Jackson Merrill’s walk-off double caps 5-run 9th for Padres

SAN DIEGO — Jackson Merrill made a hovering catch over the center-field fence to rob Julio Rodriguez of a house run, however he saved his finest for final.

Merrill hit a walk-off two-run double to cap San Diego’s five-run ninth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Wednesday evening for their seventh win in a row.

The Padres, who’ve received 10 of their final 11 video games, have three walk-off wins throughout their present successful streak.

“We try to tell the guys every day, it’s not ‘if’ we’re going to win, but it’s ‘who’s going to be the hero?'” Parents supervisor Craig Stammen mentioned. “Tonight, it was Jackson.”

It was the Padres’ first win after coming into the ninth inning trailing by four-plus runs since June 14, 2019.

“That is what a good team does,” Merrill mentioned. “They don’t give up until the very last out.”

Mariners aid Andres Munoz (2-2) got here on to begin the ninth and loaded the bases earlier than Fernando Tatis Jr.. hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly. Luis Campusano and Ramon Laureano adopted with two-out RBI singles that made it 6-5.

Jose A. Ferrer changed Muñoz and, 5 pitches later, Merrill hit a line drive to left subject that ended it.

“I just kind of threw the barrel at it and prayed,” Merrill mentioned.

In the third inning, Rodriguez hit a deep fly to middle, however Merrill timed his leap completely and stretched his glove simply far sufficient to make the highlight-reel catch and erase what would have been a two-run house run.

“One hundred percent, that’s the best catch I’ve ever made,” Merrill mentioned.

Added Stammen: “Play of the game. That kept us in it.”

Alek Jacob (1-0) got here on to begin the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings for his second profession win. Starter Randy Vasquez gave up 4 runs and 5 hits in 4 innings. He walked 4 and had six strikeouts.

Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer within the sixth. The 33-year-old shortstop has 200 profession house runs, 45 in his three-plus seasons with the Padres.

Bogaerts, Laureano, Merrill and Gavin Sheets had two hits a bit.

Luke Raley hit a two-run house run, doubled and completed with a career-high 4 hits for the Mariners.

Seattle starter Emerson Hancock allowed two runs and had six strikeouts in six innings.

Dominic Canzone and Brendan Donovan every drove in two runs for the Mariners.

Randy Arozarena singled and stole second base earlier than Raley’s two-run shot made it 6-0 within the fifth.

Arozarena, who additionally doubled, scored 3 times.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.