Padres Earn First Win of '26 With Shutout of Tigers

Randy Vásquez dominates across six scoreless innings to give San Diego its first victory of the season.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:22am

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The San Diego Padres avoided a series sweep against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night, as right-hander Randy Vásquez delivered a dominant six-inning, scoreless performance to lead the Friars to their first win of the 2026 season. Vásquez, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade that sent superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, struck out eight batters while walking just two and sitting between 95-97 mph on his fastball.

Why it matters

The Padres were looking to avoid a demoralizing series sweep to open the season, and Vásquez's strong outing provides a much-needed boost for a starting rotation that is still finding its footing. The 27-year-old righty is emerging as a crucial piece for San Diego after some inconsistency earlier in his career.

The details

Vásquez threw 91 total pitches, 59 of them for strikes, and induced 13 whiffs from the Tigers' lineup. The Padres' offense backed his performance with three runs, two of them coming during a two-out rally in the third inning that featured hits from Freddy Fermin, Jake Cronenworth, and Fernando Tatis Jr. Ramón Laureano also continued his hot start, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base.

  • The Padres avoided a series sweep against the Tigers on Saturday night (March 29, 2026).
  • Vásquez's strong outing came late last season, as he has been shifting the tide from an inconsistent arm to a crucial piece of the Padres' starting staff.

The players

Randy Vásquez

A 27-year-old right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade that sent superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees. Vásquez delivered a dominant six-inning, scoreless performance to lead the Padres to their first win of the 2026 season.

Craig Stammen

The manager of the San Diego Padres, who praised Vásquez's outing as one of the best games the pitcher has pitched for the team.

Freddy Fermin

A Padres player who contributed a hit during the team's two-out rally in the third inning.

Jake Cronenworth

A Padres player who contributed a hit during the team's two-out rally in the third inning.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

A Padres player who contributed a hit during the team's two-out rally in the third inning.

Ramón Laureano

A Padres player who went 3-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base, continuing his hot start to the season.

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What they’re saying

“He came and he delivered. One of the best games Randy's probably pitched for the Padres.”

— Craig Stammen, Manager

“Attacked the zone really well. Used his fastball. Used his breaking stuff. Had it all under control today — it was a really good outing for Randy.”

— Craig Stammen, Manager

What’s next

The Padres will look to build on this win and even the series against the Tigers in the final game on Sunday.

The takeaway

Vásquez's dominant performance provides a much-needed boost for the Padres' starting rotation, as the team looks to bounce back from a tough start to the season. The emergence of Vásquez as a reliable arm could be a key factor in San Diego's success this year.