SAN DIEGO - Heading into the All-Star break nine games over .500, the San Diego Padres drop the series finale against the Phillies, 2-1, on Sunday at Petco Park.
Prior to first pitch, the season series finale was viewed as a pitching duel between starting pitchers Nick Pivetta and Cristopher Sánchez. Nonetheless, both teams managed to work the bases regardless of the score.
The Padres finished with seven hits, but left 10 runners on base, going 1-for-9 with RISP. Meanwhile the Phillies went 2-for-7 with RISP.
After what looked to be a strong, scoreless first inning striking out Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, Pivetta walked Bryce Harper, which led Nick Castellanos to reach on base from a throwing error by Manny Machado. The following batter, J.T. Realmuto would reach-on to load the bases after a mishandle fielding a ball barehanded by Machado.
The second Padres’ error would result in the game’s first run after a throwing error by Luis Arraez to allow Bryson Stott to get on base.
Fernando Tatis Jr. would kick things off with a lead-off single to right. A couple batters later, Sánchez would walk Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill, but would be left stranded after Jose Iglesias struck out swinging.
During the second and third inning, both Pivetta and Sánchez would retire the next six batters they faced. Pivetta would retire eight batters in a row, however his streak would end following a single by Stott during the fourth inning.
The Padres would leave a runner on second base during the bottom half of the fourth inning. Bogaerts, in the inning, had a good sequence of plays including sliding to first base to avoid a ground out and stole second base during Luis Campusano's at-bat.
During the fifth inning, both pitchers were still in command on their pitches. The Phillies would keep Tatis Jr. at first base, following his single with two-outs, after Arraez struck out swinging.
The Padres would get active early during the bottom of the sixth inning following back-to-back singles by Machado and Bogaerts. After a sac-bunt by Merrill, Iglesias would label a 96 mph sinker passed the glove of Stott for a ground ball RBI single to tie the game at 1-1.
Leaving during the seventh inning with two-outs, Pivetta would toss another gem on the mound, throwing 104 pitches (71 counted as strikes) while giving up a one unearned run on three hits with eight strikeouts. 2025 All-Star relief pitcher Adrian Morejon came in to record the final out of the frame by striking out Schwarber.
The only action for the Padres during the bottom of the seventh came on Tatis Jr. walk on five pitches but he would end up getting caught stealing second base, which is only the third time this season that's happened.
Right-hander David Morgan came in to replace Morejon with one out during the eighth inning after Harper hit his 18th double of the season. Harper would come across home plate following a double to the gap in left-center field by Realmuto.
With the Phillies taking a 2-1 lead, it will mark the first time since May 21 (25 appearances) since Morejon has been charged with a run.
After Arraez started the eighth inning with a line out to first base, a couple of Padres would get on-base following a single by Machado and a walk issued to Bogaerts. However, the Padres, once again would leave both runners on base following consecutive fly-outs from Merrill and Iglesias.
During the top of the ninth inning, Manny Machado continued to show his all-star excellence by coming up with an outstanding sliding catch against the wall near the third base line.
MANNY OH MANNY pic.twitter.com/ff5VxaWs7R
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 13, 2025
With the upcoming All-Star break, the Padres will have the next four days until their weekend road series starting on Friday against the Nationals. Friday will kick-off a 10-game road trip for the Friars that will feature three series against the Nationals, Marlins and Cardinals.
Depending on the results from the Dodgers-Giants series, the Padres are currently hold, tie, trail the Giants for the final NL Wild Card spot. They are down by () games from the Dodgers for the lead in the NL West.