Dylan Cease allowed Cleveland's only hit of the night and struck out 10 over seven stellar innings, while David Peralta and Jake Cronenworth each homered during a four-run eighth, as the visiting San Diego Padres beat the Guardians 7-0 on Saturday. One night after San Diego lost 7-0, Cease (9-8) recorded a second straight dominating effort to help the Padres even the set by winning for just the second time in nine games. The veteran right-hander yielded only Tyler Freeman's third-inning triple and walked one during his exemplary 97-pitch performance. Cease allowed one hit and fanned 11 over six innings of San Diego's 4-0 victory against Atlanta in his previous start on July 13. Meanwhile, No. 9 hitter Luis Campusano delivered an RBI single during the Padres' three-run fourth and another in the eighth of the needed victory. Gavin Williams (0-2) allowed three runs, six hits and two walks in just 3 2/3 innings for the AL Central-leading Guardians, who are 8-12 since June 26. They've also been shut out four times in the last nine contests. San Diego snapped a 14-inning scoreless skid with that breakout fourth. After striking out his first five times up in this series, Padres All-Star Jackson Merrill laced a one-out double to left. Peralta walked and Ha-Seong Kim singled to load the bases. Campusano then lined a run-scoring hit to left, and Williams issued a bases-loaded walk to Luis Arraez. The right-hander's night ended when he plunked Cronenworth with the bags full and two out later in the frame. While Cease continued to cruise, the Padres officially took control in the eighth against Cleveland's Spencer Howard. Peralta opened the inning by just clearing the right-field wall for his second homer of the season. Kim then reached on a throwing error by shortstop Daniel Schneemann, went to second on Howard's wild pitch and scored via Campusano's second single. After two were out and a man on, Cronenworth drove the ball into the seats near the right-field foul pole for his 14th. San Diego's Jeremiah Estrada and Yuki Matsui each retired the side in the eighth and ninth, respectively. --Field Level Media
Jul 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports