In the final regular season matchup between the irresistible force known as the Philadelphia Phillies and the immovable offense known as the San Diego Padres, the former completed the season sweep, winning 6-4 over the stumbling team from America’s Finest City.

Walker Buehler had a solid three innings, giving up before giving up an RBI single to Bryson Stott, scoring Bryce Harper in the fourth.

While he would get out of the inning by striking out Alec Bohm and getting JT Realmuto into a force out, the wheels came off in the fifth. Buehler gave up an opening home run to Adolis Garcia and a double to Justin Crawford before being relieved by Yuki Matsui. Matsui would walk Kyle Schwarber and strike out Bryce Harper before a pick-off error caused Crawford to score, giving the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

Zack Wheeler was masterful for six innings, dealing with a punchless and inept Padres offense; he was through five innings in just 64 pitches without giving up a hit.

It wasn’t until the top of the 6th when Bryce Johnson, with one out, singled to left field. Then, in a standard 2026 Padres’ fashion, Fernando Tatis Jr. hit the first pitch into an inning-ending double play. Things turned around in the seventh as, after a Gavin Sheets walk, Manny Machado turned on the ninth straight Wheeler fastball he’d seen, sending it over 435ft and bringing the Padres closer at 3-2.

That was mashed. pic.twitter.com/wQvHTCd1yC

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 4, 2026

Adrian Morejon took over in the bottom of the 7th inning after a walk to Crawford, who advanced to third on a steal attempt on Freddy Fermin, who threw the ball away. Crawford would score on a Trea Turner single, who would then steal second on Fermin. Turner would score two batters later on a fielder’s choice, making it 5-2. Bohm would then score Brandon Marsh, keeping the merry-go-round going, which would be the end for Morejon. The normally effective Padres’ lefty recorded a single out and gave up three runs on three hits, giving way to Wandy Peralta, who would get through the 7th and 8th without issue.

Wheeler gave way to Orion Kerkering in the 8th, who got Manny Machado to ground out with two aboard. Jose Alvarado came in for the ninth and immediately gave up a walk to Ty France and a towering right-center field home run to the slumping Jackson Merrill, making it 6-4. However, Alvarado would get the following three Friars to secure the season sweep against a foreseeable playoff competitor.

The Friars continue their streak of horrible play and even more horrible offense, now eight games back of the Dodgers for first and 1-9 in the last 10 games. And while they were able to finally score more runs today than in games past, their bullpen couldn’t keep them close enough to get a win against the team from Philadelphia.

The Padres return home on Thursday to take on another struggling, expensive, and underperforming team in the New York Mets.

Michael King takes the mound for the Friars while Christian Scott will pitch for the Mets.

Loren Casuto

A Native San Diegan, Loren has spent his entire life not only as a fan but an active participant in San Diego’s sports world. In 2006 Loren joined two other die hard Charger fans to create Bolttalk, where Loren was a co-host and regular columnist from 2006 until the Chargers left in 2017. After that he started another podcast, The Grid Podshow, from 2020-2021 with his former co-host and colleague, speaking about the local sports community and popular culture.

When he’s not giving his opinion about San Diego sports, Loren is an adjunct professor at San Diego State and an attorney.