The San Diego Padres (72-63) look to bounce back on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays (80-54). For the Padres, they had Walker Buehler on the mound versus old friend Nick Martinez of the Rays.

Today’s starters. pic.twitter.com/KUmYCGT3x9

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 29, 2026

Rays tack one on the board in the first vs Buehler

It has been a rough go for the Padres over the last four games, and today started in the opponents’ favor once again. First pitch of the game, Yandy Diaz laced a double in the right-center gap for a leadoff double. Walker Buehler would then get Jonathan Aranda to pop out to third and Junior Caminero to ground out to third, getting two outs in the inning.

But he was unable to get out unscathed as Liam Hicks lined a single up the middle past shortstop Jake Cronenworth to score Diaz for the first run of the game. Chandler Simpson would get an infield single to put pressure on the Padres with another runner in scoring position with Hicks. Except Jonny DeLuca would pop out to first to end the inning on the very next pitch for the Rays. Tampa Bay leads 1-0.

Jake Cronenworth helps the Padres tie things up in the third, but the Rays would respond

It has been a disappointing last couple of games for the Padres’ offense, but hopefully, Jake Cronenworth gave them a spark early. A leadoff single to right from Dustin Harris is how the top of the third started. Fernando Tatis Jr would strike out for the second time today for the first out of the inning. Then that’s when Jake Cronenworth laced a 105.8mph line drive into center, scoring Harris to knot things up at one. Manny Machado and Ty France would be retired to end the top half of the inning.

Jake Cronenworth RBI double

Game tied 1-1 pic.twitter.com/hbxvJhBU4p

— Padres Nation (@NationPadres) August 29, 2026

The tie would not last long, though, as the Rays answered in the bottom half of the third. After Buehler struck out Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda would blast a 453ft moonshot to straight-away center to regain the lead for the Rays.

Jonathan Aranda DESTROYS this ball 453 FEET ? pic.twitter.com/i77hxcnRGF

— MLB (@MLB) August 29, 2026

Ty France goes deep to give SD the lead; Junior Caminero responds

Just when it looked like this team was going to be lifeless again, they got some action in the top of the sixth. Manny Machado would get a leadoff single to left to set the stage for Ty France, who goes oppo for a two-run shot to give the Padres a 3-2 lead. France’s 100th career home run and 19th of the season.

Vive La France! pic.twitter.com/zn7ta6wGie

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 29, 2026

However, the Rays have an answer once again. A 426ft, 107.8mph leadoff blast from Junior Caminero ties things right back up once again in the bottom of the sixth. That would end Walker Buehler’s night, going five innings, giving up seven hits, no walks, three runs (all earned), and striking out three Rays hitters.

Padres put together a big top of the seventh to retake the lead

When you are facing a team that is at the top of their respective league, it’s gonna be a dog fight.  To begin, Luis Rengifo worked a walk to start the top of the seventh. Dustin Harris would then get his third hit on the day on a single to right. Then Fernando Tatis Jr would lay down a bunt single down the third baseline to load the bases. Jake Cronenworth would strike out swinging, but Manny Machado would come through with a single to right to bring home Rengifo and Harris for a 5-3 lead.

Manny Machado would then attempt to steal second during Ty France’s at-bat, where the throw down was cut off to try to get Tatis out as he was stealing home. Tatis would beat the throw, and Machado would end up being safe at second. San Diego leads 6-3. The Padres would get bases loaded again with two outs in the inning, but Gavin Sheets would fly out to the warning track to close the scoring for San Diego.

Nightmare bottom half of the seventh burns the Padres’ lead

A tale of two halves was the exact definition of this seventh inning. Sunshine and rainbows top half, followed by stormy clouds in the bottom half. Bradgley Rodriguez would come in to try to hold the lead. He walked Richie Palacios and gave up singles to Cedric Mullins and Taylor Walls.

Bringing up the MLB leader in batting average with runners in scoring position, Yandy Diaz. He ended up blistering a ball off the center field wall; Palacios would score. Merrill would do a good job of getting the ball back in, hanging up Mullins at third, but Walls was halfway to third, so Luis Rengifo would start to run down Walls. As he was running down Walls, Mullins took off for home, where Rengifo would turn and attempt to get Mullins out, but ended up injuring his knee, which led to an errant throw home, scoring both Mullins and Walls to tie the game and moving Diaz to third. Rengifo would exit the game on a cart with what looked to be a severe knee injury.

Yandy Diaz bat flips what he thinks is a go ahead grand slam. It ended up being a single. Rays get caught in a rundown.

Luis Rengifo makes a wild throw home, allowing an extra run to score and Diaz to advance to third. Rengifo was just carted off the field after his knee buckled…

— Chris Castellani (@Castellani2014) August 29, 2026

It wouldn’t stop there for the Rays. Rodriguez would be pulled from the game for Adrian Morejon. Jonathan Arranda would ground out to first for the first out of the inning. The Padres would intentionally walk Junior Caminero, and the Rays would pinch-run Jorge Mateo at third for Diaz. Morejon would then strike out Ryan Vilade for out number two. A big matchup set up with the speedster Chandler Simpson and setup man Adrian Morejon. Simpson would ground a single to left to score Mateo and give the Rays the lead 7-6. Jonny Deluca would strike out to end the brutal bottom of the seventh.

Padres drop second straight series

The Padres would not be able to bounce back after that seventh inning as they fell 7-6. They now drop their second straight series, and the Diamondbacks have taken control of the last wildcard spot with this Padres loss.

Closing the door in Tampa

The San Diego Padres (72-64) will finish the series against the Tampa Bay Rays (81- 54) tomorrow afternoon. The Padres have Robbie Ray on the mound to try to prevent the sweep. For the Rays, they got Drew Rasmussen to try to get their fourth win in a row.

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.