The Padres' ninth-inning rally is crushed by a Will Smith walk-off HR, giving the Dodgers a 4-3 win on June 20. Recap Bogaerts' clutch hit and the stunning end.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a classic baseball gut punch. One moment, the San Diego Padres were riding high, having clawed back from the brink to tie the game in the top of the ninth. The next, they were walking off the field at Chavez Ravine in stunned silence after a pinch-hit, walk-off home run from Will Smith off closer Robert Suarez sealed a 4-3 victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A game defined by resilience ended in heartbreak, leaving Friar Faithful to ponder what might have been.
The Dodgers' top hitters were largely held in check, going a combined 1-for-16 on the night.
The final frame was pure chaos. Trailing by two, the Padres mounted a furious comeback. A crucial sacrifice fly from Jake Cronenworth brought them within one before Xander Bogaerts delivered the clutch hit of the night—a ringing RBI double to tie the game at 3-3. The dugout erupted, the momentum had swung, and it felt like the Padres were about to steal one on the road. But the Dodgers had the final say, with Smith's blast off Suarez ending the drama in the most painful way possible.
Despite the devastating ending, the pitching staff showed its mettle. Starter Dylan Cease battled through four innings, allowing just one run and keeping the team in the game. The bullpen then took over and performed admirably, largely silencing a potent Dodger lineup. Holding their top hitters to a miserable 1-for-16 is no small feat and speaks to the quality of the arms the Padres possess, even when stretched thin. It's a silver lining on a very dark cloud.
The team's resilience is being tested daily, a fact Manager Mike Shildt acknowledged when discussing the club's pitching injuries. The latest updates paint a mixed picture. Michael King's pinched nerve will keep him on the IL through the All-Star break, a significant blow to the rotation. While Joe Musgrove continues his long road back from Tommy John surgery, the most immediate hope lies with Yu Darvish. The ace is scheduled for another simulated game today, June 20, and is tracking for a return in late June or early July. His presence can't come soon enough for a staff running on fumes.
This loss stings, there's no way around it. Losing a walk-off to your biggest rival is a tough pill to swallow. But the fight the Padres showed in the ninth is the identity of this 39-33 team. They now sit third in a tight NL West, and every game matters. As they navigate this challenging stretch without key arms, the focus shifts to surviving until Darvish returns. The cavalry is coming, but the Padres need to keep battling to stay within striking distance.
