Petco Park- San Diego

The San Diego Padres came into the second game of their three-game set with the New York Mets, looking for an answer.

Losing 10 of their last 11 games is a tough pill to swallow.

San Diego is built to win from the lead. With an inept offense, the excellent bullpen has not been able to be utilized. San Diego is not getting any early leads because the offense is so horrendous. The formula for success is not working. The Padres need an answer offensively, and they need it now.

Griffin Canning took the mound on Saturday night, opposed by rookie Nolan McLean.

The Mets got to Canning early to take a 1-0 lead, but San Diego answered back on an RBI base hit off the bat of Fernando Tatis Jr. that struck the second base bag and ricocheted into right field. The baseball gods rewarded the Padres on the groundball up the middle to provide a vital run for San Diego. Perhaps that was a sign that things are turning for the franchise.

In the 5th inning, Tatis singled, forcing a first and second situation for the Padres with one out. Jackson Merrill drove a well-struck ball to center, allowing Sung-Mun Song to advance to third base. In true Padres’ fashion, Tatis attempted to steal second and looked as though he had the bag stolen easily. Except for the fact that Song was caught tiptoeing off third base and was thrown out to end the scoring threat. When the team needed offense, San Diego ran themselves out of an inning.

When things go bad. They really go bad.

MARCUS SEMIEN GO-AHEAD HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/N1nRPAONH4

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 7, 2026

Marcus Semien hit a 97-mph fastball out of the ballpark to start the top of the 7th inning. Bradgley Rodriguez gave up his first home run in 149 batters faced to start his career (36 1/3 innings), and it was a big one. The rookie pitcher was able to retire the next three batters, but the damage was done.

It looked bleak for San Diego solely on the fact that the offense was looking so bad.

With two out in the 7th, it all changed.

The Ferminator ? pic.twitter.com/K5VhOp2XIH

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 7, 2026

Sung-Mun Song reached on a seeing-eye single to first base, which was promptly followed by a two-run bomb off the bat of Freddy Fermin. “It was awesome to see Freddy come through,” manager Craig Stammen said after the game. In his first two at-bats, the catcher laid down sacrifice bunts. In his third plate appearance, he swung the bat. Petco Park was energized as the Padres suddenly had a 3-2 lead late in the game. “Today was a good day …. we were able to get the big hit right there,” Fermin said after the game.

What a great time for Fermin to slug his first homer of the 2026 season. “When I hit it, I knew it was out of the ballpark,” Fermin said.

It was all aligned for San Diego on the night, as Jason Adam toed the rubber in the 8th and a well-rested Mason Miller lurked in the background. Adam ran into some difficulty, but a big double play ended the Mets’ scoring threat in the eighth inning.

Mason Miller came on in the 9th inning to a chorus of cheers. The closer did not disappoint, as he surrendered a two-out walk to A.J. Ewing before getting Mark Vientos to end the contest. Miller had only recorded two saves in the Padres’ last 17 games, so it was a great sight to see for Padres fans.

Griffin Canning went five innings in the game for the Padres, allowing one earned run while striking out six batters on 86 pitches. “He pitched great. I thought he controlled the strike zone really well,” Stammen told the media after the game.

Up next for San Diego is Sunday’s game, which will decide the series.

Randy Vasquez (5-3, 3.31 ERA) will start for San Diego. The Mets have yet to announce a starter.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.