The San Diego Padres claimed a series victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday afternoon, rallying for a 5-1 win at Oracle Park behind a late offensive surge that showcased the team's depth and resilience.
The game remained tight until the seventh inning, when a bold managerial move paid off in spectacular fashion. With runners on second and third and two outs, Padres manager Craig Stammen turned to Ty France—who had been taking swings in the batting cages moments earlier. The veteran first baseman entered with an 0-1 count due to a pitch clock violation, but he didn't let that rattle him. On a full count, France delivered a clutch two-out, two-run pinch-hit triple down the right field line. The ball slipped through rookie catcher Jesus Rodriguez's glove—making his outfield debut—allowing Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ramon Laureano to score the go-ahead runs.
"It was a whirlwind, but it all worked out," France told MLB.com. "You just treat it like another at-bat."
Xander Bogaerts put the game out of reach in the eighth inning, launching a towering homer into the left field corner for his team-leading seventh home run of the season. The Padres' offense, which had been quiet for much of the afternoon, came alive when it mattered most.
On the mound, Matt Waldron delivered his best performance of the season, entering in the second inning and tossing five strong frames. He allowed just one run on a solo homer by Rafael Devers in the fifth—Devers's first home run since April 8, snapping a 23-game drought. The Giants managed only three hits and struck out 13 times, continuing their offensive struggles. San Francisco has now lost eight of their last nine games and sits at the bottom of the NL West with a 14-23 record.
Mason Miller closed the door in the ninth with a dominant 1-2-3 inning, striking out two batters to preserve the win. The reliever continues to put together a historically impressive season, posting a 1.04 ERA and 0.54 WHIP over 17.1 innings while striking out more than 65% of batters faced.
For Padres fans, this series win is a testament to the team's ability to execute in high-pressure moments—and a reminder that in baseball, the game is never over until the final out.