David Peralta Hits First Home Run of the Season, Propels Padres to Victory Over Rangers
David Peralta broke a tie with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, marking his first home run of the season and helping the San Diego Padres secure a 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
Peralta’s impressive 427-foot shot into the Texas bullpen in right-center field contributed to the Padres’ 10th win in their last 13 games. Earlier in the game, Manny Machado’s two-run blast in the third inning ended the Rangers’ three-game streak of home shutouts.
Jurickson Profar, celebrating his first All-Star selection as a National League starter, delivered two hits on the night. This achievement came nearly 12 years after he debuted in the majors as a 19-year-old with the Rangers, making the occasion especially meaningful as the All-Star Game approaches on July 16 in his former home city.
Texas managed to tie the game in the third inning with Corey Seager’s RBI double, who returned to the lineup after missing two games due to injury. The Rangers briefly took the lead 4-2 in the fifth inning before San Diego rallied.
In the sixth inning, Luis Arraez’s RBI single leveled the score, setting the stage for Peralta’s decisive home run. The veteran Venezuelan, playing for his fourth team in three seasons, connected off Dane Dunning (4-7), who had shifted from starter to reliever.
Adrián Morejón (2-1), a left-handed reliever, retired all five batters he faced after Yuki Matsui, a rookie southpaw from Japan, struck out four in his outing. Robert Suarez secured his 21st save, striking out two batters in the final inning.
Machado’s home run off Jon Gray in the third inning ended the Rangers’ streak of three consecutive home shutouts, giving the Padres an early 2-0 lead. Despite Texas briefly taking the lead, San Diego’s late offensive surge sealed the victory and ended the Rangers’ six-game home winning streak.
The game saw lineup adjustments and defensive shifts, including Seager moving to third base and batting second, demonstrating versatility amidst ongoing team adjustments.
