Jul 10, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez (75) looks skyward after Padres defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – The Padres leaned on their biggest stars Thursday night at Petco Park, as Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado launched leadoff homers to lead San Diego past the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 and earn a split in a tight four-game NL West series.
After falling behind 2-0 early, San Diego stormed back thanks to a solo shot from Tatis in the third and an RBI groundout by Jake Cronenworth in the fourth. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Machado drilled a leadoff homer—his 16th of the season—off Eduardo Rodriguez to give the Padres a 3-2 lead. Gavin Sheets followed with a single, chasing Rodriguez from the game, and Xander Bogaerts greeted reliever Juan Morillo with a clutch double to score Sheets and extend the lead to 4-2.
That run would hold up as the difference.
The Diamondbacks made things interesting in the seventh when Corbin Carroll singled, stole second, and scored on a Geraldo Perdomo double. But All-Star closer Robert Suarez locked down his MLB-leading 27th save with a clean ninth, slamming the door on Arizona’s hopes of a comeback.
Adrián Morejón (7-3) picked up the win in relief, while Padres starter Randy Vásquez gave up two runs over four innings.
The Padres had opportunities to blow the game open but stranded 13 runners and went just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Still, the bats did enough—and the bullpen did the rest.
Arizona’s Jake McCarthy robbed Tatis of another leadoff homer in the eighth with a leaping grab at the wall in right field.
The Diamondbacks have now dropped to 6-28 when scoring three runs or fewer. Despite holding an early lead and putting runners on in nearly every inning, Arizona failed to cash in, going 1-for-10 with RISP.
All-Star Ketel Marte was held at third on a Perdomo double in the third due to lingering groin tightness—an ultimately conservative call that may have cost the D-Backs a run, but likely spared a larger injury.
The Padres (50-43) stay home to host the red-hot Phillies, with rookie Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.67 ERA) set to face All-Star lefty Ranger Suárez (7-2, 1.99 ERA). Arizona (46-48) heads to Los Angeles for a weekend set against the Angels.
With the trade deadline approaching, San Diego’s push toward October continues—and with their stars heating up, the Friars are looking increasingly dangerous.
