Yangervis Solarte is not a guy who will put up All-Star numbers … but he is every bit as valuable as any team’s most prolific offensive threat.
Solarte is the unquestioned emotional leader of the Padres and he came up huge for them again in a 7-5, 11-inning win over the Brewers in Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon.
Solarte started the scoring with a solo home run in the 2nd inning, touching off a bit of a home run derby between the Padres and Brewers. By the time the game ended the teams had combined for eight dingers, five of them hit by the Padres.
Milwaukee took the lead back in the 3rd inning with a pair of homers, one an inside-the-park job by Orlando Arcia and the other a 2-run traditional blast by Eric Thames, his 20th of the season to put the Brewers on top 3-1.
The Padres got one back on an RBI double by Hunter Renfroe (the only run they did not score via home run) then Wil Myers unloaded on a 3-0 pitch from Chase Anderson to tie it 3-3.
Padres rookie starter Dinelson Lamet helped keep it tied with 12 strikeouts in 6.0 innings so it went to the 10th inning knotted 3-3. That’s where Solarte thought he won the game. Yangervis demolished a 2-run home run to right field that gave the Padres a 5-3 lead with closer Brandon Maurer on the mound.
The lead lasted two batters.
Maurer hit one guy then served up a 2-run bomb to Keon Broxton that re-tied things 5-5 and sent it to the 11th. It would not go to the 12th.
Cory Spangenberg and Chase d’Arnaud both hit solo home runs to put the Padres up 7-5 and rookie closer-in-training Phil Maton did not allow another comeback. Maton came on with one out and a runner on and struck out both hitters he faced to get his first MLB save.
San Diego can win the series on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.
