The San Diego Padres (18-8) faceoff againist NL West counterpart, the Arizona Diamondbacks (14-12). This is the last game in the Mexico City series.

Yesterday, the Padres’ offense woke up late and won game one of the series 6-4. With the sweep on the line, San Diego puts Michael King on the bump to duel with Ryne Nelson for Arizona. The Padres have the best record in the MLB and are looking to cap off a successful road trip, going 6-2.

Alineación de hoy. pic.twitter.com/KUx5Igef6S

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 26, 2026

Finally, some early offense from the Padres

An early surprise from this Padres team today as they put some runs on the board early on. In the top of the second inning, with one out, Xander Bogearts got a bloop single to right field. Following him was Gavin Sheets, who hit a hot shot to second base, where Iledarmo Vargas got eaten up, leaving everyone safe. Miguel Andujar would pop out to second for the second out of the inning. But Luis Campusano keeps hitting the ball hard as this linedrive was scorched to left field, getting to the wall, Bogaerts would score, Sheets to third. To close out the frame, Jake Cronenworth would ground out to the pitcher. Padres lead 1-0.

Campy, hermano, ya eres mexicano. pic.twitter.com/Kid8on6psY

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 26, 2026

That wasn’t all for San Diego early on, though. In the next inning, Fernando Tatis Jr worked a walk with one out on the board. Jackson Merrill flew out to the right field warning track for out number two. However, what every Padres fan was waiting for, Manny Machado barrels a first pitch cutter left over the heart of the plate for a 436ft two-run bomb to center. SD now leads 3-0. Xander Bogaerts flied out to right to finish the top of the third.

Manny a lo profundo ? pic.twitter.com/S68hdnuqjl

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 26, 2026

Manny Machado doubles up on homers, and Luis Campusano stays hot

Many were hoping that these back-to-back series in high-elevation ballparks would help some of the struggling hitters with their power. Seeing one leave the yard can be all it takes before someone gets hot. Well, Manny Machado is getting hot. To begin the top of the fifth, Ramon Lauerano worked a walk. Tatis Jr grounded into a fielder’s choice, which retired Lauerano at second. Next up, Jackson Merrill hit a linedrive single to right to get Tatis Jr all the way to third base with one out. But that wouldn’t matter at all as Manny Machado had his way with a fastball at the top of the zone, hitting it into the bullpen in right field. His fourth long ball of the season. San Diego up 6-0.

Manny Machado goes deep AGAIN ?

It’s his second career multi-homer game in Mexico City, with the first coming in 2023!#MexicoCitySeries pic.twitter.com/4ezpr3aCD5

— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2026

That’s not all, folks cause Luis Campusano wanted to get in on the action. Ryne Nelson’s day was done after five; he gave up all six runs. Arizona brought Kevin Ginkel in relief. After retiring the lead-off guy, he wasn’t able to hold the deficit to five. Ginkel threw a fastball middle-middle, and Campusano drove it 106mph and 421ft to center for his third homerun of 2026. Extending the lead 7-1.

Michael King turns in another good day at the office

Another day, another solid Michael King start. He had everything clicking early. Doing a great job of letting his stuff eat, changeup, and sinker, both were disrupting Diamondback hitters. He had seven strikeouts through three innings. But he did give up a lead-off solo home run in both the fifth and sixth. Jose Fernandez and Iledarmo Vargas are the culprits. King would finish the day with six innings pitched, giving up three hits, one walk, two runs (both earned), and seizing eight strikeouts. He left a 7-2 lead for San Diego.

Massive bottom of the seventh gives Arizona the lead

With everything going the Padres’ way, something was bound to happen. David Morgan came in relief for King to start the bottom of the seventh. He would get James Mcann to fly out for the first out. That was the only good thing to happen in his outing. Back -to-back singles from Jose Fernandez and Nolan Arenado put some pressure on the base paths. Then, a fielding blunder from Jake Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts running into each other trying to field a groundball hit by Alek Thomas. It was recorded as a hit. An unlikely threat in Tim Tawa hit a heat-sinking line drive to left field for a grand slam. Diamondbacks cut the deficit to one, 7-6.

TIM TAWA GRAND SLAM!

It’s a one-run game in the #MexicoCitySeries ? pic.twitter.com/QY3ALTwtk2

— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2026

That would be enough of David Morgan for manager Craig Stammen. Insert Bradgley Rodriguez, and he started by giving up a double to Iledarmo Vargas. Ketel Marte would ground out to the pitcher for the second out of the inning. Rodriguez would walk Corbin Carroll. This would give Lourdes Gurriel the chance to tie the game, and he did just that with a hard hit grounder passed Manny Machado into left field. But not only did they tie the game, but Corbin Carroll can fly, and he scores from first to give Arizona the lead 8-7. Hitting around James McCann would ground out to finally stop the bleeding, but the damage had been done.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drives home two and gives the @Dbacks the lead! ?#MexicoCitySeries pic.twitter.com/0tVPb6BBpK

— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2026

Even more runs for Arizona in the eighth to finish things off

Arizona wasn’t done just yet. In the eighth down one, the Padres go to Ron Marinaccio to keep the game tight. He did everything but that. Three straight singles from Fernandez, Arenado, and Thomas is how he started his outing. Got Tim Tawa to fly out to shallow left for the first out. But gave up a bases-clearing triple from Vargas to push the deficit to four, 11-7. Next batter Ketel Marte hits a single to right to bring Vargas home and get the lead out of slam range, 12-7. That would be it for Marinaccio. Wandy Peralta comes in, and he wasn’t any better than the previous three arms. Corbin Carroll gets a single to right, advancing Marte to third. Walks, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., but Peralta was able to get James Mcann to ground into a 4-3 double play. Padres trail 12-7.

The Padres’ offense didn’t put up much of a fight in the ninth. Ramon Laureano got a lead-off single, but Tatis Jr lined out to right, Jackson Merrill popped out to shallow right, and Manny Machado lined out to third. Gonna be interesting to hear why the usual three bullpen arms didn’t throw today. Even with a five-run lead, the Padres had to have taken into account the elevation and turf field, which both played a factor in the late collapse.

Next up for the Padres

The San Diego Padres (18-9) will return home to Petco Park to face off with one of the hottest teams in the MLB, the Chicago Cubs (17-11).  San Diego will throw starter Randy Vasquez, and Chicago goes with Matthew Boyd. Series kicks off Monday, April 27th, with a start time at 6:40 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.