Cronenworth notches first 2-HR game in Padres' rout

SAN DIEGO -- When Jake Cronenworth is flourishing, he transports the Padres to a place that usually results in a victory. He carried them there once again on Saturday, as his two home runs led to a 10-3 win over the Brewers.

Petco Park turned into the “Crone Zone,” a welcome sight for the Padres after they had dropped the first two games of the series against Milwaukee, as well as four of their past five contests.

For Cronenworth, it was the first multihomer game of his career, as he went 3-for-4 with a career-high six RBIs.

Cronenworth put the Padres ahead in the fifth inning with his first two-run homer. Then in the seventh, he put the game away with another two-run shot that came with a raised fist as he rounded the bases.

The Padres’ offense, which had been sputtering of late, was in full bloom with Cronenworth at the helm.

“It’s tough because we play so much and there’s the ebbs and flows of the season no matter where you’re at,’’ Cronenworth said. “But if you can have a game where it seems like everybody’s having a quality at-bat, everybody feels good. It’s one of those things that hopefully rolls on for a little bit.’’

Given the Padres’ stacked batting order, it’s easy to overlook Cronenworth. But rivals do so at their own risk.

“You look at the names in our lineup, and maybe he’s not at the forefront,’’ manager Bob Melvin said. “But everyone knows what he means to this team.’’

This was an especially meaningful triumph for San Diego given how the Brewers opened the four-game series. When the Padres fell behind in the first inning for the third straight game, a sense of déjà vu was evident.

But this time, San Diego answered right back, as Cronenworth and Nelson Cruz hit consecutive RBI singles off Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta, ensuring that the game was tied at the end of one frame.

“When you come back, score some runs, take the lead and keep adding on, that is good for our personality,’’ Melvin said. “Just pass the baton and make the guy throw some pitches.’’

Seven of the Padres’ 10 runs came with two outs, which was particularly satisfying.

“We have the ability to give up some runs or get behind and still have the offense to win ballgames,’’ Melvin said. “We’re not going to score 10 runs every [game], but we expect to have better at-bats.’’

Few anticipated the news of Cronenworth signing a rich extension right after Opening Day. But the Padres, not surprisingly, were aggressive in securing Cronenworth, a two-time All-Star, through the 2030 season with a seven-year, $80 million pact.

That’s why Melvin somewhat scoffed at the suggestion that Cronenworth plays in anonymity.

“Not now with that contract,’’ he said.

Cronenworth hit pay dirt on Saturday, one day after losing an argument with Melvin about taking Friday’s game off. Maybe getting the 29-year-old off his feet will give the Padres solid footing going forward.

“I don’t know if that has anything to do with it,’’ Melvin said. “But at least I have some ammo for the next time.”

The Padres seized their first lead of the series in the second inning on Manny Machado’s run-scoring single, following Trent Grisham’s double. While the pitching was keen, the offense stole the show.

San Diego banged out 12 hits, and Cronenworth shared the spotlight with his teammates. Four Padres had multihit games, with Xander Bogaerts tallying three like Cronenworth. Grisham had two knocks, as did Cruz, who underwent offseason eye surgery and has experienced a dramatic improvement in his vision.

“I can follow pitches and track them better,’’ he said.

Cruz’s vision for the Padres’ offense, which has yet to hit its stride? He said Saturday’s output shouldn't be an outlier.

“That should be typical,’’ he said. “That’s what we’re looking to do every day.’’

And when others look the other way for Cronenworth’s plate appearances?

“You want him to be sneaky like that so they don’t pay attention to you,’’ Cruz said. “It’s nice for him to have this type of lineup.’’

It’s nice for this type of lineup to have him, too.

“It hasn’t been there for us consistently, but we feel like we have the ability to do that,’’ Melvin said. “Hopefully it’s the start of a trend.’’