Padres trade for Soto, then rout Rockies 13-5 in 1st game

SAN DIEGO -- — The San Diego Padres rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies 13-5 in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday, hours after obtaining superstar Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals in one of the biggest trades in baseball history.

The trade was announced a few minutes before first pitch. The crowd of 23,828 at Petco Park applauded loudly when an image of Soto and Josh Bell, who also came from the Nats, was shown on the video board early in the game.

An offense that will benefit greatly from the addition of Soto, a generational talent who is only 23, came to life after the Padres fell behind 3-0. Jurickson Profar had a career-high five hits and drove in two runs, Kim Ha-seong had a career-high four hits and two RBI, and Jake Cronenworth added a two-run homer.

Manager Bob Melvin said he was “ecstatic” about getting Soto.

"You're talking about a premier player, and you look at what Josh Bell is doing this year, too. Those are two big bats that will be somewhere in the middle of the order. I did a little scouting in my own head what it might look like come tomorrow.

“Man, to be on this side of it is pretty cool,” Melvin added.

The manager said it was tough for the Padres to lose first baseman Eric Hosmer, who declined to waive a no-trade provision that would have allowed him to be sent to Washington. Hosmer was then traded to Boston for left-hander Jay Groome.

“But you know what, it's baseball, you've got to be a pro and you've got to go out there and continue to play," Melvin said. "We've got some really good players coming in here and everybody knows that. Once they took the field, it's all about winning, playing hard, and winning baseball games."

Adding Soto and Bell “is going to help us a lot,” Profar said. “We're going to be an even better team.”

The Padres also obtained infielder Brandon Drury from Cincinnati.

“I'm excited for everybody that we got, but especially Juan Soto,” Profar said. “The hitter that he is, especially being so young and the things that he's already accomplished offensively.”

San Diego stumbled early, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning when Wil Myers hit into a double play. They then fell behind 3-0 after Yu Darvish (10-4) allowed a two-run home run by Randal Grichuk with no outs in the second and a solo shot by Brendan Rodgers leading off the fourth that reached the base of the batter’s eye in straightaway center field. It was the 10th for both players.

San Diego tied it in the fourth on Austin Nola's sacrifice fly followed by Trent Grisham's two-run homer. They went ahead 4-3 in the fifth on Kim's third hit, an RBI single. Myers originally was called out at the plate on a throw from left fielder Connor Joe, but the Padres challenged and the call was overturned. Rockies manager Bud Black was ejected after coming out and arguing with the umpires.

Cronenworth homered in the three-run sixth, his 10th. The Padres added four runs in the seventh and two in the eighth.

Darvish allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked two.

Rockies starter Ryan Feltner lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and eight hits. Jake Bird (1-3) took the loss.

THE TRADE

The Padres acquired Soto and Bell in exchange for rookie left-hander MacKenzie Gore, first baseman/DH Luke Voit and prospects James Wood, C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III and Jarlin Susana.

UP NEXT

Rockies RHP José Ureña (1-3, 4.67 ERA) and Padres RHP Reiss Knehr (0-0, 0.00) are scheduled to start the second game of the doubleheader.

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