Rogers Centre- Toronto, Ontario

The San Diego Padres took on the Toronto Blue Jays for the third game of their three-game series. Stephen Kolek took the mound for the Friars, and Bowden Francis started for Toronto. San Diego had yet to score a single run in this series. They entered this game ice cold with a scoreless inning streak reaching 26. Every hitter for San Diego is slumping, and it shows with their performance. Their stars have not been performing, and most look completely lost at the plate. 

Luckily for San Diego, they were able to break the scoreless inning streak in the bottom of the second inning. Jackson Merrill started the inning off by singling on a line drive to center field. Gavin Sheets immediately after hit a moon shot two-run home run to right field to get San Diego’s first runs of the series. The Friars, however, continued their failures with runners in scoring position as they stranded Jake Cronenworth at second base. With this, San Diego was 0 for its last 34 with runners in scoring position as their hitters have failed to capitalize with timely hits. 

Stephen Kolek continued his success of 2025. Making quick work of Toronto in the first inning, he escaped a bases-loaded jam with a ground ball double play in the second. Kolek could not escape the jam in the third inning, however. Tyler Heineman was able to score after Gavin Sheets misplayed a grounder to first base. Immediately following the error by Sheets, Addison Barger singled to left for his second hit of the day, bringing home Bo Bichette. Kolek worked around the runners again, getting two groundouts to finish the inning. 

Kolek got himself into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth once again after several Blue Jays reached base. Bichette capitalized, singling on a line drive to give Toronto the lead. Daulton Varsho crushed a ball to deep center field, but Jackson Merrill made a great running catch to get the out. However, Toronto was able to get a run out of it, adding to their lead. 

Gavin Sheets is putting the Padres on his back today

pic.twitter.com/zVQ5sg2jCS

— Padres Nation (@NationPadres) May 22, 2025

Bowden Francis finished his day throwing four innings, allowing two earned runs on three total hits while striking out four total batters. Stephen Kolek totaled six innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out seven.

Trailing by two in the 9th inning, Jackson Merrill was able to get on base via a walk. Gavin Sheets then smashed another home run to tie the game at four. It was his 8th home run of the season and his third multi-home run game of his career. 

The Padres forced extra innings. In the 10th, they finally ended their 0-for-39 streak with runners in scoring position. Luis Arraez singled home the runner to take the lead. In the bottom half of the 10th, it took the Blue Jays one pitch to tie the game as Jonatan Clase singled home the runner.  The game carried into the 11th inning tied at five, where Gavin Sheets came through again. This time, he singled on a ball that dropped in shallow center field, which brought home Manny Machado.  In the bottom of the 11th, Varsho tripled home a run to tie the game once again. Nathan Lukes hit the walk-off single to win it for Toronto. 

Mike Shildt spoke postgame on Stephen Kolek’s performance, saying, “He battled through six, not an extra base hit, a couple of self-inflicted walks, but he was around the plate all day throwing strikes and he gave us a chance at the end of the day.”

San Diego now travels to Atlanta to take on the Braves for a three-game series. Chris Sale is set to pitch for Atlanta, and Nick Pivetta is set to throw for the Padres. First pitch is scheduled for 4:15 P.M. Pacific time

Will Eskridge