Manny Machado’s two-run double in the 10th inning led the Padres in another late-game comeback, which included a game-tying homer by Jackson Merrill, as San Diego won its sixth straight game with a 6-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.
Machado’s double off Brett De Geus (0-1) drove in former Marlin Luis Arraez, who had singled, and Jake Cronenworth. Tyler Wade gave the Padres the lead by scoring on a Cronenworth grounder to shortstop Xavier Edwards. Merrill drove in Machado for the final run in the 10th.
Merrill tied the game in the ninth with a 400-foot homer to center, his 16th of the season, off Marlins reliever George Soriano, who also allowed Machado’s run-scoring double in the eighth.
Jason Adams (7-2) got the win with a scoreless ninth inning. Bryan Hoeing, who was traded to the Padres two weeks ago from the Marlins along with Tanner Scott, struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning. Scott allowed one hit in a scoreless 10th.
The Padres also made a comeback on Thursday, scoring three runs in the ninth inning to beat Pittsburgh 7-6. The Marlins had a tough 10th inning, having given up seven runs on Thursday in a 10-4 loss to Cincinnati. They have lost four of their last five games.
Merrill, a top rookie of the year candidate, said he can’t explain his success other than the hard work he puts in. The center fielder, who went 3 for 4, is now hitting .294 with an .807 OPS.
“Just playing the game and having fun,” Merrill said. “When you work hard and keep your head down, it will reward you sometimes.”
Machado and manager Mike Shildt, who was celebrating his 56th birthday, both said they are no longer surprised by Merrill’s success.
“He’s different, man. He’s a guy that works on his craft every single day, watching video, trying to get better,” Machado said. “So when that moment comes up, he believes in himself.”
Shildt said, “Hard to expect that (Merrill would homer), but what a stud. He’s a guy who loves the big moments.”
Marlins starter Edward Cabrera pitched seven shutout innings, marking his second strong start in a row after having trouble in his first five games following two months off with shoulder tightness.
The 26-year-old right-hander gave up four hits, struck out four, and walked three. He also pitched five shutout innings on Sunday against the Braves. He ended his night by striking out catcher Luis Campusano with two runners on base.
Cabrera “really grew up tonight. That was a big moment for him,” said manager Skip Schumaker.
The Padres have the best record in MLB since the All-Star break, going 15-3. They are two games behind the Dodgers in the National League West. Los Angeles was playing later Friday at home against Pittsburgh.
In the fourth inning, Marlins first baseman Jake Burger and designated hitter Jonah Bride hit back-to-back homers to left field to start the scoring. Burger’s 428-foot homer was his 20th of the season and his seventh in his last 10 games. Bride’s 395-foot shot was his fourth.
Martin Perez, making his second start for the Padres after being traded from Pittsburgh at the deadline, had his third consecutive quality start. He allowed only the two solo homers and a single, striking out six and walking two in seven innings.
Perez gave up one run in six innings against Colorado in his debut with the Padres and also threw six shutout innings against St. Louis in his last start for the Pirates on July 24.
The Marlins traded Arraez to San Diego in May and Scott and Hoeing at the deadline, all for prospects as part of the team starting another rebuild. Of the 26 Marlins active on Friday, only nine were on the team’s roster on opening day.
Arraez said before the game that he was glad to be back in Miami, where he lives with his wife and three children. As he walked around the field hours before the game, he hugged nearly every Marlins employee he passed, from players to trainers to attendants.
