Padres Defeat Pirates 8-2 Behind Castellanos and Cronenworth

San Diego clinches series with four-run seventh inning rally

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:13pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the colors of the Padres and Pirates uniforms, representing the key plays and movements of the baseball game.The Padres' offensive explosion against the Pirates is captured in a cubist, geometric style that reflects the dynamic action of the game.San Diego Today

The San Diego Padres defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 on Wednesday, with Nick Castellanos hitting a two-run double and Jake Cronenworth adding a two-run homer in a four-run seventh inning that broke open a scoreless game.

Why it matters

The Padres' win helps them clinch the three-game series against the Pirates, continuing their strong start to the 2026 MLB season. Castellanos and Cronenworth's big hits in the seventh inning proved to be the difference in the game.

The details

The game was scoreless until the Padres' four-run rally in the seventh inning. Castellanos' two-run double started the scoring, and Cronenworth followed with a two-run homer to give the Padres a comfortable lead.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Nick Castellanos

An outfielder for the San Diego Padres who hit a key two-run double in the seventh inning to spark the team's rally.

Jake Cronenworth

An infielder for the San Diego Padres who hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to extend the team's lead.

San Diego Padres

The Major League Baseball team that defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Major League Baseball team that lost to the San Diego Padres 8-2 on Wednesday.

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The takeaway

The Padres' victory over the Pirates showcases the team's offensive firepower, with key contributions from Castellanos and Cronenworth helping them clinch the series. This win continues the Padres' strong start to the 2026 season.