Aug 2, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Jeremiah Estrada (56) walks off the field during the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – The Padres’ six-game winning streak came to a screeching halt Saturday night as the Cardinals stormed back from an early deficit to hand San Diego an 8-5 loss at Petco Park. Despite early fireworks from the Friars, shaky pitching derailed what could’ve been a statement win in front of a packed home crowd.
Jackson Merrill stayed hot, blasting his ninth homer of the year in a two-hit night, while Luis Arraez extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a first-inning double. Newly acquired Ramon Laureano and Freddy Fermin each recorded their first Padres RBI—Laureano with a triple and Fermin with a late single—but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with a surging St. Louis lineup.
San Diego jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the third, but Randy Vásquez couldn’t hold it. The right-hander was tagged for five runs in four innings, the fourth straight outing where he failed to reach the fifth. The backbreaker came in the fourth, when Pedro Pagés launched a three-run homer to tie it. From there, the Cardinals took control. Jeremiah Estrada gave up a go-ahead two-run double in the fifth to Masyn Winn, and Yuki Matsui allowed two more insurance runs in the ninth.
The loss spoiled an otherwise strong night at the plate, as the Padres out-hit the Cardinals 10-9 and got contributions up and down the lineup. Still, it marked the third time this month the Padres let a multi-run lead slip away.
San Diego will try to rebound Sunday afternoon behind Dylan Cease, who’s looking to snap his own slump. The right-hander has struggled with command in recent outings but will get the ball against Cardinals righty Andre Pallante as the Padres aim to take the rubber match and finish the homestand 5-1.
