The San Diego Padres continue to showcase their strength as they extended their winning streak to six games with a commanding 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opening game of their series at Petco Park. Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta was nothing short of sensational, allowing just one run and one hit over seven innings, while striking out five batters. With this performance, Pivetta improved his record to 11-3 and his earned run average (ERA) stands at an impressive 2.73 for the season, further solidifying his role as a key player on the team.
The Padres, already boasting the best bullpen in Major League Baseball, made a strategic move at the trade deadline by adding right-hander Mason Miller. Miller made his debut in this game, completing a scoreless inning and impressing the crowd by hitting a fastball of 103 mph, much to the delight of the 44,933 fans present for the 47th sellout of the season.
Luis Arraez maintained his stellar form by extending his hitting streak to 14 games, matching his career-long streak. He has been instrumental during this stretch, achieving a .411 batting average with a total of 23 hits. Meanwhile, Manny Machado is also on a roll, currently riding a nine-game hitting streak with a remarkable .500 batting average during this span.
In addition to the great performances, the Padres made some roster adjustments, designating versatile players Tyler Wade and Martín Maldonado for assignment to accommodate their newly acquired talents.
On the minor league front, the Padres’ prospects continue to show promise. Notable performances include Kavares Tears and Rosman Verdugo, contributing to the developmental success of their pipeline.
This victory not only adds to the Padres’ momentum as they compete in the competitive NL West but marks a positive trend for Pivetta, who has now tied for the second-most starts in his career where he allowed one or fewer runs on one or fewer hits over seven innings.
Overall, the Padres’ combination of strong starting pitching, a bolstered bullpen, and hot hitters positions them well for continued success as the season progresses.