Apr 13, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King (34) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – When Michael King is locked in, he’s nearly unhittable — and on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park, the Colorado Rockies found that out the hard way.
King delivered a masterclass on the mound, throwing the first complete game shutout of his career in a 6-0 Padres victory to complete a three-game sweep of the Rockies. King allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out nine, becoming the first San Diego starter to notch an individual shutout this season. With the win, the red-hot Padres improved to 13-3 overall and a perfect 10-0 at home.
“Man, these fans are incredible,” King said after the game. “It’s always fun to put on a show for ’em — and today everything just clicked.”
The Padres didn’t waste time backing their starter. Luis Arraez singled with one out in the first, followed by a walk from Manny Machado. After Xander Bogaerts flied out, the bottom of the order went to work: Oscar Gonzalez and Yuli Gurriel each drove in a run with singles, and Jose Iglesias ripped a two-run double to right-center, giving King a 4-0 cushion before he even took the mound.
That was more than enough. King cruised through Colorado’s lineup, retiring 10 straight after giving up a single in the fifth. He finished with just 101 pitches, the last inducing a game-ending double play off the bat of Nick Martini.
The victory marked more than just a personal milestone — it was historic. The Padres became the first team in franchise history to shut out an opponent in all three games of a series. The Rockies, meanwhile, were blanked in a three-game set for the first time ever.
San Diego also matched a major league mark by recording their sixth shutout in the first 16 games of the season, a feat last accomplished by the 1966 Cleveland team. And with just 11 runs allowed over their first 10 home games, the Padres matched a record that dates back to MLB’s inaugural 1876 season.
Manager Mike Shildt credited the team’s chemistry and the Petco Park environment for the club’s remarkable start.
“It’s a playoff-like atmosphere almost every night,” Shildt said. “This group feeds off that — they love playing here.”
Jason Heyward, who added an RBI single in the seventh, echoed that sentiment: “We’re just buying into the approach, trusting each other, and having fun. It shows.”
The Padres will look to make it 11 straight at home Monday night when Dylan Cease takes the hill against the Chicago Cubs.
