May 16, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) tosses his helmet after striking out during eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – What began as a tongue-in-cheek nickname among fans for the Padres-Mariners interleague matchups is now a trophy-bearing, bragging-rights battle, complete with a guitar donated by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, which is fitting because of his roots in both cities. But in Friday night’s series opener at Petco Park, Seattle rocked the hardest.
The Mariners spoiled the party early and often, launching three home runs—including J.P. Crawford’s leadoff blast on the game’s very first pitch—to cruise to a 5–1 win and take the opening round of the 2025 Vedder Cup.
The loss stung more considering who started on the mound for the Padres: right-hander Stephen Kolek, a former Mariners prospect who’s turned heads in San Diego after being scooped up in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft. But Friday, the long ball got the better of him. Crawford ambushed his first pitch, Rowdy Tellez and Cal Raleigh added two-run shots of their own, and Kolek exited after five innings having allowed five earned runs—his first rough outing as a big-league starter.
San Diego’s offense didn’t exactly pick him up.
Despite putting a runner on base in each of the first six innings, the Friars couldn’t cash in against Seattle rookie Logan Evans, who danced around traffic all night but never broke. The Padres went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and didn’t score until the ninth, when Jake Cronenworth doubled home Gavin Sheets.
Evans, making just the fourth start of his MLB career, scattered seven hits and a walk over six scoreless frames. He only struck out three and didn’t get a swing-and-miss until the second time through the lineup, but his ability to induce weak contact—and a timely double play turned by Crawford—kept the Padres at bay. With the outing, Evans lowered his ERA to 2.57.
The Padres still have time to strike back in this best-of-three series—and maybe reclaim Eddie Vedder’s guitar. Nick Pivetta gets the ball Saturday night as the Friars look to even things up against Mariners righty Emerson Hancock.
One loss doesn’t define a rivalry—but the Padres will need to “come together” if they want to keep the Vedder Cup in San Diego.
