Jackson Merrill had two hits, including an RBI triple, and Randy Vasquez allowed one hit over five scoreless innings, fueling the host San Diego Padres to a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
Merrill also doubled and scored on Luis Rengifo’s single in the second inning.
Jake Cronenworth added an RBI double in the eighth inning for the Padres, who salvaged the finale of the low-scoring three-game series versus the Pirates.
San Diego notched its 12th win in the last 17 games overall to remain one game ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
Vasquez (10-6) struck out two batters to improve to 4-0 in five starts this month after going winless in five outings in July.
He retired the first nine batters he faced before Spencer Horwitz singled to lead off the fourth inning. The Pirates loaded the bases before Vasquez struck out Nick Gonzales to end the inning.
Yuki Matsui struck out Horwitz and Brandon Lowe with the bases loaded to end the seventh inning.
Bradgley Rodriguez allowed two singles to start the eighth inning before striking out the next two batters and inducing Jake Mangum to ground into a fielder’s choice.
Rodriguez retired the side in the ninth to secure his second save of the season.
Merrill ripped a one-out double in the second inning off Bubba Chandler (6-9) and came home on Rengifo’s RBI single to right field to open the scoring.
San Diego doubled its advantage in the fourth inning. Manny Machado reached on a throwing error by third baseman Gonzales and lumbered around the bases before tucking his left arm under the tag of catcher Rafael Flores Jr. to score on Merrill’s triple to right field.
Chandler surrendered two runs (one earned) on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Cronenworth, who made a diving catch on a liner in the sixth inning, extended the Padres’ lead to 3-0 with an RBI double to center field in the eighth.
–Field Level Media
