San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King survived an early two-run home run by Rafael Devers to secure a 7-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, according to game reports. The win marked the sixth straight victory for the Padres as they chase a National League Wild Card spot, holding a 1 1/2-game lead over the D-backs and sitting 1 1/2 games behind the Phillies.
Michael King Overcomes Early Deficit Against Giants
King’s career-best 21 2/3-inning scoreless streak ended just two batters into the bottom of the first inning when Rafael Devers hit a two-run homer. According to team accounts, Shay Whitcomb added another home run off King in the second inning on a hanging sweeper. Following that blast, King settled down by retiring 14 straight batters and 18 of 19 overall until Jonah Cox singled in the seventh.
King finished his outing with 96 pitches across seven innings, allowing five hits, striking out four, and walking zero batters, leaving him just four batters over the minimum. “Offense picked me up and allowed me to settle in, and then it felt like it was pretty good execution after that second home run,” King said, as reported by team coverage.
Bullpen Manages Late-Game Pressure
San Diego built an early cushion by scoring in six of the first seven innings, which proved vital when Bradgley Rodriguez surrendered a pair of home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Manager Craig Stammen noted that Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller stepped in to shut the door and preserve the win.
Miller reached 63 1/3 innings on the season, approaching his career high of 65 innings set in 2024 with the Athletics. Addressing the heavy workload for late-inning relievers, Miller told reporters, “No concern. I mean, until it becomes a concern, it’s not a concern. So we’re going to keep preparing and keep doing everything we need to to be ready to go tomorrow, just keep riding this train.” King praised the bullpen’s depth, describing Morejon as “the fireman” for his ability to handle high-leverage situations or throw a clean 1-2-3 frame.
Jackson Merrill Reaches Career Power-Speed Milestone
The Padres’ offense featured key contributions throughout the lineup, including a two-out, two-run single by Dustin Harris in the second inning and a two-out squeeze bunt by Jake Cronenworth in the fifth. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill each added solo home runs.
For Merrill, the blast marked his 25th home run of the season, establishing a new career high and placing him in a group of players with at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases. He joined the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Reds’ Elly De La Cruz, and the Nationals’ CJ Abrams in achieving the feat. Merrill is also just the third Padres player since 2000 to reach 25 homers and 25 steals in a single campaign, following Tatis and Wil Myers.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Stammen said of Merrill. “He does so many things for us offensively and defensively. Those are offensive numbers, the steals and the home runs. But power-speed combo, that’s a rare trait.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How many consecutive games had the Padres won following this matchup?
The Padres secured their sixth straight victory with the 7-6 win over the Giants.
What milestone did Jackson Merrill reach during the game?
Jackson Merrill hit his 25th home run of the season, joining the 25-homer, 25-steal club alongside Pete Crow-Armstrong, Elly De La Cruz, and CJ Abrams.
How did Michael King perform after the second-inning home run?
After giving up a second-inning homer to Shay Whitcomb, King retired 14 batters and 18 of 19 overall, finishing with seven innings pitched, zero walks, and four strikeouts.
Pro Tip: Track team bullpen usage and high-leverage relief metrics to better understand how contending teams manage late-inning leads during extended playoff races.
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