Aug 12, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) hugs second baseman Jose Iglesias (7) (obscured) in the dugout against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
San Francisco, California – The Padres picked a good night to flex their muscle — and the NL West standings show it.
San Diego got home runs from Jose Iglesias and Jackson Merrill on Tuesday, powering past the struggling San Francisco Giants 5-1 at Oracle Park. The win, paired with the Dodgers’ extra-inning loss to the Angels, lifted the Padres into a first-place tie in the division at 68-52 — their first share of the top spot since May 10. The last time they held at least a piece of first place this late in the year? September 25, 2010.
Iglesias set the tone in the second inning, drilling a two-run homer that put San Diego back in front after Wilmer Flores briefly tied it for San Francisco. Merrill’s blast in the eighth gave the Padres insurance and silenced what was left of a frustrated Giants crowd.
The Padres struck early, scratching out a run in the first when Manny Machado’s two-out single and Xander Bogaerts’ double set up a balk call against Giants starter Robbie Ray, forcing in the game’s opening run. Jake Cronenworth added an RBI single in the fourth, and the bullpen took it from there.
Jason Adam (8-3) earned the win with a clutch escape in the sixth, entering with the bases loaded and recording back-to-back outs to preserve a 3-1 lead. Starter Michael King gave San Diego a solid foundation before handing it over to the relievers, who slammed the door the rest of the way.
For the Giants, the loss was their fourth straight and 12th in their last 13 home games. Ray’s winless streak stretched to seven starts since July 3; he surrendered four runs on seven hits over six innings.
The Dodgers’ collapse over the last month has opened the door for San Diego. Los Angeles once led the Padres by 8.5 games, but a 12-20 skid in their last 32 has erased that cushion. Meanwhile, San Diego is peaking at the right time, winning 13 of their last 16.
The next 12 days could decide the NL West. The Padres and Dodgers will square off six times in that stretch — three this weekend at Dodger Stadium, then three more at Petco Park starting August 22. With 42 games left, the division is there for the taking.
All eyes now turn to Chavez Ravine, where the Padres have a chance to make a statement. And if their current form holds, first place in mid-August might not be the high-water mark — it could be just the beginning.
