Cease, bullpen combine for one-hitter in Padres' win over Guardians

CLEVELAND (AP) — Dylan Cease allowed one hit and struck out 10 in seven innings, Jake Cronenworth homered and drove in three runs and the San Diego Padres beat the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians 7-0 on Saturday night.

Jeremiah Estrada worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Yuki Matsui pitched a spotless ninth, completing the combined one-hitter as San Diego moved back above .500 at 51-50.

“This is a great bounce back and that’s exactly what we wanted,” Cronenworth said. “Dylan is really, really good and it seems like he’s finding his groove.”

Cease (9-8) only allowed two baserunners — Tyler Freeman tripled in the third and Andrés Giménez walked in the fifth — in extending his scoreless inning streak to 13. The right-hander’s 10 strikeouts raised his major league-best total to 159.

“Cease was some kind of special tonight and it showed,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “He had everything going. Outside of that pitch to Free over the plate, I don’t think we got anything to hit.”

It was Cease’s fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season and the 21st of his career. He was acquired from the White Sox in a five-player trade on March 13 and has already started a pair of one-hit shutouts for San Diego.

“It’s a lot of fun when you’re the aggressor and you’re more in control, like I was tonight,” Cease said. “I’m executing at a really high clip right now and teams aren’t picking up the ball as well.”

The Guardians lost for just the sixth time in their last 26 games at Progressive Field, but maintained the best home record in the majors at 31-12. They were one-hit for the first time since Sept. 23, 2023 against Baltimore.

Luis Campusano had a pair of RBI singles and David Peralta added a solo homer for San Diego.

“Dylan was in complete control, you couldn't ask for much more,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Give him an A-plus-plus.”

The Padres scored three runs in the fourth off Guardians starter Gavin Williams (0-2) and four more in the eighth against Spencer Howard.

Williams, who missed three months with right elbow discomfort, forced in two runs with the bases loaded by walking Luis Arraez and hitting Cronenworth. He gave up six hits and struck out five in 3 2/3 innings.

Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, the top overall pick in the draft out of Oregon State, took batting practice with the team. The Australian second baseman signed his first professional contract on Friday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: RHP Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session. The 31-year-old starter has been on the injured list since May 29, but Shildt said he is “clearly getting closer” to returning.

Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (left shoulder inflammation) has been shut down since making his last appearance July 10 at Detroit. Vogt said the reliever could be cleared to begin throwing during this homestand.

UP NEXT

Padres RHP Michael King (7-6, 3.41 ERA) faces Guardians RHP Ben Lively (8-5, 3.58 ERA) in the three-game series finale.

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