The Padres wrapped up their season-opening homestand with a commanding 7-1 victory over the Giants, avoiding a sweep and showcasing the kind of resilience fans love to see. Nick Pivetta, bouncing back from a tough Opening Day outing, was the star of the show.
After a rocky start against the Tigers, Pivetta found his groove, striking out eight over five scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and two walks, showing the kind of control that makes him the ace of the Padres' 2025 staff.
Pivetta was particularly impressive in the second inning, striking out Patrick Bailey to leave two runners stranded, and then he really hit his stride by striking out the side in the third. After a leadoff single to Luis Arraez in the second, Pivetta didn't allow another hit, putting the Giants' offense on ice.
The Padres got on the board early thanks to some hustle and a bit of luck. Manny Machado's sprint to first forced an error by Casey Schmitt, allowing Jackson Merrill to score. Another miscue between Matt Chapman and Schmitt in the fifth inning let Xander Bogaerts reach base safely, giving Fernando Tatis Jr. the chance to score.
Gavin Sheets added some breathing room in the sixth, knocking in Ramon Laureano with his second double of the day. Laureano wasn't done, though. He capped off the night with a two-run homer in the eighth, his second of the season, putting an exclamation point on the win.
Fernando Tatis Jr. kept the momentum going, scoring Jake Cronenworth with an infield single, and Xander Bogaerts drew a bases-loaded walk to seal the deal.
With this win, the Padres head into their first road trip of the season with some swagger, taking on Boston next. They’ve got Thursday off to rest up and keep this momentum rolling.