Miller Park- Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

The San Diego Padres achieved a shutout on Friday in the first game of their three-game set with the Brewers.

Randy Vasquez was solid, and the bullpen held Milwaukee scoreless in the 2-0 win. Manny Machado added a late solo home run to give the Padres some insurance, and Robert Suarez secured his league-leading 20th save of the season. It was the perfect recipe for a Padres win.

On Saturday, it was not the same formula for San Diego. It started that way, but the bullpen failed.

A slumping Fernando Tatis Jr. was given the night off despite a lefty being on the mound for the Brewers. Brandon Lockridge made the start in right field and hit 9th in the lineup. That did not help the Padres as they could not get much going offensively on the night.

Jose Quintana took the mound for the Brewers. He owned a career 4.25 ERA coming into the game against the Padres and never lost in seven starts, holding a perfect 3-0 record.

The lefty was solid, going five innings and allowing five hits and one earned run, while walking three batters. With runners on base, Quintana limited the Padres, striking out four men in his 101 pitches thrown. San Diego made the southpaw work continually, going deep in counts. He did not factor in the decision.

The Padres took the lead 1-0 in the top of the 4th inning, on a two-out base hit off the bat of Elias Diaz. It was the catcher’s first hit of the season with a runner in scoring position and two outs.

Stephen Kolek toed the rubber for the Padres and came into the game looking to continue to build on his 2025 season. Kolek was efficient and effective for San Diego, working 5 2/3 innings and allowing three hits and four walks without surrendering a run. The right-hander struck out two batters and was removed in the bottom of the 6th with runners on first and third and two out in favor of Adrian Morejon. Kolek was in line for the win.

The Padres’ bullpen would be called upon to hold a tight lead for San Diego once again. Jeremiah Estrada allowed two hits and an unearned run to tie the game in the bottom of the 7th. Jose Iglesias was charged with a throwing error as he back-handed a ball up the middle and threw the ball away from Jake Cronenworth at first base.

With the game now tied a run apiece, both starting pitchers were off the hook. Jason Adam coughed up two runs in the bottom of the 8th, which put the Padres down 3-1. It looked as if the Padres would go down quietly.

Go-ahead sac fly in the 8th for @rhyshoskins ❕ pic.twitter.com/EmPdTfIin7

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 8, 2025

However, the Padres made some noise in the 9th, as Luis Arraez tied the game with two outs on a double to left. Arraez continues to show a clutch bat for San Diego. It was a big lift for the team, but the road club would need a scoreless effort from their bullpen.

Clutch.

⭐️: https://t.co/ARilN7zeOp pic.twitter.com/i1kpClO2qe

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 8, 2025

David Morgan was greeted in the bottom of the 9th inning by a solo homer off the bat of Caleb Durbin to win the game for Milwaukee. The 97.8 mph fastball was crushed to left center by the Brewers’ third baseman. The Padres showed a lot of heart in fighting back, but there was just not enough offense in the game. The team went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and wanted opportunities.

San Diego is not getting much production from the bottom of the lineup, and both Tatis and Jackson Merrill are slumping. It’s a long season, but something must give from the club to create more consistency in the lineup. San Diego looks to take the series on Sunday before heading home for a huge series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.00 ERA) will take on Aaron Civale (1-1, 5.19 ERA) on Sunday.

The first pitch is scheduled for 10:05 a.m. PDT

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.