Padres spring training continued on as scheduled, as the Padres arrived in Scottsdale to take on the new-look division-rival Rockies.

A ninth-inning homer by Rockies outfielder Zac Veen was the deciding blow in a 3-2 loss. 

Randy is a New Man

Starting on the mound for the Padres was Randy Vasquez, coming off a strong first start. Vasquez continued to flash his newfound velocity, as he averaged 95.6 mph on his fastball in the start. The right-hander showed improvements in the velocity department late last season, and it appears that whatever adjustment he and the Padres’ staff helped him make was a positive one. Vasquez did not allow a hit over 2.2 innings of work, walking two and striking out four on 37 pitches. He also led all pitchers in the ballgame in the whiffs department, racking up six whiffs on 17 swings. 

Vásquez bringing the heat ? pic.twitter.com/VNawnalRaL

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 27, 2026

Leaving on a Jet Plane

The Padres’ WBC participants will be heading off to their respective camps, as today was their last scheduled game until after the tournament. Manny Machado was among these players, and he drove in the Padres’ first run on a sacrifice fly, scoring Sung-Mun Song. Also in this camp was Fernando Tatis Jr, who finished the game hitless in two at-bats. 

Also departing the team for the WBC is Ron Marinaccio, who pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief after Vasquez. Marinaccio is one of two Padres joining Team Italy, as fellow reliever Alek Jacob will also be joining him on their staff. As is now well known, Padres closer Mason Miller is off to join Team USA, and Wandy Peralta is off to join the Dominican Republic’s squad. Two Padres minor leaguers are also off to the WBC, as Carter Loewen is set to be a bullpen arm for Team Canada, and Josh Mallitz will be a part of Team Israel’s relief corps. 

Bounceback for McKenzie

Triston McKenzie returned to the mound, and in his second appearance, the results were much improved. He completed two innings on 34 pitches, allowing one run. McKenzie only allowed one hit, but walked two batters. Adael Amador’s weakly-hit fly ball to left field scored Ryan Ritter from second in the sixth. McKenzie’s velocity was averaging 95.9 mph in his first inning of relief, but was down in the second frame he worked (94.3 mph average). Whether McKenzie can rein in the velocity and retain it across the order will be something to watch as he battles for a rotation spot. 

Best of the Bats

The Padres and Rockies were unable to do much at the plate, as the Padres were held to four hits. San Diego had eight barreled balls in play, but only two went for base hits (Ramon Laureano and Samad Taylor). Laureano had the Padres’ only extra-base hit with a double off Eiberson Castellano. The Padres tied the game in the eighth after an error and two wild pitches from Rockies reliever Griffin Herring. Samad Taylor’s single tied the game at two runs apiece, but Jose Miranda struck out with two runners on to end the threat. 

Next Game Preview:

The Padres will host the Seattle Mariners back home in Peoria on Saturday, with first pitch set for 12:10 pm Pacific. JP Sears starts for San Diego, while Mariners 2025 first-rounder Kade Anderson starts for the visiting team. The game will be watchable on Padres TV and will have coverage via 97.3 The Fan on radio.

Diego Garcia

A born and raised San Diegan, Diego Garcia is a lifetime Padres fan and self-proclaimed baseball nerd. Diego wrote about baseball on his own site between 2021-22 before joining the East Village Times team in 2024. He also posts baseball content on his YouTube channel “Stat Nerd Baseball”, creating content around trades, hypotheticals, player analyses, the San Diego Padres, and MLB as a whole.

A 2024 graduate of San Diego State, Diego aims to grow as a writer and content creator in the baseball community.