The San Diego Padres snapped the Los Angeles Dodgers’ seven-game winning streak with a dramatic 2-1 victory on Friday night, thanks to a walk-off hit by newcomer Luis Arraez in the ninth inning.
Arraez, acquired in a recent trade with the Miami Marlins, made an immediate impact in his first home game with the Padres. With pinch-runner Tyler Wade on base, Arraez singled to center field off Michael Grove to bring in the winning run, sparking a jubilant celebration at Petco Park.
Reflecting on his clutch performance, Arraez expressed his excitement and gratitude for the support from fans, especially on such a memorable occasion with his family in attendance. This came after he made history the previous day by becoming the first player to achieve four hits in his Padres debut during a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Padres traded for Luis Arraez exactly a week ago and now he's walking off the rival Dodgers in his home debut 🔥
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/PgBTpMBQ7b
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 11, 2024
Teammate Luis Campusano praised Arraez’s ability to consistently put the ball in play and highlighted his positive impact on the team both on and off the field.
The pitching duel between San Diego’s Michael King and Los Angeles’ Tyler Glasnow kept the game tight. King impressed with 11 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings, while Glasnow struck out 10 batters and surrendered only one hit, a home run by Campusano.
Despite the Dodgers tying the game in the eighth inning, the Padres ultimately prevailed, improving their record against their NL West rivals to 4-2.
The game was also marked by a somber moment of silence in honor of former Padres player Sean Burroughs, who passed away at the age of 44. Burroughs, a first-round pick for the Padres in 1998, was remembered fondly by the baseball community.
Padres Traded For Luis Arraez Just a Week Ago
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 03: Luis Arraez #2 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates with teammates after scoring on a Jorge Polanco three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
In a blockbuster deal on Friday last week, the San Diego Padres made a significant move by acquiring Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins, along with nearly $7.9 million. This trade involved four players heading to Miami, leaving the Padres responsible for only the major league minimum salary for Arraez.
Despite joining his new team late on Saturday afternoon, Arraez wasted no time in making an impact, going 4-for-6 and scoring two runs in his debut with the Padres. The acquisition of Arraez, a two-time batting champion who previously won the 2022 AL batting title with the Minnesota Twins and the 2023 NL crown with the Marlins, bolsters the Padres’ lineup significantly.
The Marlins agreed to pay a substantial portion of Arraez’s remaining salary for the season, amounting to $7,898,602 out of $8,491,398. This arrangement reduces Arraez’s cost to the Padres to just $592,796, which is a prorated share of the minimum salary.
The trade underscores the Padres’ commitment to strengthening their roster for a playoff push, as they aim to compete at the highest level in the MLB. Arraez’s arrival adds depth and talent to the Padres’ lineup, positioning them as serious contenders in the league.
