Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado powered an early offensive blitz in San Francisco, propelling San Diego’s late-season surge as they hunt for a National League postseason berth.
The San Diego Padres might just be hitting their stride when it matters most.
The Padres finished off a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants in Northern California with a 6-4 win on Sunday night.
It marked San Diego's 7th straight win, and they are right in the thick of a crowded National League Wild Card race.
Nick Pivetta made his second start since returning from the IL, and he went four innings, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.
It was another positive outing, and manager Craig Stammen only let Pivetta throw 69 pitches as they continue to ramp him up in hopes of making the postseason.
It helped that the Padres got things started early. Jackson Merrill's red-hot streak continued as he had a two-run double in the top of the first, giving him a total of 12 RBI in the last six games.
In the second inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. had an RBI single and Manny Machado hit a no-doubt two-run home run shortly after to extend the lead to 5-0.
Andrew Knizner opened the scoring for the Giants in the bottom of the 2nd with a two-run home run, and Tatis added a run via an RBI single in the top of the fourth.
Tatis drove in Ethan Salas, who got the start at catcher and he recorded his first career Major League hit.
The Giants scored a run each in the fifth and sixth, but the San Diego bullpen once again did its job.
The two runs allowed were both credited to Kyle Hart, who allowed two hits in one inning before being replaced by David Morgan.
Wandy Peralta was the pitcher who earned the win, and he threw 1.1 innings with zero hits.
Randy Vasquez had another solid outing in relief, throwing one scoreless inning, although he walked two batters.
And, superstar closer Mason Miller had the day off. Instead, Stammen used Yuki Matsui to get the save.
Miller already recorded a save in each of the first two games of the series, so the Padres decided to give him another day off.
The Padres are right back at it on Monday as they begin a four-game series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. After that is three games against the Miami Marlins in San Diego before a massive series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in LA, so the Padres are hoping this momentum can continue.
