The San Diego Padres (29-20) look to get back on the right track after losing the series against the Dodgers, with a three-game weekend home stint vs the Athletics (26-24).

The Padres continue their home stretch vs the team bound for Sin City in the Athletics. Looking to grab win number thirty, San Diego had Walker Buehler on the mound, and he faced off against the Athletics Jeffery Springs.

In a galaxy far, far away… pic.twitter.com/Klgc1aRhdX

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 22, 2026

Early offense for both sides

Coming into the game, the Athletics are known for their young offensive firepower. They were able to get on the board first, with a 2-0 lead at the top of the first. It all started with a lead-off single up the middle from Cesar Cortes. Following him was Nick Kurtz, who laced a double into the left-center gap, which scored Cortes from first. Shea Langiliers would ground out to short, allowing Kurtz to advance to third. The A’s would add another on a groundout to third from former Padre Brent Rooker. Manny Machado had a nice web gem on that score. Starter Walker Buheler would then walk Tyler Soderstrom, who then got picked off during Zach Gelof’s at-bat.

The Padres, however, would answer with a bang in the bottom of the first. Fernando Tatis Jr would work a leadoff walk, then Miguel Andujar popped out in foul territory, and Gavin Sheets flew out to right. But Manny Machado would step up and hit a high fastball 109.6MPH off the bat to left center for a two-run shot, his eighth of the year. Xander Bogaerts would strike out to close the first.

The Force is strong with this one. pic.twitter.com/uXH87IpUvM

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 23, 2026

Athletics grab the lead in the fourth, but Nick Castellanos ties it up in the fifth

The hype around this A’s offense is real, as they just keep hitting around Walker Buehler. In the top of the fourth, Zach Gelof had a leadoff double, who then scored the next at-bat off a single by Henry Bolte. Atheletics lead 3-2. Walker Buehler would get out of the inning without giving up anymore, thanks to a Rodolfo Duran throwout on Henry Bolte at second base.

Buehler would finish his day after the fifth, his line was five innings pitched, giving up three runs (all earned), five hits, four walks, and claiming three strikeouts. A solid day from the starter who obviously didn’t have his best stuff.

That lead wouldn’t hold for long. San Diego’s offense has still looked very disappointing throughout this one, but timely home runs kept it in this game. In the bottom of the fifth with one out, Nick Castellanos got the Padres’ second hit of the game, and it was a long one. Castellanos’ third homerun of the season would hit the third deck basket on the Western Metal Supply building to tie it up at three.

Casty Strikes Back pic.twitter.com/5M1V8dfuvD

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 23, 2026

Ramon Lauerano gets out of his slump to give the Padres the lead, and they didn’t look back

Through six innings, the Padres had two hits, which were two home runs. Ramon Lauerano made it three hits for three home runs after seven. A low and in changeup hit 401 feet fro Laueranos sixth homerun of the season, giving San Diego a 4-3 lead.

Día de jonrones. pic.twitter.com/9x7ttjns3l

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 23, 2026

That would be the end of the hit for a homerun streak as the Padres’ offense exploded in the eighth for three runs. The inning started with four straight singles, from Rodolfo Duran, Fernando Tatis Jr, Miguel Andujar, and Gavin Sheets. This led to Duran and Tatis scoring off Sheets’ single. Manny Machado struck out. Following him, Xander Bogaerts hit a sac fly to score the third run. The Athletics would get out of the inning on a Sung-Mun Song popout. The offense showed flashes of what it could truly be in that eighth-inning display.

Do you know the Milk Man? pic.twitter.com/KpzQR1a1nV

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 23, 2026

Jerimiah Estrada would come in for the non-save situation and work a quick inning in the top of the ninth. Nine pitches that led to a strikeout, groundout, and flyout to secure win number thirty on the season for the Padres. Ten games above .500 through the first fifty games, and most would say the best baseball is yet to come for this team.

Continuing the series

The San Diego Padres (30-20) will try to win the series vs the Athletics (26-25) tomorrow. For the Padres, they have Lucas Giolito making his second start of the season, and the Athletics got JT Ginn, who had a no-hit bid through eight innings in his last appearance before giving up a walk-off homerun in the ninth. Athletics vs. Padres Saturday, May 23rd at 6:40 PM PST.

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.