The Padres opened their six-game road trip with a series win in Washington and kept the momentum rolling Monday night in Miami with a narrow 2–1 victory over the Marlins.

The win improved San Diego’s record to 55–45 on the season, pushing them to just 3.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West while holding firm in the National League Wild Card picture.

The Padres have now won 11 of Randy Vásquez’s last 14 starts dating back to early June. Despite lasting only 4.1 innings on Tuesday, Vásquez navigated through traffic all night (7 H, 1 BB) and limited Miami to one run , a solo shot by Kyle Stowers, thanks in part to three big double plays behind him. He finished with four strikeouts on 65 pitches.

Offensively, San Diego got to Miami starter Eury Pérez early, scoring both of their runs in the second inning. Xander Bogaerts ripped a double to center and scored on a Jackson Merrill RBI single. Merrill then came home on a two-out RBI double by Martín Maldonado. Bogaerts continues to anchor the offense, leading the team in slugging (.562), wRC+ (143), and WAR (1.1) since June 19.

It’s all just a bunch of Merrill Madness. pic.twitter.com/bszkRfq4y9

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 21, 2025

That early burst was all the Padres would need. Adrian Morejon (1.2 IP), Jeremiah Estrada (1.0 IP), and Jason Adam (1.0 IP) each delivered scoreless frames to bridge the gap to closer Robert Suarez. The right-hander entered the bottom of the ninth with a one-run cushion and did what he’s done all season — shut it down. Suarez retired the side for his MLB-leading 29th save, two more than Kansas City’s Carlos Estévez, and extended San Diego’s mark to 45–3 when leading after eight innings.

It was also the Padres’ 22nd one-run win of the year, tied with the San Francisco Giants for the MLB lead, once again proving their ability to thrive in high-leverage moments.

After the game, Jackson Merrill spoke with Padres color analyst Mark Grant about his aggressive baserunning decision to score from first on Martín Maldonado’s double — a play that saw him ignore a stop sign from third base coach Tim Leiper. Grinning, Merrill recounted the moment with a playful jab: “C’mon Leiper. You holding me on that one? Are you kidding me right now?” Merrill laughed. “Any ball that’s to the outfield and to the wall — you gotta score from first. That’s the way we run this team. Yeah, ball to the wall… you gotta score from first.”

Up Next:

The Padres will look to secure the series Tuesday as right-hander Stephen Kolek (3–4, 4.24 ERA) takes the mound against Miami’s Edward Cabrera (3–4, 3.61 ERA). Kolek will be making his 13th start of the season, while Cabrera brings a big fastball and 86 strikeouts in 82.1 innings into his 16th appearance. First pitch is scheduled for 3:40 PM PT.

J.J. Rodriguez

J.J. Rodriguez is a passionate sports writer making his debut with East Village Times. Born and raised in Southwest Florida, he is a father of four and an eight-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has lived in Southern California since 1996. A devoted fan of the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Florida Gators, J.J. brings a lifetime of sports enthusiasm to his writing. He’s currently pursuing a degree in elementary education and enjoys life as an empty-nester with his wife of 19 years, Lisa.