Jun 4, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Jason Adam (40) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the seventh inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
San Francisco, California – Gavin Sheets did all he could to carry the Padres to another win, but a faltering bullpen and timely hitting from the Giants doomed San Diego in a 6-5 loss on Wednesday night at Oracle Park.
Sheets gave the Padres an early cushion with a two-run triple in the first inning, then padded the lead with a two-run single in the fifth. His 4-RBI performance appeared poised to be the story of the night — but San Diego’s pitching staff couldn’t hold the lead.
Nick Pivetta was solid through five but cracked late, giving up a two-run home run to Matt Chapman in the sixth that cut the Padres’ lead to 5-3. Pivetta returned to start the seventh, but after allowing the first two Giants to reach, manager Mike Shildt turned to Jason Adam. The move backfired. Adam gave up a game-tying two-run double to Heliot Ramos, and a sacrifice fly from Jung Hoo Lee gave the Giants their first lead of the night.
It was a gut punch for San Diego, which had claimed the first two games of the four-game series in extra innings. The Giants, meanwhile, snapped a stretch of 16 consecutive games scoring four runs or fewer.
Still, the Padres didn’t go quietly. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the ninth with a single, and Manny Machado kept hope alive with a base hit of his own. But Daniel Johnson’s running catch in right field robbed Luis Arráez of extra bases, and rookie Randy Rodríguez closed the door for his first career save.
Pivetta was charged with five runs on six hits over six innings, striking out five and walking two. The right-hander was in control early but couldn’t contain the Giants’ middle innings surge. Adam took the loss, falling to 5-2 on the year.
Sheets’ big night wasn’t enough to salvage a win, and despite collecting nine hits as a team, the Padres couldn’t produce late-inning answers. San Diego will look to regroup Thursday afternoon in the series finale, aiming to secure a third win in the four-game set before heading home.
With Justin Verlander reportedly nearing a return for the Giants, every game counts for a Padres squad trying to keep pace in the NL West and build momentum heading into a critical stretch of the schedule.
