Padres let Marlins off hook with missed opportunities, fall 4-3
Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
LoanDepot Park- Miami, FL
The Padres looked to build on winning the series opener in Miami with Game 2 Tuesday afternoon. Before the game, the Padres announced a flurry of moves regarding their pitching staff. They recalled Stephen Kolek and Kyle Hart from El Paso and sent Bryan Hoeing and Alek Jacob back down to Triple-A. The team then handed Kolek the ball to start the game in Miami on Tuesday.
Things got off to a rocky start for Kolek as he allowed a two-out rally by Miami, but also was let down by his defense. Agustin Ramirez chopped one to Manny Machado, who threw the ball wide of first base. The uncharacteristic mistake by Machado led to Otto Lopez running home as the ball trickled away from first baseman Jake Cronenworth. Kyle Stowers then compounded the mistake by doubling home another run, continuing his white-hot stretch.
A normally solid Padres defense allowed the Marlins to take an early 2-0 lead.
It looked like the Padres were going to respond in the top of the second, as the Padres got runners on first and third. However, Jose Iglesias struck out to end the rally before it started.
The Padres were able to scratch out a run against Marlins starter Edward Cabrera in the top of the third. Martin Maldonado continued his surprising hot streak at the plate with yet another double. Luis Arraez then singled him home to cut the deficit to just one.
After a shaky first inning, Kolek settled in, tossing four scoreless frames after that. However, he ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth and was knocked out of the inning with two outs.
The Padres had a great chance to make some noise in the top of the sixth, putting runners on first and third with one out. Xander Bogaerts then hit a dribbler back to the mound and the Marlins gunned out Arraez at the plate.
Cade Gibson relieved Cabrera and got Merrill to ground out to kill the threat.
Wandy Peralta worked out of the trouble. David Morgan tried to get through the eighth unscathed, but a Javier Sanoja triple pushed Miami’s lead to 4-1.
That last run by Miami would be costly for San Diego.
The Padres entered the ninth inning down by three and gave it a valiant effort. Gavin Sheets led off with a walk. Bogaerts doubled to put runners on second and third. Jackson Merrill lined a two-run double up against the right field wall. All of a sudden, the Padres were cooking. It was 4-3 with Merrill on second and nobody out.
#Padres 3 @ #Marlins 4 [T9–0o]:
Jackson Merrill doubles: fly ball to RF
Hit: 🔥104.5mph, 360ft, 23°, 💥.925xBAPitch: 88.1mph Slider (RHP R.Henriquez)#ForTheFaithful #MarlinsBeisbol #MLB pic.twitter.com/fUyrVHja5c
— MLB Run Videos (@MLBRBIs) July 23, 2025
Unfortunately, the lack of depth for the Padres offense reared its ugly head. After Jake Cronenworth popped out, Jose Iglesias struck out, and pinch-hitter Trenton Brooks popped out, and the threat ended as quickly as it began. The Padres fell to Miami 4-3, while going 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and leaving six runners on base.
The Padres have a chance to win the series on Wednesday at 9:10 am PT.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.