Padres beat Cardinals 4-1 behind fifth-inning rally and strong Pivetta start
San Diego defeated St. Louis 4-1 with a four-run fifth inning. Merrill knocked in two runs and Arraez extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
Joel Casillas
8/2/20251 min read
Padres Beat Cardinals 4-1 After Fifth-Inning Rally and Defensive Brilliance
A costly error, clutch hitting from Jackson Merrill, and solid work by Nick Pivetta lift San Diego to a complete win at Petco Park
Tight Start Dominated by Pitching
San Diego, August 1st — It was a quiet start to the night at Petco Park, with both the Padres and Cardinals held scoreless through the first four innings. Nick Pivetta, starting for San Diego, showcased sharp command, pitching efficiently through seven innings and keeping St. Louis' bats in check.
Opposing him, Matthew Liberatore looked equally effective early on—until the home team broke through in the fifth.
Padres Answer Back After Contreras’ Solo Shot
Willson Contreras opened the scoring with a solo home run to center field in the top of the fifth, his 15th of the season.
But the Padres responded immediately. After a walk to Jake Cronenworth, a throwing error by Nolan Gorman, followed by another from Willson Contreras, allowed Cronenworth to tie the game. Elias Díaz then lined an RBI single to left, and after a walk to Fernando Tatis Jr. and a single from Luis Arraez, Jackson Merrill delivered a two-run single that put the Padres ahead 4-1.
Arraez Extends Hit Streak, Merrill Delivers Key Blow
Luis Arraez extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the first inning, once again proving his value as a consistent contact hitter.
But it was Jackson Merrill who stole the offensive spotlight, delivering the clutch two-RBI hit that broke the game open in the fifth.
Bullpen and Defense Close the Door
Following Pivetta’s exit, the Padres bullpen was flawless. Mason Miller pitched a clean eighth inning, and Robert Suarez handled the ninth, closing the game with the help of a double play started by Manny Machado, the second turned by San Diego’s defense that night.
Standout defensive plays also came from Tatis Jr., Machado, and Arraez, each contributing to a fundamentally sound team effort.