SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres took game one against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3-2 victory, led by a two-RBI day from left fielder Jackson Merrill and eight strikeouts from starter Nick Pivetta.
It was a pitchers' duel early on between Pivetta and Pirates starter Mitch Keller, with no runs scored through four ½ innings. Third baseman Manny Machado finally got it going with a two-out double and later hustled in to score on an error from the Pittsburgh defense.
“The guy gets bagged on because he doesn’t run hard all the time, but he works harder than anybody I’ve ever seen,” said Merrill on Machado. “That guy’s brought it every day, all day. I love it.”
The Pirates offense was lost against Pivetta (6-2, 2.74 ERA), struggling to get comfortable against his repertoire and sequences. Pivetta was mixing speeds early, setting up his sweeper and curveball with his fastball and keeping the Pittsburgh hitters on their front foot.
The third time seeing Pivetta might have been just what the Pirates needed, hitting four base hits in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. Despite the rough inning, Pivetta finished his outing allowing two earned runs, six hits and eight strikeouts in six innings pitched.
“He’s got great stuff, he’s really comfortable," said manager Mike Shildt. “Fastball in the zone, breaking ball is really good. The curveball sweeper has been getting punchouts.”
The Friars responded immediately in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff walk and a stolen base from right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. First baseman Luis Arraez (.289 BA, .738 OPS) followed up with an RBI double, going away with a fastball to tie the game at 2-2.
It's Luis' world and we're just living in it. pic.twitter.com/gmuK93mxfk
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 31, 2025
Merrill (.331 BA, .895 OPS) came through again, scoring Arraez on a fielder's choice to retake the lead 3-2.
“I’m back,” said Merrill. “Just happy to be here, happy to be back with the team.”
Closer Robert Suarez (18 SVs, 2.22 ERA) came in with bases loaded in the eighth for a four-out save opportunity and got the job done, striking out three out of the four he faced en route to the 3-2 victory.
The Padres will run it back with Pittsburgh for game two of the weekend series on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. Dylan Cease (1-3, 4.58 ERA) will get the start for San Diego.