Padres take the series opener vs. Pirates, 5-0

After taking the rubber match vs. Boston on Sunday afternoon, the Padres (4-5) headed to PNC Park in Pittsburgh to take on the red-hot Pirates (6-3) for a three-game set starting Monday.

German Marquez looked to bounce back in his second start as a Padre, while rookie Bubba Chandler will look to build on his scoreless 2026 debut for the Pirates.

Monday’s lineup

San Diego’s lineup looked to continue their good at-bats and swing choices that produced season highs in runs (8) and hits (12) on Sunday.

Game 1 in the Burgh. pic.twitter.com/mMvPBsiWWA

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 6, 2026

Padres strike first in the fourth

After Jackson Merrill grounded out to lead off the inning, Manny Machado worked his second full count in as many at-bats, with this one, resulting in a one-out walk. Xander Bogaerts followed this with a single to make it first and second with one away. Gavin Sheets hit into a force out at second base to put Machado on third and himself at first with two outs. Nick Castellanos delivered as he did on Sunday with a first-pitch single to left field to plate Machado for the first run of Monday’s action. The Padres led 1-0.

You’re watching Nick at Nite 📺 pic.twitter.com/zey7otk9GC

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 6, 2026

Tacking on more in the fifth

Jake Cronenworth reached base for the second time Monday with a leadoff walk off Chandler to begin the top of the fifth. Ramon Laureano hit into a force out to diving shortstop Konnor Griffin to get Cronenworth out at second. Fernando Tatis Jr. walked to make it first and second, one away. Merrill stroked a Chandler changeup just out of Bryan Reynolds’ reach into the left-center gap for a rule-book double, plating Laureano, widening the lead to 2-0. This would end Bubba Chandler’s night at 83 pitches.

Machado grounded out to the new pitcher, Yohan Ramirez, as Tatis Jr. would sneak home for the Padres’ third run of the night. Chandler’s final line would consist of three earned runs on five hits across 4 1/3 innings pitched.

#SCNotTop10 pic.twitter.com/YV0nmmXSpo

— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) April 7, 2026

Marquez much better the second time around

Following Marquez’s outing against San Francisco on March 31st, where he went just three innings and got hit around for eight hits for four earned runs, he was much better Monday night against the Buccos. Marquez went five innings while allowing six hits for no runs. The Venezuelan-born right-hander walked just one, while striking out four Pirates. Marquez threw 92 with 56 of them being for strikes. Three of his four strikeouts came via his “out pitch”, his knuckle curve.

Marquez’s biggest test came in the bottom of the third inning in his matchup vs. former Padre Ryan O’Hearn. Marquez dotted a 3-2 fastball at the knees to win a nine-pitch battle against O’Hearn that would strand runners at second and third and end the inning. This kept the game scoreless until the following inning, where San Diego would break the tie and take the lead.

Marinaccio goes two

Relieving Marquez and his five innings of scoreless work, Ron Marinaccio responded with two shutout innings of his own. In his fourth appearance of 2026, Marinaccio threw 30, with half of them being for strikes. After allowing a leadoff double to O’Hearn in the sixth to start his outing, he would retire the following three Pirates in order to strand O’Hearn in scoring position. Marinaccio’s lone strikeout of the night came against MLB’s No. 1 prospect, 19-year-old Griffin. Marinaccio last threw for 10 pitches on April 3rd, his two innings of clean work came huge for a bullpen that may have seen some big names unavailable. Jeremiah Estrada and Mason Miller both pitched for San Diego in the wins on Saturday and Sunday.

Doubles plating in runs 

After the groundouts by Sheets and Castellanos to begin the sixth inning off Ramirez, the bottom of the order made some things happen. A struggling Freddy Fermin recorded his third hit of the season with a two-out double down the left field line. Nine-hitter, Jake Cronenworth hammered a 106 mph double off of the right-field wall to hit Fermin in and record his first double and run batted in of the young season. A good sign for these two Padres, who have been dreadful early on.

This is your Daily Double! pic.twitter.com/ZDzbK6wutZ

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 7, 2026

Catcher, Freddy Fermin hit a one-out single in the top of the eighth for his second hit of the game. Laureano chalked up his first hit of the night with an RBI double to right field that would drive in Fermin. This made the score 5-0, Padres.

Ramon drives in Fermin to make it 5-0 Padres pic.twitter.com/vxVVoxKNxQ

— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) April 7, 2026

Morgan finishes it off

To start off David Morgan’s outing in the eighth, he walked Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds. Morgan escaped damage by inducing an O’Hearn double play and a Marcell Ozuna groundout.

The 26-year-old also worked the ninth inning for San Diego. Morgan got Griffin chasing a curveball below the zone for his lone strikeout of the night. Pinch-hitter Jake Mangum grounded out to Morgan on a bunt to seal the victory for the Padres.

Monday’s 5-0 win vs. the Pirates moved the Padres to .500 (5-5) for the first time in 2026. The win also snapped Pittsburgh’s five-game winning streak and dropped them to 6-4 on the year.

German Marquez will notch his first win as a Padre, as Bubba Chandler will take the loss in tonight’s action.

Tuesday night in the 412

The middle game of this three-game series between the Padres and Pirates will have a stellar pitching matchup. Nick Pivetta, who finished sixth in National League Cy Young voting in 2026, will be up against the 2026 National League Cy Young award winner, Paul Skenes. This will be the first time Skenes will take on the Padres in his career. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 3:40 PM PT.

Angel Flores

Angel grew up a San Diego sports fan, following the Padres, SDSU athletics, San Diego FC, as well as the Chargers. He is currently a third year community college student, and will transfer to SDSU to pursue a career in Journalism.