Sun Jul 06 04:20:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Padres Walk-Off Rangers in Thrilling Independence Day Showdown**

**SAN DIEGO, CA -** A sellout crowd of 45,114 packed Petco Park on Thursday to witness a dramatic Independence Day victory as the San Diego Padres edged out the Texas Rangers 3-2 in a tense, extra-innings affair. Jake Cronenworth played hero, delivering a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th to ignite the stadium and kick off the Padres’ crucial 10-game homestand leading into the All-Star break.

The Rangers initially took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, capitalizing on a rare defensive miscue by Fernando Tatis Jr., who misjudged a liner from Marcus Semien. Padres starter Randy Vasquez pitched well, allowing only three hits through six innings.

Manny Machado, named to the All-Star team, answered in the fourth with a monstrous 440-foot home run, cutting the Rangers’ lead in half. He is now three hits away from his 2,000th hit in the majors. Tatis Jr. then atoned for his earlier error, tripling in the sixth and scoring on a single by Luis Arraez to tie the game. Despite loading the bases, the Padres failed to capitalize, leaving the game tied at 2-2.

The Padres bullpen, featuring Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam, and Robert Suarez, held the Rangers scoreless, setting the stage for late-inning drama. Texas threatened in the 10th but Adrian Morejon kept the Rangers off the board, paving the way for Cronenworth’s clutch hit. With the bases loaded and two outs, Cronenworth lined a single down the right-field line, driving in Jackson Merrill for the winning run and securing the Padres’ fourth walk-off victory of the season.

The Padres look to secure the series win on Saturday night with Stephen Kolek taking the mound against Jack Leiter.

**(Stay tuned to NBC 7 San Diego for continuous coverage of the Padres and local San Diego sports.)**

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