Apr 29, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) and outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) celebrate after the Padres defeated the San Francisco Giants 7-4 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – For the first time in nearly two weeks, the Padres played like the team that stormed through the early part of the season. Xander Bogaerts snapped out of a prolonged slump with a three-RBI performance, including his first home run of the year, and Nick Pivetta struck out nine in 5? innings as San Diego beat the San Francisco Giants 7–4 Tuesday night at Petco Park.
The win ended a four-game losing streak and showcased the kind of multi-dimensional offense that had been missing from San Diego’s lineup for the better part of two weeks. The Padres scored in three separate innings, put multiple runners on base repeatedly, and tallied 11 hits — their first time reaching double digits since April 18.
Bogaerts entered the night without an RBI in his previous 16 games and batting just .242. He wasted little time setting the tone, lining a two-out RBI single up the middle in the first inning to open the scoring. José Iglesias followed with a two-run double into the right-center gap, giving the Padres their first three-run inning since April 14.
“We’ve talked about needing someone like Bogey to step up,” manager Mike Shildt said. “Tonight he did.”
Bogaerts later delivered the game’s decisive blow — a two-run homer to left in the seventh inning, his first of the season, pushing the Padres’ lead to 7–4 and providing the kind of cushion the bullpen would protect the rest of the way.
“It feels good to contribute,” Bogaerts said afterward. “There haven’t been many nights like this for me this year. That homer meant a lot.”
Pivetta (5–1) wasn’t as sharp as he had been in previous outings, but he found ways to navigate trouble. He gave up five hits and three earned runs while throwing 89 pitches before being lifted in the sixth after recording his ninth strikeout.
He had a moment of visible frustration in the fifth inning after a lengthy pause between pitches, possibly suspecting his pitches were being tipped. After a quick mound visit with catcher Elias Díaz and the infield, Pivetta fired a 96 mph fastball that froze Mike Yastrzemski to end the inning.
“I might’ve been tipping,” Pivetta said. “But you just make your adjustments and move on.”
The Giants rallied for three runs in the sixth to cut the lead to 5–4, highlighted by a two-run double from LaMonte Wade Jr. But Jeremiah Estrada stranded Wade at third by getting Patrick Bailey to fly out, ending the threat. From there, the Padres’ bullpen slammed the door. Adrián Morejón, Jason Adam, and Robert Suarez combined for three perfect innings, with Suarez needing just six pitches in the ninth for his 11th save.
San Francisco starter Logan Webb (3–2), making his 150th career start, allowed nine hits and five earned runs over five innings. Willy Adames put the Giants on the board with a solo homer in the fourth, while designated hitter Wilmer Flores had a rough night, striking out four times.
The Padres got key contributions throughout the lineup. Manny Machado went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Jason Heyward and Díaz each added two hits, and newcomer Luis Arraez, returning after a seven-game absence, chipped in a sac fly and a single.
Heyward’s return to the lineup and Arraez seemed to add depth that had been missing during the team’s recent slump.
“Just having a little more balance in there helps,” Heyward said. “It kind of frees some guys up to do what they do.”
San Diego had averaged just 2.3 runs during its 1–5 stretch before Tuesday, and hadn’t scored more than four runs since April 14. Their seven-run outburst was fueled by traffic on the bases, something they hadn’t generated in volume recently. They had five baserunners in the first inning alone — a total they’d matched just five times across their previous seven games.
With the win, Pivetta’s ERA at Petco Park ticked up slightly to 1.42, but he remains one of the National League’s most effective starters. His 1.78 ERA overall ranks fourth in the NL, and his .169 batting average against is the lowest of any qualified NL pitcher. His five wins are tied for the MLB lead.
The announced attendance of 47,435 was the second-largest regular-season crowd in Petco Park history, a strong sign of continued fan investment in a team still navigating early injuries and lineup inconsistencies.
The Padres will go for the short series sweep on Wednesday, sending right-hander Michael King (3–1, 2.18 ERA) to the mound against San Francisco’s Landen Roupp (2–1, 4.56).
With Bogaerts rediscovering his swing and reinforcements slowly returning, the Padres showed a glimpse of what they can be when everything clicks. Now the challenge is to make it last.
