Freddy Fermin started his third game behind the plate in as many days and he delivered his third home run over that span, which put the San Diego Padres ahead of the Cincinnati Reds, 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning. While Fermin provided the first run of the game, it was not the last. The Padres tallied 10 hits and scored six runs to beat the Reds 6-2 at Petco Park on Monday night.
Fermin was joined by Jase Bowen and Samad Taylor at the bottom of the San Diego order and the seven, eight and nine
batters recorded six hits in 10 at-bats, scored three runs and picked up five RBI. Gavin Sheets had the other RBI with a run-scoring double in the bottom of the seventh inning, which tied the game at 2-2, out of the sixth spot in the order. Xander Bogaerts was batting in the fifth spot in the Padres lineup, and he added two more hits. The five players combined to get nine hits in 18 at-bats, scored six runs and had six RBI. Ty France had the only other hit for San Diego batting in the third position in the lineup.
Taylor broke the 2-2 tie in the seventh with a sacrifice bunt toward first base that rolled on the infield grass where Cincinnati first baseman Sal Stewart and pitcher Andrew Abbott could not make a play on the ball. Taylor raced to first and reached safely with a single and Sheets crossed the plate to put San Diego ahead, 3-2.
Taylor helped the Padres add on in the bottom of the eighth inning after Bogaerts and Bowen reached on a pair of singles. Bowen stole second to put runners at second and third. Taylor then delivered a soft line drive into left-center field that just cleared Reds shortstop Matt McLain and landed in the outfield. Bogaerts and Bowen scored to give the home team a 5-2 lead. Taylor stole second base and scored the final run of the game when Fermin hit an RBI-single into center field to put San Diego ahead, 6-2.
The contributions from Taylor on offense were a welcome sight, but he made plays on defense, too. In the top of the second inning, he ran toward the foul line in left field to catch a flyball. He then made a strong throw to Fermin at home plate, who applied a tag to McLain who was trying to score from third. The throw made it in plenty of time to get McLain to complete the double play and keep the game tied, 0-0. Taylor followed that play with a catch in left-center field in the top of the sixth inning that looked like it would lead to a run for Cincinnati. Not only did Taylor make a leaping catch he almost threw out the Reds runner who tagged from second and advanced to third.
The Padres already had Mason Miller warming in the bullpen before their three-run bottom of the eighth, so manager Craig Stammen stuck with the plan and brought Miller into the game in the top of the ninth in a non-save situation. The closer completed his outing and the game with three strikeouts to give San Diego its second win in the last three games.
The Padres will have two chances to win the series with the Reds with the first opportunity coming tonight at 6:40 p.m.
Padres News:
- News of Ramon Laureano having surgery and possibly missing the remainder of the 2026 season was a surprise to Padres have several ways to address his absence in the lineup and on the field. AJ Cassavell of Padres.com takes a look at each possibility.
- There was concern that when Miguel Andujar walked off the field in the final game against the New York Mets that he would join the growing list of Padres players on the injured list, but he is hoping that is not the case. Andujar stated he felt like he was available to pinch-hit on Monday.
Baseball News:
- The Seattle Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 thanks to two successful challenges, which took two runs off the board for Baltimore.
- The New York Yankees edged the Cleveland Guardians 7-5 in 10 innings.
- The Washington Nationals scored three runs in the ninth inning that helped them beat the San Francisco Giants.
- Christopher Sanchez recorded 10 strikeouts to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the Toronto Blue Jays.
