Jul 6, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) comes off the field after the Padres beat the Texas Rangers 4-1 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – The Padres wrapped up their weekend with a statement win, using six pitchers to shut down the Texas Rangers in a 4-1 victory Sunday night at Petco Park. With Yu Darvish scheduled to return on Monday, San Diego’s bullpen sent a clear message: they’re ready to hold the line while the rotation regains full strength.
It was a classic bullpen game, born out of necessity and executed with precision. Rookie David Morgan got the nod as the opener and immediately found himself in trouble. He gave up a leadoff single to Austin Smith, then watched Corey Seager rope an RBI double. Texas loaded the bases with two outs, but Jake Cronenworth bailed out the rookie with a spectacular diving snag to end the threat and keep it a 1-0 game.
Enter Kyle Hart.
The lefty had been recalled from Triple-A El Paso earlier in the day and responded with the best outing of his big-league career. Hart faced 11 Rangers and retired every single one of them, cruising through 3.2 perfect innings. He earned the win and likely earned a longer stay in San Diego, too.
The offense did its part, led once again by Fernando Tatis Jr., who continues to play like an All-Star. Tatis walked to lead off the third, stole second, and scored the tying run on Luis Arraez’s two-out single. An inning later, he smashed a double down the left-field line to drive in Trenton Brooks and give San Diego a 2-1 lead. Tatis reached base four times on the night and looks locked in as the first half winds down.
Martín Maldonado added to the lead in the sixth with an RBI single, and Cronenworth capped the scoring in the seventh with a base hit to plate another run.
From there, it was lights out. Jeremiah Estrada fanned two in the sixth, Jason Adam — fresh off his All-Star selection — handled the seventh, Adrian Morejon breezed through the eighth, and Robert Suarez slammed the door in the ninth with two strikeouts for his 21st save.
The win not only gave the Padres a series victory over the defending champs but also built some momentum heading into Monday’s highly anticipated matchup with Arizona. Yu Darvish is back. The veteran right-hander will make his first start of the 2025 season after dealing with an elbow issue that shut him down in spring. He’ll be on a pitch count, meaning the bullpen will likely be asked to contribute again.
The Diamondbacks send ace Zac Gallen to the mound, setting the stage for what could be a marquee early-July showdown. But after what the Padres bullpen just pulled off, they’re more than ready.
