Tatis Jr., Pivetta lead Padres past D-backs in bounce-back win
Credit: Beloit Daily News
Coming off a stunning ninth-inning comeback the night before — when Arizona erased a 7–3 deficit in the bottom of the ninth — the Diamondbacks looked to build momentum on Sunday. But the San Diego Padres had other plans.
San Diego rode a dominant outing from Nick Pivetta and a four-hit performance from Fernando Tatis Jr. to close out the series with an emphatic 8–2 win at Chase Field, improving to 39–31 on the season. Arizona drops to 36–35 with the loss.
Pivetta has quietly emerged as the Padres’ most reliable “loss buster” this season. Time and again, he’s been the arm manager Mike Shildt turns to after a loss—and Pivetta continues to deliver. Sunday marked yet another bounce-back win with Pivetta on the mound. He retired the first 12 batters he faced, carried a no-hitter into the fifth, and finished with seven strong innings of two-run ball. He struck out nine, walked none, and allowed just three hits over 94 pitches (67 strikes), improving to 7–2 with a 3.40 ERA. His fastball powered all nine strikeouts, and his MLB-best .113 opponent average with two strikes held firm.
Pivetta’s lone blemish came in the 5th, when Eugenio Suárez crushed a two-run homer to center—his second at-bat adjustment after being overpowered by fastballs earlier in the game.
Adjustment Breakdown – Eugenio Suárez vs. Nick Pivetta
| AB | Result | Key Pitch Pattern | Adjustment Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st AB | Strikeout Swinging | Four-seamers high & away | Couldn’t catch up to heat |
| 2nd AB | Home Run (437 ft) | Fastball low-middle | Suárez sat dead red and shortened swing |
| 3rd AB | Strikeout Swinging | More pitch variety (Sweeper, Curve) | Pivetta mixed it up, neutralized power |
Fernando Tatis Jr. was the offensive catalyst, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI, three runs scored, and two stolen bases—including his league-leading seventh steal of third base. He’s now hitting .277 and has torched D-backs starter Merrill Kelly throughout his career (.320 AVG, 1.233 OPS in 25 ABs).
After three quiet innings, the Padres made subtle but effective adjustments in approach against Kelly, who entered riding an 18-inning scoreless streak. In the fourth, Jake Cronenworth capped a 10-pitch at-bat with a two-run homer, and the team began extending at-bats, fouling off tough pitches, and avoiding chase pitches early in counts.
Jake Cronenworth golfs one out on the 10th pitch of the at-bat 🏌️ pic.twitter.com/MtVufxNpvJ
— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2025
The offense tallied 13 hits—including six for extra bases—and went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. San Diego plated five of their eight runs with two outs.
Tatis, Machado (2 RBIs), Cronenworth (2 RBIs), Bogaerts, and Díaz all drove in runs. Díaz also launched a solo homer in the ninth. Sheets reached base twice, continuing to thrive against right-handed pitching (.281 AVG, 11 HR).
The bullpen picked up where Pivetta left off, with Adrian Morejón tossing a dominant 8th inning that included three strikeouts and 17 strikes out of 20 pitches. He generated six whiffs, five of them on his devastating slider. Sean Reynolds worked a perfect ninth, striking out two to seal it.
San Diego wraps up their road trip with a four-game set at Dodger Stadium beginning Monday. Dylan Cease is expected to start Game 1, with the Dodgers’ starter still TBD. Arizona, meanwhile, begins a nine-game road swing with a three-game series in Toronto starting Tuesday.
J.J. Rodriguez is a passionate sports writer making his debut with East Village Times. Born and raised in Southwest Florida, he is a father of four and an eight-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has lived in Southern California since 1996. A devoted fan of the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Florida Gators, J.J. brings a lifetime of sports enthusiasm to his writing. He’s currently pursuing a degree in elementary education and enjoys life as an empty-nester with his wife of 19 years, Lisa.