The San Diego Padres concluded their regular season on a high note, showcasing an explosive offensive display in a three-game sweep against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. With a decisive 12-4 victory on Sunday, San Diego appears primed for the National League Wild Card series, although their starting rotation for the playoffs remains undecided.
The weekend series was a demonstration of the Padres’ batting prowess. Friday saw a thrilling 7-4 win, highlighted by a grand slam from star player Fernando Tatis Jr. On Saturday, the team’s offensive power continued with a 5-1 victory, featuring three home runs in the initial innings. Sunday’s game demonstrated the depth of the lineup, as all players in the first eight spots either scored or contributed to a run.
The Padres set the tone early on Sunday with Tatis Jr. leading the charge with an infield single, followed by hits from teammates Ryan O’Hearn, Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, and Xander Bogaerts. This offensive surge resulted in a 4-0 lead by the end of the first inning. Machado continued the momentum with a solo home run in the third, and Merrill contributed a two-run double in the fifth. Jake Cronenworth’s RBI single and a two-run double from Jose Iglesias in the seventh inning further solidified the Padres’ dominance.
Pitcher JP Sears, benefiting from substantial run support, performed commendably in his last appearance of the season. Tasked with preserving the bullpen for the postseason, Sears pitched 5.2 innings, allowing only two runs, and exited to a rousing ovation from a packed Petco Park. A record-setting crowd of 45,072, marking the 72nd sellout of the year, witnessed the game, elevating the season attendance to a new single-season record of 3,437,201 at Petco Park.
The enthusiastic fans are hopeful for a strong postseason performance, with aspirations of a World Series appearance. With their bats firing on all cylinders and a devoted fan base rallying behind them, the Padres aim to translate their regular season success into playoff victories.