Padres win rollercoaster matchup against Marlins

Ethan Salas will get the headlines and rightfully so after the 20-year-old recorded his first-career walk-off hit to lead the San Diego Padres to a 7-6 win in 10 innings over the Miami Marlins at Petco Park on Saturday night. Jake Cronenworth started the inning on second base as the free runner and Salas got his chance to be the hero after Cronenworth advanced to third base on a wild pitch and Sung-Mun Song struck out for the first out of the inning. Salas was called on to pinch-hit and delivered the game-winning RBI-single on an 0-2 fastball down in the zone. He was able to ground the ball past the Miami reliever and through a drawn in infield to push the Padres ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Wild Card race.

Before Salas got the opportunity to win the game, David Morgan, who was credited with the win, saved the game. The right-hander was called on to pitch the top of the 10th inning after Mason Miller allowed a game-tying home run to pinch hitter Griffin Conine in the top of the ninth inning. Miller got past the home run and completed his outing, but it appeared like a wasted opportunity for one of the best closers in baseball.

Morgan took the ball in the top of the 10th inning with the go-ahead run on second base. He struck out the first two Marlins he faced before an intentional walk put Miami runners at first and second base. Morgan then faced Heriberto Hernandez and got him to line-out to Jackson Merrill in center field after two borderline pinpoint pitches that just missed the plate to end the inning. Miami was unable to advance the runner, let alone, get him home to take the lead.

It was another dismal start for Casey Mize in a Padres uniform. The deadline addition lasted just three innings and allowed five runs on five hits with five walks and two strikeouts. The game turned into an unexpected bullpen game where six different pitchers were needed to cover the final innings. Miller was the only San Diego reliever to allow a run and that was off the solo home run by Conine.

San Diego will look to complete the sweep of Miami today when the teams meet at 1:10 p.m.

Padres News:

• The Padres have been on a run during the second half of the season, and that success has been sparked by the improved play and production of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill.

• Miguel Andujar seems to be finding his stroke as a collected two more hits in his latest rehab appearance.

Baseball News:

• The Texas Rangers jumped into first place in the AL West with a win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

• The Arizona Diamondbacks kept their postseason hopes alive with a walk-off win over the New York Yankees.

• Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a go-ahead grand slam to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Houston Astros.

• The Tampa Bay Rays got a walk-off win over the Boston Red Sox.

• The bullpen helped the Chicago Cubs hold off the Cincinnati Reds en route to a win.

• Carson Benge passed Pete Alonso for the most hits by a rookie in team history when the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies.