Padres blank Brewers, tighten division, wild-card races

Field Level Media|published: Wed 24th September, 01:37 2025

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres

Sep 23, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres designated hitter Luis Arraez (4) celebrates with second baseman Mason McCoy (18) after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images

Ryan O'Hearn hit a grand slam, Luis Arraez and Jose Iglesias also homered and the San Diego Padres blanked the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 7-0 on Tuesday to gain ground in the playoff race on multiple fronts.

San Diego (87-71) moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Dodgers (88-69) in the National League West after Los Angeles fell 5-4 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

The Padres are also within 1 1/2 games of the Cubs (88-69) in the chase for the top NL wild card and home-field advantage in a potential first-round playoff series between the teams. Chicago was a 9-7 loser to the New York Mets on Tuesday.

O'Hearn gave the Padres all the offense they needed when he turned on a hanging splitter from Bruce Zimmermann (0-1) in the bottom of the first. He lined it an estimated 366 feet into the right field seats for his second career slam and his 17th homer of the year.

Arraez made it 6-0 in the second with a two-run homer off the right field foul pole, his eighth of the year. Scoring ahead of him was Mason McCoy, who reached on a throwing error by second baseman Brice Turang.

Given that early support, Randy Vasquez (6-7) turned in a stellar outing. Vasquez retired the last 14 batters he faced as he gave up just one hit and two walks in seven innings, fanning three.

Christian Yelich's single in the third was Milwaukee's only hit off Vasquez. Padres relievers Wandy Peralta and Yuki Matsui each threw one inning to polish off a four-hit shutout.

Zimmermann, making his first major league appearance since 2023 and his first start since 2022, was charged with seven hits and six runs, five earned, in six innings. He walked two and struck out one.

Iglesias capped the scoring in the eighth with a solo blast to left-center off reliever Tobias Myers. It was Iglesias' third homer of the year.

The Brewers (95-63) stayed 2 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia (92-65) in the race for the NL's best record after the Phillies lost 6-5 in 11 innings to the Miami Marlins.

--Field Level Media