Luis Arraez had two hits and drove in three runs, including a key RBI groundout in the 10th inning, as the San Diego Padres defeated the Miami Marlins 9-8 on Saturday.
David Peralta had two singles and a double for the Padres, who are on a seven-game winning streak and have won 16 of their last 18 games. San Diego secured its eighth straight series win and has taken 17 of 21 games on the road.
“It’s a privilege to manage a game like that with the club we have,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “The desire, the ability to compete, and the dedication to playing the game right — that’s what it’s all about.”
Ha-Seong Kim walked to start the winning rally against reliever John McMillon (0-1). Kyle Higashioka’s sacrifice bunt moved Kim and automatic runner Tyler Wade along before Luis Arraez hit a soft grounder to first baseman Jonah Bride, scoring Wade.
Arraez is 4 for 11 in the first two games of the series against his former team. He won the NL batting title with Miami last season before being traded to San Diego on May 4.
“They were very challenging at-bats, they know me well,” Arraez said in Spanish. “You always wait for an opportunity to do something well.”
Robert Suarez (7-1) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the win, throwing 11 of his 15 pitches at 100 mph.
“The main thing is being healthy but also the hard work and preparation you do,” Suárez said. “Thankfully, you are seeing the results.”
In the bottom of the 10th, Miami’s Derek Hill reached on a leadoff bunt single against reliever Tanner Scott, advancing automatic runner Vidal Bruján to third base.
After pinch hitter Cristian Pache popped out, Xavier Edwards hit a grounder to third baseman Manny Machado, who threw out Bruján at home. Scott, who was acquired from Miami at the trade deadline, struck out Jake Burger for his 19th save.
“Our group is very united and that is the key as to why things are going great,” Arraez said. “There is not one rotten apple on this team.”
The Marlins have lost five of their last six games and three straight in extra innings.
Jackson Merrill’s two-run home run in the eighth inning tied the game at 7-7.
David Peralta then doubled, and Ha-Seong Kim’s sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner Bryce Johnson to third base. Luis Arraez’s two-out infield single scored Johnson, putting the Padres ahead.
Miami tied the game again in the bottom of the eighth with Jake Burger’s solo home run, his 21st of the season and 11th since the All-Star break.
“It fired me up,” Burger said about his home run. “I gave a couple of fist bumps. You almost black out in those situations.”
In the fifth inning, the Marlins sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs to take a 7-3 lead. Jesús Sánchez and Otto López both hit two-run doubles off Padres starter Matt Waldron and reliever Jeremiah Estrada.
Derek Hill also had a sacrifice fly, and Jhonny Pereda added a run-scoring single.
Padres manager Mike Shildt praised reliever Jhony Brito, who stopped Miami’s rally by getting the last out in the fifth inning and then pitched two more scoreless innings. Brito was called up from Triple-A El Paso on Friday.
“Don’t forget Jhony Brito in this equation. He kept it right there,” Shildt said. “Huge, effective job by Jhony to set us up for the later use of our guys.”
In the seventh inning, the Padres loaded the bases with three consecutive singles against reliever Declan Cronin. Arraez hit an RBI groundout, Cronin then hit Jurickson Profar with a pitch, and Jake Cronenworth followed with an RBI fielder’s choice to bring San Diego within 7-5.
Marlins starter Roddery Muñoz allowed six hits and struck out three in five innings, giving up three runs.
Waldron was taken out after 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander gave up five runs and five hits, walked two, and struck out five.
