The Padres defeated the Phillies 6-4 on Wednesday morning behind another dominant outing from starter Nick Pivetta and a huge second inning offensively.
Phillies (50-36) starter Mick Abel struggled with command, issuing four walks in the second inning. The San Diego (46-39) offense was patient and refused to chase, leading to the bases loaded and back-to-back runs being walked in for an early 2-0 lead.
With the bases still loaded, third baseman Manny Machado (.292 BA, 832 OPS) was all over a hanging curveball for a bases clearing double (21) to push the lead to 5-0. Machado’s double knocked Abel out of the game after 1 ⅔ innings pitched.
Willing & Abel pic.twitter.com/CxUnU2RRRX
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 2, 2025
After a leadoff walk in the fourth to catcher Elias Díaz and back-to-back singles from outfielders Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill, first baseman Luis Arraez walked in another run to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
Merrill (.291 BA, 797 OPS) was selective at the plate today, going 1-for-2 with three walks drawn and an RBI.
The 6-run lead gave Pivetta plenty of comfort on the mound against an aggressive Philadelphia offense. Pivetta (9-2, 3.25 ERA) was nasty, using his fastball to set up his offspeed and freezing hitters.
Great sequences helped Pivetta finish his outing allowing one earned run, seven scattered hits, zero walks and six strikeouts in six innings.
The one run allowed came in the sixth when designated hitter Kyle Schwarber first pitch swung on a hanging curveball for a solo shot (his 26th home run) to cut the lead to 6-1.
The Phillies bats came alive late, adding on two runs in the seventh and one in the ninth. It wasn’t enough as the early 6-0 deficit was too deep of a hole to dig out of and the Friars took game one of the doubleheader 6-4.
Game two of the doubleheader starts at 3:15 p.m. with Dylan Cease (3-7, 4.53 ERA) on the bump against Christopher Sanchez (6-2, 2.79 ERA).