The Padres and Mariners clashed on St. Patrick’s Day afternoon for San Diego’s final Tuesday Cactus League game of 2026.

It would be Padres’ German Marquez facing off against Seattle’s Luis Castillo in this contest.

This is how the Padres lined up.

Márquez takes the mound. pic.twitter.com/U0YKxgNBZ7

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 17, 2026

Sheets and Bogey bombs

In the second inning, Gavin Sheets and Xander Bogaerts left the yard in back-to-back fashion. Sheets launched a Castillo fastball, 111.3 mph off the bat, to right field over the bullpen, for a solo shot. Then, Bogaerts followed with a solo home run of his own to center field, hitting the batter’s eye on a 431-foot bomb.

Gavin Sheets nuke. Xander Bogaerts bomb. Back-to-back. pic.twitter.com/mfmk5tSWux

— Ben Higgins (@BenHigginsSD) March 17, 2026

Marquez is making a push

With Joe Musgrove expected to open the season on the injured list, German Marquez’s chance to make the Opening Day roster may seem larger than it originally was. The right-hander struck out nine Mariners in his five innings of work, while allowing three earned runs on three hits. Marquez’s nine strikeouts on Tuesday was more than he had in any start of the 2025 season with Colorado. On his 78th and final pitch, Marquez threw a 97.0 mph fastball by Rob Refsnyder to end the fifth inning and his outing. That final pitch would be his hardest pitch of the day. An encouraging outing for German Marquez as Spring Training concludes in a week.

More longballs for the Friars

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Nick Castellanos took former Padre Andres Muñoz out of the yard to left field. This would be Castellanos’ third round-tripper of the spring. This homer in the seventh would be San Diego’s third solo shot of the game, making the score 4-3, Mariners.

Sheesh ?‍? pic.twitter.com/4TGPfvlN6S

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 17, 2026

Two Padres tearing it up this spring: Ty France and Jase Bowen followed, Castellanos’ solo shot with two-run home runs of their own against Gunner Mayer. France’s first big fly of the spring went 436 ft, coming off the bat at 105.6 mph, and would give the Padres the lead again.

Round trip to France. pic.twitter.com/gCW61pt9Rg

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 17, 2026

Bowen launched his fourth long ball of the spring, 449 ft off of the batter’s eye in center field.

Anotha one! pic.twitter.com/dfnV0VHYBD

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 17, 2026

Non-roster invitees, France and Bowen, are both very interesting candidates for big league roster spots with their red-hot Cactus League seasons.

Catcher, Roldolfo Dura,n continued his nice spring, tucking a ball inside the right field foul pole in the eighth, extending the Padres’ lead to five.

SDP – Rodolfo Durán 2-run HR (2)
? Spring Training ?

? 351 ft | ? 95.2 mph | ? 32°
⚾️ 96.2 mph sinker (SEA – LHP Jose A. Ferrer)
?️ Out in 27/30 MLB parks

SDP (9) @ SEA (4)
? 8th#ForTheFaithful pic.twitter.com/tw3AWehymu

— MLB Home Runs (@MLBHRs_) March 17, 2026

Welcome back, Matty Knucks

Matt Waldron made his first appearance since February 21st, after missing time with a non-baseball-related injury. In two innings of work, he struck out two men, allowing an earned run on two hits. Waldron struck out Luis Suisbel and Rob Refsnyder on his signature knuckleball. He threw 33 pitches, 24 of them being for strikes. Topping out at 95.1 mph on his four-seam fastball, Waldron continues to impress with his uptick in velocity. A season ago, he averaged just 90.2 mph on that pitch. A nice outing for Matt Waldron as he looks to ramp up with Spring Training winding down and the season approaching.

Morejon and Morgan close it out

Left-hander Adrian Morejon appeared in the eighth inning for the Padres. Morejon allowed three hits while allowing an earned run and striking out one. He got Randy Arozarena swinging on a 99.9 sinker for the first out of the inning. Morejon then got Bill Knight to ground into a double play, which ended his outing. Morejon threw 23 pitches, 16 of them being for strikes.

It was David Morgan who closed the game in the ninth. Base hits by Mariners #1 prospect, Colt Emerson, and Austin St. Laurent plated the Mariners sixth run of the game. Rob Refsnyder then ended the game, grounding into a 6-4-3 double play for a Padres 9-6 victory.

Next game for San Diego

The Padres continue Cactus League play on Thursday, with no game scheduled on Wednesday. The Chicago White Sox will make the trip to Peoria Stadium to take on the Padres. First pitch is set for 6:10 PT/MT. Jonathan Cannon will start for Chicago, with San Diego’s starter yet to be determined. The game will be available to watch on Padres.TV and available for listeners on 97.3 The Fan.

Angel Flores

Angel grew up a San Diego sports fan, following the Padres, SDSU athletics, San Diego FC, as well as the Chargers. He is currently a third year community college student, and will transfer to SDSU to pursue a career in Journalism.