Giants storm back from five runs to beat Padres

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ahead by five runs in the fifth inning, the San Diego Padres gave up six unanswered, losing 6-5 against the Giants at Oracle Park.

This game was a complete opposite of the first two games, even though the contest was decided by a run for the third straight night. The only difference is this game finished in nine innings.

"No lack of drama, another one-run game," Padres manager Mike Shildt said. "A 5-0 lead, and wasn't able to bring it home."

Scoring only four runs through the first two games, the Padres (35-25) developed any sort of offense when they absolutely needed to. 

For the first time in this series, the Padres were able to generate some pressure onto the opposing starting pitcher early on.

Gavin Sheets, continuing his excellent 2025 resume, tacked on the game’s first pair of runs on a triple to bring in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, who got aboard from a leadoff double and a five pitch walk.

They added to their lead by getting across three more runs during the fifth inning. Tatis Jr. and Arraez both reached on base with singles, which set up Jackson Merrill for his ninth double this season to bring in Tatis Jr. Two more RBIs would be added to Sheets' game total after an infield single off the back of starting pitcher Kyle Harrison.

With the early run support against Harrison (1-1, 4.34 ERA), the Padres were in charge with the starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (6-2, 3.16 ERA) mowing down the Giants’ lineup through almost five scoreless innings, retiring 13 consecutive batters to go along with five strikeouts.

However the Giants (34-28), unlike the recent two games in the series, found success with runners on base and didn’t miss when Pivetta would make a mistake on a pitch.

Pivetta was an out away from getting through the fifth until Daniel Johnson singled and stole second base, and Patrick Bailey belted a ball for a double, leaving with a exit velocity of 101 mph.   

Jung Hoo Lee’s blooper to the outfield, during the sixth inning, bought him enough time for him to get to second base. A batter later, Matt Chapman connected on Pivetta’s sweeper and launched it to the left field seats for his 11th homer of the season to make it a 5-3 Giants deficit.

Going through the order for the third time, Pivetta found himself with runners on first and second with no outs, leading for Shildt to come in and take him out of the game. 

Jason Adam, who has not allowed an earned run in 27 of his 30 appearances, came in and wasn’t able to escape the inning. After striking out his first batter, he would give up a single, a two-run double to Heliot Ramos and sac fly RBI to make 6-5.

"The mistakes that I made, they kind of capitalized," Pivetta said. "They put some good ABs on late... Just allows them to kind of get back in the game and then kind of feed off their energy. (Didn't) really do my job and put Jason in the best position to come in." 

"Everybody that played tonight did what they needed to do to come out on top, except for me, really," Adam said. "So it hurts a little bit."

Pivetta would finish the night throwing 82 pitches (67% strikes), gave up five runs on six hits with five strikeouts. 

What looked like their best offensive output since the Marlins’ series at the end of May, the production went dry only, batting 3-for-18 (.166) following their last pair of runs during the fifth. 

The Giants went from 2-for-18 with RISP over the previous two games, to finish 4-for-10.  The Padres have gone 6-for-27 so far in the series with RISP, including 3-10 tonight. 

Sheets' four RBI performance put himself in the lead for the most on the Padres (38). He also earned his second career triple. Tatis Jr. got into a rhythm with three hits, came around the bags twice and stole a base. 

Entering the final game with a chance to win the series, the Padres have had the Giants number as of recent. They hold a 4-1 record this season and have won seven of the last eight meetings going back to 2024.

"That's what happens when it's division baseball," Sheets said. "It's what happens when good teams play. No quit. Everybody know the importance of these games. First two wins, obviously, extremely gritty, huge wins. Tonight, they came out and swung the bats... All three games have been extremely competitive and good, good baseball games."  

Looking to gain ground on the Dodgers, who lost tonight to the Mets 6-1, are still down by a game for the first place spot in the NL West. The Giants are now three games back behind the Padres. 

San Diego holds a two game lead over the Cardinals for the second wildcard spot, while down by a game and a half to the Phillies for the leading wildcard spot. 

Thursday’s pitching matchup will feature two popular names from around the league. Left-hander Robbie Ray (7-1, 2.43 ERA) will get the nod for the Giants and righty Dylan Cease (1-4, 4.66 ERA) will get the starting bump for the Padres. 

Cease lost in his last appearance to the Pirates where he pitched 4.2 innings, allowed seven hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts. Ray allowed only a run and two hits through seven innings with nine strikeouts. 

First pitch for the final game of the series will be on Thursday at 12:45 p.m.