Padres Avoid Giants Sweep With Hustle and Hits

San Diego finishes homestand 2-4 after scoring early and getting lucky breaks.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:05am

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The San Diego Padres avoided a sweep by the San Francisco Giants, scoring in the first inning for the first time this season and relying on hustle plays, timely hitting, and some luck to secure the victory and finish their season-opening homestand with a 2-4 record.

Why it matters

The Padres were struggling to start the season, going 0-4 in their first four games at home. This win against their division rival Giants gives them some momentum heading into their next series and shows they can grind out victories even when not playing their best baseball.

The details

In the first inning, Padres outfielder Trent Merrill hustled down the line to beat out a potential double play, allowing a run to score. Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta settled in after a shaky start, and the Padres capitalized on some Giants defensive miscues to score additional runs and hold on for the win.

  • The Padres scored in the first inning, the first time they had done so this season.
  • The Padres finished their season-opening homestand with a 2-4 record.

The players

Trent Merrill

A Padres outfielder whose hustle play in the first inning helped the team score their first run of the game.

Nick Pivetta

The Padres starting pitcher who settled in after a shaky start to keep his team in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We'll take the win any way we can get it. The guys showed a lot of fight out there today.”

— Bob Melvin, Padres Manager

What’s next

The Padres will look to build on this win as they hit the road to face the Dodgers in a three-game series starting on Tuesday.

The takeaway

Despite their slow start, the Padres proved they can grind out victories through hustle, timely hitting, and taking advantage of their opponent's mistakes. This win should give them confidence as they look to turn their season around.