The San Diego Padres had an electric weekend from April 9-12 at Petco Park, sweeping the Colorado Rockies. After a slower start to the season, the Padres had two walk-offs and a total of seven home runs during the series. Additionally, the team debuted their brand new City Connect 2.0 uniforms on Friday’s game.
The Padres, now 13-6 and second in the NL West, were 6-6 going into the series versus the Rockies. The first game of the series went to 12 innings and showcased six San Diego pitchers, with reliever David Morgan (0.00 ERA, Earned Run Average) taking the win. Closer Mason Miller (0.00 ERA) needed only 10 pitches to strike out the side in the ninth. Morgan came in with two players on base and one out in the 11th, retiring all five batters he faced.
The bottom of the 12th is when San Diego came alive, with Fernando Tatis Jr. laying down a sacrifice bunt to send automatic runner Jake Cronenworth to third base. Rockies pitcher Valente Bellozo intentionally walked Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado, loading the bases for Xander Bogaerts who hit a walk-off grand slam to end the game and secure “Slam” Diego’s 7-3 victory.
The momentum continued the next day when Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win 5-3. It was his second home run of the game, hitting a 99.6 mph four-seam fastball deep thrown by Rockies pitcher Juan Mejia into right-center field. San Diego pitcher Walker Buehler struck out four batters and allowed three hits in six scoreless innings. Mason Miller received the win, striking out the side in the ninth for the second night in a row. Padres catcher Luis Campusano also hit a home run and a double for San Diego that night.
The Padres also debuted their new Day of the Dead inspired City Connect uniforms on Friday, April 10th. City Connect uniforms are designed with each city’s story, culture and people in mind. San Diego’s binational community was reflected in each part of the carefully crafted jerseys, including marigolds on the inside of the caps and on the trim of the sleeves.
“La Catrina” decorates the sleeve, an iconic symbol of Day of the Dead and the celebration of loved ones who have passed. Designed with a floral crown and ofrenda candles, La Catrina seems to be fans’ favorite part of the uniforms. During Friday’s game, themed activities filled Gallagher Square: Live music and interactive experiences such as folklórico dancers, La Catrina, a lowrider and photo opportunities welcomed fans to the new City Connect era.
Bryan Thornton, Point Loma Nazarene University’s senior associate athletic director, shared his excitement for the new uniforms.
“I like them better than the last one,” Thornton said. “It seems like traditional San Diego. The colors and the flowers, it’s kind of cool.”
The Padres rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the third game of the series to win 9-5, with Ramón Laureano hitting a go-ahead three-run homer in the fourth inning. Manny Machado also had a two-run homer in the third inning and Jackson Merrill hit a two-run double. Pitcher Germán Márquez received the win in his first game opposite his old team.
Jason Adam notched his first save since 2024 after returning from the injured list, coming in to retire the batter after Bradgley Rodriguez had loaded the bases. The most peculiar thing about this game was that Fernando Tatis Jr. made his return to the infield after several years of playing in right field, where he’d previously won a Platinum Glove and has had significant defensive success. He would go on to play second base again the next night, and although this seems out of the blue, there is actually a reason it makes sense.
“[Tatis] is going to play right field most days,” Craig Stammen, the manager of the Padres, said during a press conference. “But when Xander [Bogaerts] needs a day off or when Jake [Cronenworth] needs a day off, he’s probably our best option to play second base at the moment.”
Cronenworth regularly starts at second base, though he plays shortstop when Xander Bogaerts needs a day off — and Tatis is the best backup for the position.
During the fourth and final game of the series, first baseman Ty France was 3-3, and Ramón Laureano hit another two-run homer, his fourth of the season. Despite the 7-2 win, pitcher Nick Pivetta exited the game in the fourth inning with right elbow stiffness — but not before striking out four batters. Catcher Freddy Fermin hit a sacrifice fly and France homered to give the Padres a 3-0 lead. Merrill also homered in the 7th, capping the score at 7-2. David Morgan received the win, securing the Padres’ first sweep of the season.
The Padres went on to sweep their next series as well, versus the Seattle Mariners. They extended their winning streak to eight games, with Walker Buehler pitching 5 scoreless innings on Thursday. San Diego’s offensive dominance certainly helped as well, with Merrill, Tatis Jr., Machado, Laureano and Bogaerts combining for 16 hits and 11 runs batted in, including a walkoff double.
Up next for the Padres is a three-game series versus the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. After the two-game MLB World Tour Mexico City series versus the Arizona Diamondbacks, they will return to Petco Park on April 28 for a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
Cade Michaelson