The San Diego Padres (61-57) close out a three-game set at home vs the Houston Astros (60-58); winner-take-all game three on Sunday Night Baseball. For the Padres, Randy Vasquez is looking to string together a couple of good starts, and the Astros have veteran Cristian Javier to try to take the road series.

Sunday night showdown. pic.twitter.com/gKKlgTtubP

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 9, 2026

Each team goes yard to kick off the scoring on Sunday Night Baseball.

You can always count on some fireworks when the Padres play on primetime, and both teams got started early. In the top of the second, the Astros got a one-out single from Taylor Trammell. Up next was Christian Walker, who hit a groundball to third, where Manny Machado tried to turn a double play, but Trammell stole second on the pitch, so Machado had to improvise and get Walker out at first. Then brought up Daulton Varsho, who battled with pitcher Randy Vasquez for eight pitches before stroking a two-run home run to right, 2-0 Houston. Yanier Diaz would ground out to second to close the inning.

Daulton Varsho hits his first homer with the @Astros! pic.twitter.com/iRvMbVMKB3

— MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2026

But Jackson Merrill would have a quick response in the bottom half of the inning. Leading off, Merrill launched a high fastball 400ft over the right-center wall to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. The Padres would end up stranding two baserunners to close the second.

Merrill Madness is a real thing. pic.twitter.com/BNad0LXXj3

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 10, 2026

El Niño stays hot, giving the Padres the lead.d

If the season started in late May, Fernando Tatis Jr would be an NL MVP candidate right now. Luis Rengifo kicked off the bottom of the fourth with a single to right. After back-to-back flyouts, Freddy Fermin got a soft grounder to short for a single. Then came Fernando Tatis Jr., who scorched a 421-foot three-run home run into the third deck of the Western Metal Supply building for a Padres 4-2 lead. Tatis Jr.’s eleventh home run of the season, second of the series, and third of the week.

Three, two, one, blast off. pic.twitter.com/LmlzOeFvgl

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 10, 2026

Randy Vasquez turns in his second solid start of the week.

After a six-inning outing on Tuesday, giving up no runs, Randy Vasquez had another good start on Sunday. Nothing special in the swing-and-miss department, but he was able to get weak contact. Only allowing hard contact in that second inning, where the scoring took place.The key stat for Vasquez to see how his start is gonna go is walks. Four walks in his last four starts after being moved back into the rotation from the bullpen. If Vasquez can not give away free bases, he can do enough to give the Padres a chance to win from start to start. He would finish the night with five innings pitched, giving up two hits, two runs (both earned), zero walks, and getting one strikeout.

Sheets breaks out of home run drought to extend lead.

Gavin Sheets has been dealing with plantar fasciitis, an injury that can be one of the most complicated to take care of. But after an eighty-five-at-bat drought, Sheets finally gets a long ball. To start the bottom of the seventh, AJ Blubaugh relieved Christian Javier, and on his second pitch, Sheets welcomed him in with a solo shot to right to extend the Friars’ lead to 5-2.

Have you heard of the Milk Man? pic.twitter.com/up6HFGzolB

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 10, 2026

Hello and Welcome, Austin Hays!

For the fans who were worried that the Padres didn’t add a bat at the trade deadline, worry no more. Say hello to Austin Hays, who was signed this morning and made his introduction pinch-hitting in the bottom of the eighth for Gavin Sheets. With Luis Rengifo (pinch runner Jase Bowen) on first after a single to right, Hays would crush a sweeper from Bryan King off the Canel’s sign on the second deck of the Western Metal Supply building to cushion the Padres’ lead to five, 7-2.

Welcome to San Diego, Austin! pic.twitter.com/YQ7mxwiNqo

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 10, 2026

Bullpen puts the icing on the cake for the series win.

Some great outings from multiple guys in the bullpen helped seal the deal for San Diego. Kyle Hart, who relieved Randy Vasquez and had a quick seven-pitch sixth inning with one strikeout. Bradgley Rodriguez would dominate the seventh and eighth, throwing seventeen pitches between the two and notching one strikeout. To close things out, Jeremiah Estrada would get a groundout from Lamonte Wade Jr. and strike out both Jeremy Pena and Yordan Alvarez to pick up the series win on Sunday Night Baseball. Padres pitching threw ninety-eight total pitches as a unit in the win.

The Padres still sit a game out of a wildcard spot after wins from the Phillies and Diamondbacks, but are now 14-9 since the All-Star Break.

Moving on to the next three-game set at home

The San Diego Padres (62-57) will stay at home and welcome in the best record in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers (74-44).

For the Padres, they will have Casey Mize on the mound, who is looking to bounce back after having the worst start of his career in his debut with the Pads. The Brewers will have Logan Henderson, who has been outstanding this year with a 2.70 ERA. Game one is Monday, August 10th, at 6:40 PM PT at Petco Park.

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.