The San Diego Padres (3-5) and Boston Red Sox (2-6) squared off on a rainy Easter Sunday at Fenway Park in the final game of the three-game set.

Both teams were looking to salvage the series for their first series wins of the year.

San Diego put Walker Buehler on the mound facing Boston starter Ranger Suarez.

Padres, Walker Buehler

Both teams’ starters got off to nice starts in the first two innings, but each gave up crooked numbers after that. For the Padres, Walker Buehler got the start, and it was the same story as the last start.

Buehler had three strikeouts after the first six outs, but the third inning was a nightmare. It started with the pitcher giving up back-to-back lead-off walks to Carlos Narvaez and Roman Anthony in the top of the third. He managed to get the first out of the inning with a groundout to Trevor Story, but that advanced the runners to second and third.  Jarren Duran put the first dent in the scoreboard with a hard-hit grounder to right, giving him a two-run double, 2-0 Red Sox. Buehler retired Willson Contreras for the second out but then gave up a triple to right off the bat of Wilyer Abreu, bringing in Duran, 3-0 Boston.

That would do it on the day for Walker Buehler, who finished with two and two-thirds innings pitched, giving up three hits, three walks, four runs (all earned), and getting three strikeouts. The fourth earned run came from Kyle Hart, who relieved Buehler. Masataka Yoshida with a hard hit double down the right field line, bringing in Abreu. Hart got Caleb Durbin to ground out to finally close out the inning, Padres trail 4-0.

Red Sox, Ranger Suarez

Now, for the Red Sox, pitcher Ranger Suarez got through three clean innings of work before the tide turned.

The top of the fourth started with Ramon Laureano grounding out to start. But Fernando Tatis Jr. got his second double in as many days to start the oncoming onslaught of hits. Jackson Merrill got the Padres on the board with a 108.6mph line drive single to center to bring Tatis across, 4-1 Boston.

Manny Machado then singled to get runners on first and second. Miguel Andujar looked to keep the momentum moving, but he fell on a strikeout from Suarez. During Andujar’s at-bat, Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez tried to back-pick Manny Machado at first, but a low throw, which also looked to be kicked by Machado, pushed the ball away from the first baseman. That moved the runners to second and third. Xander Bogaerts worked a walk to load the bases, which gave Nick Castellanos his first chance to make a statement as a Padre. He did just that with a two-run single to right to bring in Merrill and Machado to notch closer, 4-3 Red Sox.

Ranger Suarez finished the day with four innings pitched, giving up six hits, two walks, four runs (all earned), and notching two strikeouts. The fourth earned run came in a big way in the fifth.

Manny Machado gets his first home run of the year in a big spot

To start the fifth inning, Luis Campusano drove a single to center, which chased Ranger Suarez from the game. The Red Sox brought in right-handed reliever Greg Weissert. He struck out Ramon Laureano and Fernando Tatis Jr. Then Jackson Merrill kept his good day at the plate moving with another single to center. This brought up the man of the hour for San Diego, Manny Machado, getting his first home run of the season in a key moment in the game at Fenway Park. Weissart flipped a changeup inside to Machado and got it deposited to the top of the green monster 365 feet for a three-run shot. The Padres get their first lead of the game, 6-4.

He did the Mash. He did the Monster Mash. pic.twitter.com/nJfLkkJzzy

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 5, 2026

Red Sox tie it in the seventh, but Jackson Merrill answers

The Padres held a lead for almost two innings, but the Red Sox were able to tie things back up in the seventh. Bradgley Rodriguez was in for his second inning of work. He gave up a leadoff single to Trevor Story. Then Willson Contreras grounded into a fielder’s choice, which ended the afternoon for Rodriguez. San Diego brought in right-handed reliever Wandy Peralta, who gave up a hard-hit double off the green monster from Wilyer Abreu and a double down the right field line for two runs to tie it up at six apiece from Masataka Yoshida.

However, after what felt like a momentum-killing inning for the Padres, Jackson Merrill captured that momentum back. Tyler Uberstine was in for his third inning of work and had a 2-2 count to Jackson. But a fastball over the heart of the plate was sent 384 feet onto the green monster. Merrill’s second home run of the year, 103.6 mph off the bat, gives the Padres a 7-6 lead. The Padres stranded runners on second and third to close the top of the eighth inning after Andujar walked and a Xander Bogaerts double to left center.

The Kid’s not afraid of Monsters. pic.twitter.com/PyizTZlNI8

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 5, 2026

Jeremiah Estrada and some insurance set up Mason Miller to close the series out

In the bottom of the eighth, the Padres used Jeremiah Estrada as the set-up man for the closer Mason Miller. Estrada struck out Marcelo Mayer, got Carlos Narvaez to line out to right, and got Roman Anthony to ground out to Manny Machado. A nice sight for Estrada after a shaky beginning to the season.

This set up an opportunity for some insurance before Miller took the mound, and the Padres took advantage of it this time in the top of the ninth. Gavin Sheets was pinch-hitting for Luis Campusano, and he led off with a mashed double to center. Ramon Laureano got a soft groundout to the pitcher, which moved Sheets to third. Bringing up Fernando to do a job which he executed to perfection, getting a deep fly ball to right to bring Sheets across, 8-6, Padres.

Cue up Blind by Korn at Fenway as Mason Miller comes in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he does what he’s known for: devouring hitters. Miller struck out Trevor Story, Jarren Durran and Wilson Contreras. Striking out the side in back-to-back saves for Miller to snag the first series win of the season for the Padres in an 8-6 game.

Notable performances on the day and what’s next for the Padres

Jackson Merrill went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and 2 RBIs, while Manny Machado added 2-for-4 with a three-run homer. Xander Bogaerts was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3, and Nick Castellanos chipped in with 1-for-3 and 2 RBIs. Mason Miller earned his fourth save of the year.

The Padres now continue their road trip, going to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates for a three-game matchup.

For San Diego, they will send German Marquez to the mound, looking to bounce back after his Padres debut. Pittsburgh has another young starter who is on the rise, taking the mound for them in Bubba Chandler. Padres (4-5) at Pirates (6-3), Monday, April 6 at 3:40 pm PT.

Wyatt Dearen

Hi Padres fans, I’m Wyatt Dearen. I am from Farmington, New Mexico, which is home to one of the most prestigious high school baseball tournaments in America, the Connie Mack World Series. When it comes around, I do color and statistics for the radio. I am currently pursuing a degree in Sports Administration at the University of Houston #GoCoogs. I have been a sports fan my whole life, following all the major sports leagues since I could walk, and it has been my dream my whole life to work in sports. Thankful to write about the team and for the East VillageTimes.