SAN DIEGO—Jurickson Profar homered and reliever Jeremiah Estrada extended his club-record strikeout streak to 13 consecutive batters, the most in Major League Baseball’s expansion era, as the San Diego Padres gained their third straight win with a 4–0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
Estrada achieved his milestone by striking out the side in the ninth inning. He celebrated by pounding his chest and glove, and blowing a kiss to the sky. A few minutes later, he got a Gatorade shower from his teammates.
All 13 strikeouts in the streak have been swinging.
“It’s kind of hard to believe,” said Estrada, 25, who was picked up off waivers from the Chicago Cubs in November. “I feel like I just got done playing a video game, and I finally accomplished a mission that I’ve been trying to go after for so long.”
Estrada, who is from the Palm Springs, Calif., area, said he knew usual closer Robert Suarez was unavailable after getting consecutive saves.
“It’s hard for it sink in right now. I just feel like I did my job, and we got the win,” said Estrada, who was recalled from Triple-A on April 26.
Knuckleballer Matt Waldron pitched seven impressive innings—his longest stint in the major leagues—for the win.
Waldron said watching Estrada is “incredible. He looks like he’s having a lot of fun out there and his confidence ... he was in Triple-A like a month ago, so it’s awesome to see him dominate at this level.”
Padres Manager Mike Shildt said Estrada has “an elite fastball, and then tonight he was throwing some splitters that were filthy. ... He has a special arm and special stuff.”
Estrada said his primary off-speed pitch is a split-circle-change.
The Padres’ win streak follows five straight home losses. Included in that stretch was a three-game sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies, who have the National League’s second-worst record, and two games in which they were overpowered by the New York Yankees, who have the American League’s best record. The Marlins have the National League’s worst record.
The Padres are just 13–18 at home.
Profar continues to have a great season after signing a one-year, $1 million deal to return to San Diego.
He went deep against Jesús Luzardo with Fernando Tatis Jr. aboard on a single, with one out in the first inning. The ball sailed over the outstretched glove of leaping center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. It was Profar’s eighth homer this season.
The Padres hit three straight singles with one out in the fifth, with Profar’s base hit bringing in Luis Arraez, whom San Diego acquired from Miami on May 4.
Donovan Solano had three hits, including an RBI double in the eighth, for the Padres.
Waldron (3–5) held the Marlins to six hits while striking out eight and walking none.
Luzardo (2–4) allowed seven hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.
