Padres' bullpen shines in 4-2 win over Phillies

Field Level Media|published: Sat 12th July, 24:37 2025

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at San Diego Padres

Jul 11, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez (75) pumps his fist after the Padres defeated the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Manny Machado homered and the San Diego Padres' bullpen tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings to secure a 4-2 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.

Machado led off the bottom of the eighth inning with his team-high 17th home run of the year, riding a Max Lazar pitch over the right field wall to give San Diego some much-needed insurance.

To end the top of the fifth, Yuki Matsui retired Bryce Harper on a grounder to first with the bases filled. Four more San Diego relievers took care of business after that, with Jeremiah Estrada (3-4) getting the win and Robert Suarez pitching the ninth for his MLB-high 28th save.

Ranger Suarez (7-3) absorbed his first loss in five career starts against the Padres. He lasted 6 2/3 innings, permitting six hits and three runs (one earned) while walking three and striking out five.

The big inning was the bottom of the second, when San Diego did its damage against Ranger Suarez with the help of a throwing error from the pitcher on Jackson Merrill's sacrifice bunt that moved Xander Bogaerts to third.

Jose Iglesias lined a double down the right field line to score Bogaerts. Elias Diaz cashed in Merrill with a groundout to short and Fernando Tatis Jr. capped the inning with an RBI single to right-center.

Philadelphia's offense came via two solo homers against rookie starter Ryan Bergert. Nick Castellanos gave the Phillies the game's first run with a 407-foot blast to center in the second, his 12th. Kyle Schwarber unloaded his 30th homer with two outs in the third, a 442-foot shot to right.

Bergert worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and two runs with two walks and seven strikeouts in his first start since June 24. He was hit on his right arm by a liner and spent time on the injured list.

The Phillies loaded the bases with one out in the eighth against reliever Jason Adam, but he induced a fielder's choice grounder from Castellanos that forced Trea Turner out at the plate. Max Kepler popped out to end the inning.

Bogaerts finished with three of the Padres' seven hits and Tatis added two.

--Field Level Media