SAN DIEGO -- The Padres’ win streak is alive and well. Big thanks to Jackson Merrill.
Merrill capped a ferocious five-run, ninth-inning rally by swatting a two-run double into the left-field corner, sending the Padres to a walk-off, 7-6 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday night. In doing so, he extended San Diego’s winning streak to seven games -- three of which have come via walk-off.
The Padres’ rally started the way most rallies like this one start -- a leadoff walk, with Manny Machado working his way aboard against Mariners closer Andres Muñoz. Gavin Sheets squibbed one down the left-field line. Ty France bounced an infield hit over the mound.
Just like that, the Padres brought the tying run to the plate. Manager Craig Stammen called for Fernando Tatis Jr. -- who had been given the day off from the starting lineup -- to pinch-hit, as the tying run. And although Tatis hit a sacrifice fly for the second out, the rally continued. Luis Campusano and Ramón Laureano singled, setting the stage for Merrill.
Muñoz’s night was done, and Merrill was tasked with facing Mariners left-hander Jose A. Ferrer. With two strikes, he shot a line-drive down the left-field line that stayed just fair. Campusano scored the tying run and Laureano scored the winner.
On this homestand, the Padres had already hit two walk-off home runs. Xander Bogaerts and Gavin Sheets did so on back-to-back nights against the Rockies last week.
Quite an evening for Merrill, who had robbed Julio Rodriguez of a certain home run a few innings earlier.