Pivetta Bounces Back as Padres Avoid Giants Sweep

Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta shines in 7-1 win over San Francisco

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:23am

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Nick Pivetta rebounded from a rough Opening Day start, pitching five scoreless innings and striking out eight as the San Diego Padres avoided a sweep by the San Francisco Giants with a 7-1 victory. Ramon Laureano hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to punctuate the win.

Why it matters

The Padres were looking to bounce back after dropping the first two games of the series against their NL West rivals. Pivetta's strong outing was a positive sign for the Padres' starting rotation, which is a key to the team's success this season.

The details

Pivetta struck out eight batters and allowed just one hit and two walks over five scoreless innings. The Padres got on the board in the first inning when a throwing error by Giants first baseman Casey Schmitt allowed Manny Machado to reach base and Jackson Merrill to score. Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr. added RBIs later in the game, and Laureano's two-run shot in the eighth put the game out of reach.

  • The game was played on April 1, 2026.
  • Pivetta's rough Opening Day start was on March 28, 2026.

The players

Nick Pivetta

The ace of the Padres' 2025 pitching staff, Pivetta bounced back from a disappointing Opening Day start to deliver a strong outing against the Giants.

Ramon Laureano

The Padres outfielder hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning to provide insurance and help the team avoid the sweep.

Casey Schmitt

The Giants' first baseman was charged with an error in the first inning that allowed the Padres to score the game's first run.

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What they’re saying

“It was important for me to bounce back and give the team a strong outing after my last start. The guys played great defense behind me and we were able to get the win.”

— Nick Pivetta, Padres Pitcher

What’s next

The Padres will have Thursday off before beginning a road trip to Boston on Friday.

The takeaway

Pivetta's rebound performance was a much-needed boost for the Padres, who were looking to avoid a sweep against their division rivals. The team's ability to bounce back from early-season setbacks will be crucial as they aim to contend in the NL West.