Merrill, Maldonado deliver RBI hits in the 2nd inning as Padres hold on to beat Marlins 2-1
Merrill had an RBI single that scored Xander Bogaerts. Maldonado followed with a double down the left field line off Eury Pérez (3-3) that scored Merrill from first and put San Diego up 2-0.
Miami's Kyle Stowers hit a solo homer off Padres starter Randy Vásquez that made it 2-1 in the fourth. Stowers, who has an MLB-best 12 homers since June 22, connected on a 1-0 changeup and sent it 400 feet to left-center for his 22nd home run of the season.
Vásquez allowed one run on seven hits while issuing one walk and no strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He left with a runner at first and one out in the fifth before Adrian Morejon (8-4) got the last two outs of the inning. Robert Suarez got the final three outs for his 29th save.
Pérez struck out five and allowed two runs on five hits in five innings.
Xavier Edwards had three of Miami's eight hits, but the Marlins went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.
Key moment
After Edwards reached on a single against Vásquez, Morejon struck out Jesús Sánchez and got Otto Lopez to ground out to end the fifth.
Key stat
The Padres have played in 56 games this season that have been decided within two runs, including seven of their last 10, the second-most such games in the majors.
Up next
RHP Stephen Kolek (3-4, 4.24) will start Tuesday for the Padres against Miami's RHP Edward Cabrera (3-4, 3.61)
___
AP MLB:
https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thairo Estrada's two-run homer (3)
Thairo Estrada hits a two-run home run to left-center to cut the Rockies' deficit to 4-3 in the top of the 4th
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ketel Marte makes play off a deflection
Ketel Marte makes a slick play after the ball deflects off of Tristin English's glove in the bottom of the 7th inning
New York Times
11 minutes ago
- New York Times
Reds' Terry Francona uses scoreboard video to escalate prank battle with Rays' Kevin Cash
CINCINNATI — As the Tampa Bay Rays came out for batting practice before their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, manager Kevin Cash looked up at the Great American Ball Park scoreboard and saw a video clip from his playing days of him striking out. Tito arranged for the scoreboard at GABP to show a loop of Kevin Cash striking out 😂 — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 25, 2025 It was the latest in an ongoing prank war between the close friends. Cash, 47, played for Francona when the Reds manager helmed the Boston Red Sox and then served as Francona's bullpen coach in Cleveland before becoming the Rays' manager. In 2015, Cash's first year as a manager, Francona had someone write 'Zep says hi' on Cash's car in the Tropicana Field parking lot, referring to former Cleveland reliever Marc Rzepzynskik. Two years later, when the Rays came to Progressive Field in Cleveland, Francona had a graphic put up on the scoreboard with the title 'How bad is Kevin Cash at the plate?' It then listed Cash's career slash line of .183/.248//278 along with the note: 'In the history of Major League Baseball, among all non-pitchers with at least 650 plate appearances, Kevin Cash is (sic) the 5th worst OPS+ of all time.' Advertisement Cash may not have landed as many hits with his pranks as Francona, but his best hit harder. In Cleveland, Francona's preferred mode of transit was a motor scooter. Before a game at Progressive Field in 2018, Cash had Francona's scooter put in the infield before Rays batting practice, where Tampa Bay's C.J. Cron hit it. Rays manager Kevin Cash has gotten Tito back for his scoreboard prank on Friday by stealing his scooter and putting it in the infield grass for BP. I asked him how he got his hands on it in the first place and he said 'I have a lot of friends here.' — Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) September 2, 2018 In what is the first meeting between the two since Francona took over the Reds, Francona was asked about his relationship with Cash. 'For public consumption, I don't think I'd ever say anything nice about him,' Francona said. 'But for this room, I love the guy. I think he's one of the best. But if you're going to air this — I don't think much of him.' The two became close when Cash, a catcher, played for the Red Sox in 2007 and 2008. Even then, Francona said he could tell Cash would be a good manager. 'I think he's built for this,' Francona said. 'I thought when he was a player, he should've been a manager. He hit like a manager.' Cash hit .183 in parts of eight years in the big leagues with a total of 12 home runs. In 2014, Cash also interviewed for not just the Rays' job, but also interviewed with the Texas Rangers. Francona said he thought Tampa was the perfect spot for Cash. And now, in his 11th season with the Rays, Cash is considered one of the game's best managers. 'He went to the right place,' Francona said. 'I remember when they first hired him, they gave him a five-year deal. You don't see that very often. And I think he's been smart enough to know where he's happy and stay where he's happy.' Advertisement Entering Friday's game against the Reds, Cash owned a career record of 872-749, all with the Rays. 'I give (the Rays) a lot of credit, but I give him a lot of credit,' Francona said. 'Sometimes guys chase the last dollar. I'm not sure that makes you the happiest.'
