the batting cages, and once he felt fine, he decided to play.
Cronenworth acknowledged this has been a challenging season, especially after missing two months with a concussion and returning only eight games ago. The Padres (45-46) also benefited from the return of two pitchers who helped limit a potent Diamondbacks offense that flashed its upside a day earlier.
Germán Márquez started and immediately found trouble, taking 31 pitches to record his first out. He steadyed the ship afterward, delivering four strong innings and finishing with five scoreless frames on three hits and four strikeouts. At one point, he touched 98 mph on the radar gun. “It feels good throwing 98 again, and I want to keep that pace up,” Márquez said.
In San Diego, Márquez’s early struggles gave way to resilience as he navigated the Arizona lineup. The Diamondbacks threatened in the top of the first, with Ketel Marte opening the game with a double to right after Tuesday’s prior contest featured a triple. Geraldo Perdomo then hit a grounder to first that Cronenworth misplayed, loading the bases. Márquez got a bit of help from his defense when Manny Machado fielded a ground ball and threw to home for the force out, then walked Max Kepler to re-load the bases and give Arizona a 1-0 lead. Márquez was able to escape further damage, leaving the inning with the score still in Arizona’s favor.
Padres manager Craig Stammen praised Márquez for his resilience in escaping the jam. “Just being able to get out of that, somehow, some way, and especially limiting the damage the way he did, honestly gave us momentum in the dugout going into the next inning,” Stammen said.
San Diego answered in the bottom of the first. Fernando Tatis Jr. opened the frame with a double to right, and Jackson Merrill followed with an RBI single to knot the game at 1-1. The inning continued to unfold favorably for the Padres, who capitalized on the momentum generated by Cronenworth’s early return and the pitching staff’s ability to keep Arizona’s offense in check.
The game’s turning point came as the Padres rallied for a multi-run performance later, aided by timely hitting and solid defense. Cronenworth’s timely bat helped spark San Diego’s offense, and the bullpen stepped in to preserve the lead, closing out the game with a strong five-inning showing from Márquez and contributing arms that held Arizona at bay.
As the season presses on, the Padres will look to Cronenworth to provide offense and a steady presence in the lineup, especially after his recent brush with injury. His willingness to play through discomfort and his impact at the plate underscore the resilience the team has leaned on as they navigate a competitive stretch in a tightly contested division.