Merrill goes deep twice as Padres edge Phillies 5-4
SAN DIEGO (KYMA, KECY) - Jackson Merrill broke out of a lengthy home run drought in a big way Saturday, launching two solo shots off All-Star Zack Wheeler to help the San Diego Padres take down the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, at Petco Park.
Merrill hadn't homered since May 27, a 35-game stretch without one but ended that streak with a two-run blast to left-center in the second inning, tying the game at 2. He followed up with a solo shot to right-center in the sixth, evening the score once again at 4.
Both long balls came off Wheeler, who allowed four earned runs over six innings just the fourth time in 19 starts this season that he’s given up more than two. Wheeler struck out six and walked one, but the Padres were able to capitalize on key mistakes.
Manny Machado gave San Diego the lead for good in the seventh with a sacrifice fly that brought home Fernando Tatis Jr., who led off the inning with a single.
Philadelphia briefly held the lead after Edmundo Sosa knocked in two runs with a clutch single in the fifth, moments after stepping in to replace the injured Alec Bohm. That hit chased Yu Darvish from the game.
Making just his second start of the season, Darvish allowed four runs over 4 2/3 innings after missing time with elbow inflammation.
Padres reliever David Morgan picked up the win with a clean inning of work, and Jeremiah Estrada closed the door with a perfect ninth to earn his third save.
The Padres have now won two straight against one of the National League's top teams. They'll go for the sweep Sunday behind Nick Pivetta, who's scheduled to face Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez.
