It’s been a rough season for Padres’ starter Blake Snell, owning a 5.24 ERA going into the rubber match Sunday. But he put all that behind himself with seven shutout frames, allowing just two hits, and striking out 13 batters while throwing a season-high 108 pitches in a 2-0 San Diego victory.
It was just the third time Snell pitched into the seventh inning, but the second time the left-hander completed seven innings. He went seven shutout innings while giving up one hit in the June 4 home game against the New York Mets.
Snell threw his fastball and slider for 105 of 108 pitches, while throwing his curveball twice and changeup once.
For the offense, Jake Cronenworth took control, hitting an RBI single in the first and a solo shot to The Crone Zone in the fourth inning. Those were the only runs needed for a Padres victory Sunday.
Trade deadline acquisition Adam Frazier recorded his first three-hit game with San Diego with a double and two singles while scoring the game’s first run.
Catcher Austin Nola extended his hitting streak to eight games with a one-out double in the fourth. Nola is batting .522/.520/.652 during that stretch while raising his season on-base percentage to .402.
Play of the Game:
Facing the leadoff batter of the second inning, Blake Snell threw a 1-2 fastball that was heading for the 5.5-hole before shortstop Jake Cronenworth made a diving stop, then threw a two-hopper to first baseman Eric Hosmer, who finished the astonishing play with a nice snag.
CRONE ZONED INTO THE FIFTH DIMENSION 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xtROMxeFCY
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 8, 2021
Player of the Game:
Blake Snell was lights out in a much-needed performance over a team like the D-Backs. Not only was it needed to lift up Snell’s confidence, but for the Padres as they were one loss away from dropping a home series to the worst team in the MLB.
Up next:
The Padres will begin a new three-game series with the last-place Miami Marlins Monday night as Joe Musgrove looks to give the Padres a three-game win streak for the first time since July 21-23 against the Atlanta Braves and Marlins.