Red Sox drop series finale against Padres

Boston falls to 2-7 on the season after late comeback by San Diego

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:51am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Boston Red Sox lost the series finale against the San Diego Padres, falling 8-6 after the Padres rallied from a four-run deficit. Padres rookie Jackson Merrill hit a go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning to give San Diego the lead.

Why it matters

The Red Sox have struggled mightily to start the season, now sitting at 2-7 after the loss. This latest defeat is another blow to a team that had high expectations coming into the year. The Padres, meanwhile, showed resilience in coming back to win the game.

The details

The Red Sox jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but the Padres chipped away and eventually took the lead on Merrill's eighth-inning homer. San Diego's bullpen was able to hold on for the victory.

  • The game was played on April 6, 2026.

The players

Jackson Merrill

A rookie outfielder for the San Diego Padres who hit the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning.

Boston Red Sox

The Major League Baseball team that lost the game to the Padres, falling to 2-7 on the season.

San Diego Padres

The Major League Baseball team that rallied to beat the Red Sox, improving their record on the year.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We showed a lot of fight to come back from that early deficit. It was a big win for us to start the series on the right foot.”

— Bob Melvin, Padres Manager

What’s next

The Red Sox will look to bounce back in their next series against the New York Yankees, while the Padres will try to build on this comeback win.

The takeaway

The Red Sox's struggles to start the season continue, as they squandered an early lead and fell to 2-7. Meanwhile, the Padres showed resilience in rallying for the victory, a positive sign for a team with high expectations.