Early in the 2026 season there are two large mysteries Padres fans were curious to get answers about: what do the new City Connect jerseys really look like and what is Mason Miller’s entrance song?

The first one will be revealed in early April. The second one was unleashed on Saturday night. Miller came out to “Blind” by hard rock legends Korn, then proceeded to strike out a pair of Detroit Tigers hitters to lock up a 3-0 win, giving the Padres their first victory of the season.

Starting pitcher Randy Vasquez was tremendous. During Spring Training the right-hander showcased increased velocity. In 2025 his fastball averaged 93.5 MPH. In Cactus League play he was sitting at close to 96 MPH and in his first regular season start he showed that was not a fluke. Vasquez struck out eight and allowed just two hits in 6.0 shutout innings and got just enough offensive support to earn himself a win.

On a night where the ball was simply not carrying in Downtown San Diego, the Padres had to play some small ball. In the 3rd inning, Ramon Laureano hit a laser at 104 MPH off Tigers starter Jack Flaherty that looked like it would land 10 rows deep in right field. Instead it nestled into right fielder Zach McKinstry’s glove at the base of the wall (the only time Detroit got Laureano out on his three-hit night). Nick Castellanos followed with a groundout so it was time for a good, old-fashioned two-out rally.

Freddy Fermin and Jake Cronenworth singled to left and Fermin scored on a line drive single by Fernando Tatis Jr. to put the Padres up 1-0. Tatis took off for 2nd base and catcher Jake Rogers’ throw went right by 2nd baseman Gleyber Torres into centerfield, allowing Cronenworth to score and pad the lead to 2-0.

The Friars got another run on a Jackson Merrill RBI groundout in the 5th inning but it was pure gravy. Kyle Hart mowed his way through a pair of perfect innings, striking out three, setting the stage for Miller to light up the yard and the radar gun in the 9th.

The Padres have a rare and, frankly, weird Sunday off before starting a three game series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night at Petco Park when longtime Dodger starter Walker Buehler is expected to make his Padres debut on the mound.