AP

Machado homers in hit parade, Padres pelt Cubs 19-5.

Jun 15, 2022, 9:11 AM | Updated: 10:36 pm

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado blows a bubble as he watches his two-run home run off Chicago Cubs ...

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado blows a bubble as he watches his two-run home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Rowan Wick during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


              Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Killian delivers during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
            
              San Diego Padres' Manny Machado watches his 1,500the career hit, an RBI single off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Killian, during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
            
              San Diego Padres starting pitcher Ryan Weathers delivers during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel watches his two-run single off San Diego Padres starting pitcher Ryan Weathers during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
            
              San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth watches his two-run double off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Killian during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
            
              San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth watches his two-run double off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Caleb Killian during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Jonathan Villar, left, scores past San Diego Padres catcher Jorge Alfaro on a two-run single by Christopher Morel during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
            
              The San Diego Padres celebrate the team's 19-5 win over the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
            
              San Diego Padres' Manny Machado blows a bubble as he watches his two-run home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Rowan Wick during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

CHICAGO (AP) — Manny Machado lined a single for his 1,500th hit and hit a two-run homer in a four-RBI night to help the San Diego Padres beat the reeling Chicago Cubs 19-5 on Wednesday night.

Machado was one of five Padres with three hits as San Diego routed the Cubs for the second straight hot night at Wrigley Field. Jorge Alfaro added a two-run homer and three RBIs as San Diego improved to 40-24 in winning its third straight and seventh in nine.

“It’s a great milestone to accomplish,” Machado said. “I just go out there and play baseball. Obviously winning ballgames is most important thing to me and the milestones will come with winning baseball games.”

And what about someday joining the elite group — currently 33 — who have reached 3,000 hits? Machado is only 29 years old.

“I haven’t even thought about that yet,” Machado said. “Obviously that’s everyone’s goal. If I’m healthy, anything is possible.”

That sounds like a mantra for the suddenly hot-swinging Padres, who are on the tails of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

Jake Cronenworth and Jurickson Profar each doubled twice and had three hits for the Padres, who remained percentage points behind the Dodgers. Luke Voit hit a solo homer off Frank Schwindel, mopping up in the ninth, for his third hit.

“I think it’s just when guys are having their name called in in the lineup, no matter whether it’s to start or pinch hit, they’re getting huge hits in big spots,” Cronenworth said. “In the first two months it was Hos (Eric Hosmer) and Manny who were carrying the team. Now I think everyone has come around and we’re playing as a group, which is pretty dangerous.”

Rookie Christopher Morel had a solo shot and three RBIs for the Cubs, losers of nine straight. San Diego has outscored Chicago 35-11 in the first three of a four-game series.

Machado reached his milestone in the first and drove in the game’s first run. The five-time All-Star’s homer in the fifth was his 11th and capped a six-run rally that put the game away.

Machado became the 17th player to have 1,500 hits and 250 homers before turning 30. He also had an infield single and walked twice in going 3 for 4.

Interim manager Ryan Flaherty thought Machado was relieved to reach the mark.

“The next 1,500 will be even more special,” Flaherty said. “He was anxiously swinging the last couple of days, so it’s good to get that one out of the way.”

Cronenworth had two RBIs in his third straight three-hit game, the first time a Padre has done that since Kevin Kouzmanoff August 2009. The 28-year-old infielder has nine hits in 14 at-bats in three games after entering the series batting just .221.

Both starters, Chicago’s Caleb Kilian and San Diego’ Ryan Weathers, were recalled from the minors to fill gaps in their team’s rotations – and struggled with control.

“We haven’t been very good,” Chicago manager David Ross said. “We have to pitch a little better than we’ve pitched the last couple of night.”

Craig Stammen (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. Kilian (0-1) was making his second career start.

After Machado’s run-scoring hit, San Diego increased its lead to 2-0 on Alfaro’s force out in the first.

The Cubs pounced on Weathers’ wildness in the second. He walked two with the bases loaded to force in runs, and Morel followed with a single that put Chicago ahead 4-2.

After Kilian hit Ha-Seong Kim with a pitch in the fourth, the Padres sprayed three straight hits, capped by Cronenworth’ second double, to take a 5-4 lead.

The Padres added six more runs in the fifth to increase its lead to 11-4. Kim’s triple in the rally drove in two runs, then Machado’s shot to left-center capped it

Morel homered in the sixth for the Cubs, and the Padres blew it open with five in the seventh.

FOR STARTERS

Weathers, called up from Triple-A El Paso for his first start since last August, allowed four runs and six hits while walking four.

The 25-year-old Kilian was shaky in this one, following a no-decision in his debut on June 4 against St. Louis. This time, the 6-foot-4 righty allowed five runs and five hits with five walks in four innings.

Kilian was acquired in a trade that sent Kris Bryant to the Giants last July.

SKIDS

The Cubs had a 12-game losing streak last season, running Aug. 5-16.

PADRES MOVE

To make room for Weathers, the Padres optioned LHP Ray Kerr to Triple-A El Paso.

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Padres: Interim manager and quality control coach Ryan Flaherty had no update before the game on any personnel out with COVID-19. Manager Bob Melvin, bench coach Ryan Christenson, RHP Mike Clevinger and LHP Adrian Morejon remain in coronavirus protocols.

Cubs: To make room for Kilian on the roster, the Chicago placed INF Nick Madrigal on the 10-day IL with a left groin strain, retroactive to June 12. Madrigal last played on Friday at New York against the Yankees. … Manager David Ross said OF Seiya Suzuki (left ring finger sprain) is throwing and has resumed some baseball activities, but isn’t hitting yet.

UP NEXT Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (7-0, 1.50) faces Cubs RHP Matt Swarmer (1-1, 4.24) in the series finale on Thursday afternoon. Musgrove will pitch on five days’ rest, and the Padres’ 6-foot-5 ace hasn’t allowed a run in two previous starts with five days’ rest this season.

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Machado homers in hit parade, Padres pelt Cubs 19-5.