Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Petco Park- San Diego, California
After dropping the series opener Monday night, the San Diego Padres (49-42) bounced back in a big way, blanking the Arizona Diamondbacks (45-47) 1–0 in Game two of this four-game set at Petco Park.
Luis Arraez provided the only run of the game with a solo home run, and the defense—led by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill—delivered a pair of home run robberies to preserve the shutout.
The game was a classic pitcher’s duel between Padres righty Nick Pivetta and D-backs ace Merrill Kelly. Pivetta battled through 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven and throwing a season-high 104 pitches. Padres manager, Mike Shildt, talking about Pivetta’s performance in the post-game presser, “Nicky fantastic. Third, now, all-time Canadian strikeout leader. It’s a big deal. He was terrific. He established it from the very beginning. Went all the way through. Made a lot of quality pitches. The fastball was good. Threw it for effect. Curveball was outstanding. Heart of a lion. Terrific job by Nick.”
Kelly matched him nearly pitch for pitch, giving up just one run on four hits in seven strong innings. But the difference came in the bottom of the seventh. Kelly, who struggles noticeably when facing hitters for a third time (.289 AVG against), opened the inning by leaving a fastball up to Arraez, who crushed it 358 feet over the right-field wall. It was his fifth home run of the season and his 35th RBI, breaking a scoreless tie.
Luis Arraez breaks the scoreless tie with a solo shot in the 7th! pic.twitter.com/DfBuNlMZ1V
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2025
On the homerun, Arraez told Mike Pomeranz, “Yes (he was looking inside). I just lifted with my wife every day in my apartment. I think, I think I feel power. But it’s not my game. But I got two balls, and then he gave me that fastball, and I hit it out.”
San Diego’s defense made sure it held. In the fourth, Jackson Merrill soared to the wall in straightaway center to take away a sure home run from Corbin Carroll.
Frame it. pic.twitter.com/CeVLPIkYfg
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 9, 2025
Then in the sixth, Tatis Jr. sprinted to the right field fence and leapt to rob Josh Naylor of a home run, too. Both catches were game-changers and ignited the Petco crowd.
HOLY COW NANDO pic.twitter.com/ir829kX5yI
— Al Scott (@AlScott1998) July 9, 2025
On how often you see two home run-robbing catches as spectacular as we saw tonight, Shildt answered, “Yeah, you know what? Umm… I’ve talked to Tati about it a lot; it’s like routine greatness, right? Umm.. Jackson, again, the timing is impeccable—his ability to go back and have a feel for it. Again, let’s remind ourselves that this guy has never played center field, right? Until last year, in the big leagues. And his natural ability to go out and make plays like that against the wall? Fantastic! He robbed a two-run homer. Again, Tati being Tati. Again, converted shortstop, new to the outfield. Those guys have what, four years combined experience of outfield play, and going and making those plays. Listen, they win on both sides of the ball. Jackson just saved a game tonight. He won us a game. Tati won us a game. So, guys with that kind of athleticism and talent, they show up and they beat the other team in a lot of different ways.”
The Padres’ bullpen picked up where Pivetta left off. Jeremiah Estrada struck out three in a dominant inning of work, though his night ended in controversy after a questionable hit-by-pitch of Herrera. Estrada brought his career total vs. Arizona to 13 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. Adrian Morejon entered with the bases loaded and struck out Ketel Marte on three pitches to escape the jam. He would earn the win (6–3) for his brief but crucial effort.
NL All-Star Jason Adam handled the eighth, working around a walk and retiring the side with ease. Then came the newly announced All-Star replacement (for the injured Chris Sale), Robert Suárez, in the ninth, tasked with protecting a 1–0 lead. Suárez faced the bottom of the order—McCarthy, Grichuk, and Thomas (pinch-hitting for Herrera)—and blew them away with 98–100 mph heat. Grichuk and McCarthy both put up battles, but ultimately grounded out and lined out, respectively. Suárez needed 20 pitches, 11 for strikes, to earn his 26th save of the season and lock down the Padres’ 50th win.
Up Next:
The Padres and Diamondbacks continue their four-game series on Wednesday night at Petco Park. San Diego hands the ball to right-hander Dylan Cease (3–8, 4.62 ERA), who will look to build off recent progress and give the Padres back-to-back series wins. Arizona counters with Brandon Pfaadt (8–6, 5.42 ERA), a righty with power stuff but prone to giving up the long ball (16 HR allowed in 91.1 innings). The first pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. PT.
J.J. Rodriguez is a passionate sports writer making his debut with East Village Times. Born and raised in Southwest Florida, he is a father of four and an eight-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has lived in Southern California since 1996. A devoted fan of the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Florida Gators, J.J. brings a lifetime of sports enthusiasm to his writing. He’s currently pursuing a degree in elementary education and enjoys life as an empty-nester with his wife of 19 years, Lisa.
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