Jul 4, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King (34) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports Michael King threw 5 1/3 quality innings, helping lead the San Diego Padres to a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.
King (7-5) allowed just one run on four hits, striking out five and walking two. Donovan Solano finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, while former Ranger Jurickson Profar had a home run among his two hits for San Diego, which has won 11 of 14 games. Luis Arraez also finished with two hits for the Padres.
Max Scherzer (1-2) threw 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball. In his third start of the season, Scherzer struck out three and walked one. Josh Smith and Corey Seager each had two hits for Texas, while Wyatt Langford drove in the lone Ranger run. Texas has now dropped eight of 10.
With the game still scoreless in the top of the fourth, Profar led off with a single. Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado were then retired, but Profar advanced to third on Scherzer’s wild pitch.
Solano then slashed an RBI double, scoring Profar and giving the Padres a 1-0 lead. San Diego threatened to tack on as David Peralta singled to left, but Langford threw Solano out at home, keeping the Rangers’ deficit at one run.
In the bottom of the fourth, Adolis Garcia worked a one-out walk before stealing his seventh base of the year with two outs. In a mirror of the top of the fourth, Garcia was thrown out at home by Profar on Leody Taveras’ single to left field.
In the top of the sixth, Profar connected on his 12th homer of the year, a 361-foot solo shot to right, doubling San Diego’s lead off Scherzer.
After retiring Smith, King allowed a double to Seager and a walk to Nathaniel Lowe. Jeremiah Estrada then came in to relieve King after 92 pitches.
Estrada got Garcia to fly out, but Langford singled to score Seager and cut the Texas deficit in half.
With Scherzer still pitching in the top of the seventh, Solano led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Peralta then grounded out, ending Scherzer’s day.
Jose Urena replaced Scherzer, allowing Ha-Seong Kim to score Solano on a sacrifice fly that gave San Diego a 3-1 advantage. Urena threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Texas.
Padres closer Robert Suarez issued a leadoff walk in the ninth but retired the next three hitters to secure his 22nd save in 23 tries.
–Field Level Media
