Germán Márquez throws five shutout innings for first win as a Padre

Right-hander pitches effectively in San Diego's 5-0 victory at Pittsburgh

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:34am

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A cubist, multi-perspective painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the dynamic energy of the sport.A fractured, geometric depiction of a pitcher's motion captures the raw athleticism and competitive spirit of Major League Baseball.San Diego Today

Germán Márquez, a 31-year-old right-hander, earned his first win with the San Diego Padres, pitching five shutout innings and allowing six hits, striking out four, and walking one in Monday night's 5-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Márquez, who spent his first 10 seasons with the Colorado Rockies, is trying to rebuild his career with the Padres after missing most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to Tommy John surgery and struggling in his final year with the Rockies in 2025.

Why it matters

Márquez's strong outing is a positive sign for the Padres, who are hoping the veteran pitcher can regain his form and contribute to their starting rotation this season. The Padres signed Márquez to a minor league deal in February, and his performance on Monday could earn him a more permanent spot in the team's plans.

The details

Márquez threw 92 pitches, 56 for strikes, and got some help from Gold Glove outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr., who cut down a runner trying to score in the second inning. The right-hander escaped a jam in the fifth inning, retiring Brandon Lowe on a popup and Bryan Reynolds on a flyball to leave a runner on third base.

  • Márquez's first win since June 18, 2025 for Colorado at Washington.
  • Márquez made his second start with the Padres on Monday night.

The players

Germán Márquez

A 31-year-old right-handed pitcher who spent his first 10 seasons with the Colorado Rockies before signing a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres in February 2026.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

A Gold Glove outfielder for the San Diego Padres who made a key defensive play to cut down a runner at the plate in the second inning.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a while, man.”

— Germán Márquez

“A couple breaks went his way, and then he finished strong, too. So got that breaking ball going. That's key for him doing well.”

— Craig Stammen, Padres manager

The takeaway

Márquez's strong outing against the Pirates provides hope that the veteran pitcher can regain his form and become a valuable contributor to the Padres' starting rotation this season as the team looks to build on its success.