San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez attempted to get his 16th save of the season against the Los Angeles Angels with his team leading 5-3. However he ran into trouble in the top of the ninth and by the time the inning ended, Suarez was out of the game and the Angels were ahead 9-5.

The Padres went down in order in the bottom of the ninth and what appeared to be a game that would result in a hard fought, well played win, was actually a series opening, heartbreaking loss at Petco Park, Monday.

Mike Shildt showed support for Robert Suarez after his tough outing tonight and discussed Jackson Merrill impacting the game both offensively and defensively: pic.twitter.com/7YewaHTGkZ

— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) May 13, 2025

Suarez struck out Matthew Lugo for the first out in the ninth. He faced Luis Rengifo, who hit a pinch-hit single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Logan O’Hoppe and Zach Neto drew walks to load the bases with one out. Suarez walked the next two batters and allowed two runs to tie the game, 5-5.

Alek Jacob came in to replace Suarez and struck out the first batter he faced for the second out of the inning. Taylor Ward followed the strikeout with a grand slam home run to left field to put Los Angeles up, 9-5. Jacob got a strikeout to end the six-run inning for the Angels.

The loss overshadowed a game in which the Padres saw dazzling defensive plays from Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill. It also overshadowed a Michael King start that saw him strikeout eight batters and it covered up a terrible error by Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi that allowed San Diego to take and hold the lead in the bottom of the third until the ninth inning collapse.

Luis Arraez started the rally in the bottom of the third inning with the Padres trailing the Angels, 2-0 after a Neto two-run home run in the top of the third inning.

Arraez hit a two-out single to center and brought Machado to the plate. Machado worked the count full before he hit his own line drive single to center, which moved Arraez to third.

Merrill followed Machado and swung at the first pitch he saw in his plate appearance against Kikuchi. He hit the ball into right field for an RBI-single. Arraez scored and Machado advanced to third to make the score 2-1 with runners still occupying first and third.

Xander Bogaerts came to the plate and hit a high bouncing ground ball over Kikuchi on the first base side of the mound, which he was able to make a play on. Kikuchi tried to make the throw to first to get Bogaerts, but dropped the ball. He reached to pick up the ball, rushed and made an errant throw to first, which got past the first baseman and rolled into foul territory down the right field line.

Machado scored during the play, Bogaerts reached safely and Merrill raced around from first and scored on a headfirst dive into home plate to give San Diego a 3-2 lead. Bogaerts was thrown out at home, on a Gavin Sheets single one batter later, to end the inning.

Fernando Tatis Jr. made his presence felt in the bottom of the fifth when he hit a leadoff home run to center field off Kikuchi to give the Padres a 4-2 lead.

King was effective in his outing despite the Neto home run in the third inning. He allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He also appeared to be out of the sixth inning with a ground ball double play, but after receiving the ball from Machado and getting the out at second base, Jake Cronenworth threw wide of first base. The error allowed Los Angeles to score its third run of the game and made the score, 4-3.

Jeremiah Estrada came on to get the final out in the top of the sixth. He returned to the mound in the seventh and was able to record two outs, but was replaced by Adrian Morejon with runners at first and third base. Nolan Shanuel thought he tied the game with a sinking line drive into center field, but Merrill sprinted in and dived forward to catch the ball just above the turf and ended the scoring threat and the inning.

Jason Adam worked the eighth inning and started with a four-pitch walk to Yoan Moncada. He also started the next at-bat with a ball inside to Jorge Soler that almost hit him. Adam settled in and finished the Soler at-bat with a strikeout. He struck out Ward for the second out of the inning and finished the frame with a ground ball out from Travis d’Arnaud.

Merrill started the bottom of the eighth in his final plate appearance of the night, with a triple over the first base bag that rolled into the right field corner. He came home on a sacrifice fly to center by Bogaerts to put San Diego up, 5-3. Merrill finished his night 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Padres play the Angels, Tuesday at 6:40 p.m.