SAN DIEGO – Heading into the All-Star break eight games over .500, the San Diego Padres (52-44) drop the series finale against the Phillies, 2-1, on Sunday at Petco Park.
Prior to first pitch, the season series finale was viewed as a pitching duel between starting pitchers Nick Pivetta (9-2, 2.88 ERA) and Cristopher Sánchez (8-2, 2.50 ERA) . Nonetheless, both teams managed to work the bases regardless of the score. The Padres finished with seven hits, but left 10 runners on base, going 1-for-9 with RISP, while the Phillies went 2-for-7 with RISP and left eight on base.
It’s a lot of the same ole thing for the Padres in this one (and for most of the season as a whole). They managed to get runners on but aren’t able to capitalize on the opportunity, as they finished their ten game home stand with a 6-4 record.
“If you go 6-4 over the course of every 10 games you’re going to win 96 games,” Padres’ manager Mike Shildt said. ” A lot of good things took place… Ran into a tough guy tonight but created some opportunities for ourselves, just couldn’t get the proverbial big hit.”
After what looked to be a strong, scoreless first inning striking out Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, Pivetta walked Bryce Harper, which led Nick Castellanos to reach on base due to a throwing error by Manny Machado. The following batter, J.T. Realmuto would reach-on to load the bases after Machado mishandled fielding a ball barehanded.
The second Padres’ error would result in the game’s first run after a throwing error by Luis Arraez to allow Bryson Stott to get on base.
Fernando Tatis Jr. would kick things off with a lead-off single to right. A couple batters later, Sánchez would walk Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill, but would be left stranded after Jose Iglesias struck out swinging.
During the second and third inning, both Pivetta and Sánchez would retire the next six batters they faced. Pivetta would retire eight batters in a row, however his streak would end following a single by Stott during the fourth inning.
The Padres would leave a runner on second base during the bottom half of the fourth inning. Bogaerts, in the inning, had a good sequence of plays including sliding to first base to avoid a ground out and stole second base during Luis Campusano’s at-bat.
During the fifth inning, both pitchers were still in command on their pitches. The Phillies would keep Tatis Jr. at first base, following his single with two-outs, after Arraez struck out swinging.
The Padres would get active early during the bottom of the sixth inning following back-to-back singles by Machado and Bogaerts. After a sac-bunt by Merrill, Iglesias would label a 96 mph sinker passed the glove of Stott for a ground ball RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
Leaving during the seventh inning with two-outs, Pivetta would toss another gem on the mound, throwing 104 pitches (71 counted as strikes) while giving up a one unearned run on three hits with eight strikeouts. 2025 All-Star relief pitcher Adrian Morejon came in to record the final out of the frame by striking out Schwarber.
“You need guys to be those pillars… that talks about being a cornerstone of a starting rotation,” Shildt said. “The more you have of them, the better you are. Our bullpen has been excellent, but the less you have to rely on them to keep them guys fresh. Nick has been to grab the baseball, clearly doing his part to keep us in games but to win games. He’s been outstanding.”
Labeled as the team’s ace, Pivetta’s dominance in the rotation is another bright spot for a team that owns a top notch bullpen but is lacking starting pitching options due to injuries.
“I don’t think it’s a simple way to put it,” Pivetta said. “I think just going by the right way, taking care of my body, great training staff, awesome defense behind me, really good bats, all around team effort has allowed me to go deep into baseball games. Have some long innings, have some short innings. Just kind of putting it all in perspective just attacking the strike zone, allowing my stuff to work.”
The only action for the Padres during the bottom of the seventh came on Tatis Jr. walk on five pitches but he would end up getting caught stealing second base, which is only the third time this season that’s happened.
Right-hander David Morgan came in to replace Morejon with one out during the eighth inning after Harper hit his 18th double of the season. Harper would come across home plate following a double to the gap in left-center field by Realmuto.
With the Phillies taking a 2-1 lead, it will mark the first time since May 21 (25 appearances) since Morejon has been charged with a run.
After Arraez started the eighth inning with a line out to first base, a couple of Padres would get on-base following a single by Machado and a walk issued to Bogaerts. However, the Padres, once again would leave both runners on base following consecutive fly-outs from Merrill and Iglesias.
During the top of the ninth inning, Machado continued to show his all-star excellence by coming up with an outstanding sliding catch against the wall near the third base line in foul territory.
“That was pretty sick,” Machado said. “I don’t like that dirt out there honestly… that dirt kind of gets all over your body and kind of just sticks, kind of sticky. So I try to avoid it as much as I can.”
“I think trying to get out of the inning. You can’t give those guys over on that side too much breathing room. So trying to keep the game close.”
The Padres had a chance in the bottom of the ninth when Jake Cronenworth pinched hit for Campusano and bought a walk. After two outs by Bryce Johnson and Elias Díaz and a walk from Tatis Jr., Arraez fell victim to the final out, lining out to left field.
Bogaerts finished the game 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and a pair of walks. Tatis Jr also mirrored Bogaerts with a pair of each.
“Came down to the wire” Bogaerts said. “Obviously we know would have been really nice get a nice sweep, but they’re a good team… I feel like they’re really complete (team).
Machado was the only other to have two hits to couple with scoring the Padres only run.
With the upcoming All-Star break, the Padres will have the next four days until their weekend road series starting on Friday against the Nationals. Friday will kick-off a 10-game road trip for the Friars that will feature three series against the Nationals, Marlins and Cardinals.
“It was good baseball throughout the whole course of the home stand and it’s good momentum going into the break. And looking forward to the break after, you know, getting ready to start after the break.
Following the Dodgers win over the Giants on Sunday, the Padres are currently hold a half game lead over the Giants (52-45) for the final NL Wild Card spot. They are down by 5.5 games from the Dodgers (58-39) for the lead in the NL West.