Sep 13, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitch hitter Bryce Johnson (29) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – For most of the week, the Padres’ offense has looked stuck in neutral. Four straight games of exactly two runs will test any fan’s patience, and by Friday night’s 4–2 loss to the Rockies, Petco Park felt more restless than electric. But when this San Diego club finally breaks out of a slump, they don’t do it halfway.
Saturday night was the latest example. The Friars erupted for three home runs in the first three innings and rolled to an 11–3 win over Colorado, giving a cathartic jolt to both dugout and crowd.
The spark came from Fernando Tatis Jr., who had struck out four times the night before but looked locked in during his second-inning at-bat. With two outs, he turned on a pitch and drilled a two-run shot to right-center, his 22nd of the year. The swing not only gave the Padres an early lead, it seemed to lift the weight of the past week off everyone’s shoulders.
An inning later, Manny Machado joined the fun. After enduring a 2-for-30 drought, the captain has now homered in back-to-back games, this one a solo blast to left. Machado wasn’t done—he added a two-run single and reached base three times, driving in three overall. His timing couldn’t be better with the postseason push looming.
Then came rookie Jackson Merrill, who crushed a solo homer to straightaway center in the same inning. Merrill continues to flash power that complements his steady glove, and his emergence gives San Diego’s lineup another threat in the lower half.
The supporting cast didn’t miss their chance either. Trade deadline pickup Ramón Laureano ripped a two-run double in the fourth, reminding fans why he’s been called the sneakiest good addition of the summer. And in the eighth, defensive specialist Bryce Johnson—pinch-hitting for Tatis—delivered his second career home run, a two-run shot that put an emphatic bow on the night.
Lost in the offensive fireworks was a quietly excellent outing from Dylan Cease. The right-hander struck out six over six innings, allowing just one run on five hits. The effort pushed him past the 200-strikeout mark for the fifth straight season, a benchmark that underscores his reliability even during stretches when he’s less than dominant. Cease now sits at 201 punchouts, with plenty left in the tank.
The win not only reset the tone of the series, it kept the Padres firmly in the thick of the NL West and wild card races. They trail the Dodgers by just 2 ½ games and currently hold the second wild card spot.
With Yu Darvish set to face German Márquez in Sunday’s finale, San Diego has a chance to take three of four from the Rockies. And if the bats keep humming like they did Saturday night, they’ll look every bit the dangerous October club their fans believe they can be.
