San Diego’s offense finally looked like it was supposed to on a Tuesday night in Miami, as they rallied late to beat the Marlins 9-4.

The Padres scored five runs in the top of the ninth, blowing open what was originally a tied game and sealing the win in the season opener. 

Ryan Weathers struggled his way through four innings, as he surrendered three runs while having to throw 96 pitches. He struggled with control as he walked three batters in his short night. The Marlins also managed to put up seven hits on Weathers, so the Padres were fortunate not to have surrendered more runs. He left five runners on base between just the second and third innings alone, but Miami did their damage in the fourth. He hung a two-out sweeper to Bryan De La Cruz, who sent a two-run shot into the left-center field seats.

However, despite the fact that reigning Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara was on the mound for the Marlins, the Padres were able to do some damage offensively.

Matt Carpenter had an RBI double in the fourth before Juan Soto singled home Ha-Seong Kim, in the fifth. With San Diego down a pair of runs, their superstars came up big in the seventh. Fernando Tatis Jr. singled home Trent Grisham before Soto brought home Kim again to tie the game at four. In between Tatis’ and Soto’s hits, a thunderstorm caused a delay. The Marlins’ broadcast booth was hit by lightning, though the game was able top resume quickly.

*insert @DonOrsillo impression here*#BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/PPJqpdGXGW

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 31, 2023

The Padres squandered an opportunity in the eighth, as after Gary Sanchez’s first hit as a Friar, he was pinch-run for by Jose Azocar. Azocar was caught stealing second, though, recording the second out of the inning. Grisham and Kim each reached base after Azocar was caught stealing, but San Diego didn’t score, meaning the game stayed tied. “With Sugar {Azocar}, that one at the time was big, that we get thrown out there. Keep putting pressure on them, and you look at some of the numbers against them, and they’re pretty good,” said Bob Melvin. Miami had a chance of their own, but Nick Martinez came up with a massive double play to get out of trouble. 

Dylan Floro came into the game with the goal of giving the Marlins a chance to walk it off in the ninth inning. Instead, he faced five batters, retired none of them, and left with Miami trailing by four. Xander Bogaerts came up with the game-winning hit as an infield single brought home Tatis. Carpenter came up with a huge hit, as his second double of the game put San Diego up four. “We need that. That’s what makes our lineup deeper and longer and more productive,” said Melvin post-game.

They call him El Carpintero for a reason 🔨 #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/2si1qHtAAH

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 31, 2023

Brent Honeywell locked down the win for the Padres, throwing a scoreless bottom of the ninth while striking out a pair of Marlins. 

After the Padres’ offense has sputtered all season, they’ve scored 16 runs in between the last two games. The crucial five-run ninth inning was the first time in 2023 that the Padres scored more than four runs in a single frame.

Blake Snell will face off against Braxton Garrett on Wednesday as San Diego looks to win the series. 

Sam Evans

Sam is a Senior in High School. He has been writing for three years, and started at EVT in June of 2021. He’s headed to Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Communications in the fall of 2023.