Padres offensive struggles continue in series opener against Giants

The other remaining offense from the night came on a lead-off solo shot by Ramón Laureano in the ninth inning and Jake Cronenworth getting hit by a pitch earlier in the game. San Diego only had two runners left on base and went 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position.

To list a few performances by some Padres tonight: Fernando Tatis Jr. (0-for-4, 3 K), Manny Machado (0-for-4), Gavin Sheets (0-for-3, 2 K), Miguel Andújar (0-for-3) and Freddy Fermin (0-for-3) did not reach on base.

For a team that is coming off a 2-4 record during last week's homestand, this type of night is very concerning.

Even with a performance like tonight by McDonald, it is unsettling because a team like the Padres, who have superstar players, should not be shutdown this easily and it shouldn't happen this consistently. This season, opposing starting pitchers have 16 quality starts against the Padres, which is the most in the majors.

One thing that is true about the Padres up until this point is that they're a good baseball team, but they haven't crossed that great threshold. If they choose to hit that mark this season, they have to find way to work passed pitchers like McDonald.

"We haven't really broken through on offense," Stammen said. "We've had a couple games where we looked really good, but for the most part, we've grinded out some games and got some wins... But I think eventually, if we're gonna be who we want to be - not just a good team, but a great team - we've got to be able to handle pitchers like that and figure out a way to put a few more runs on the board."

Following the Merrill homer in the first inning, the Giants were quick to answer back with a two-run frame to give the club the lead. Third-baseman Casey Schmitt connected on a four-seam fastball for a solo home run and first baseman Rafael Devers batted in the go-ahead run with a ground ball single to center field to score former Padre Luis Arraez.

Later in the sixth inning, Arraez reached on base with his second double of the game and was brought in to score by a sac-fly from Devers to give San Francisco a 3-1 lead. That final run plus a single by Willy Adames would Vásquez's night.

In his first loss of the season, Vásquez pitched 5 2/3 innings on 88 pitches (58 counting for strikes), and he allowed five hits, three earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts. This is the first time this season that the Padres have lost a game where the right-hander has started on the mound.

The Padres will look to even the series on Tuesday with a 6:45 p.m. first pitch. The starting pitching matchup with be RHP Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.40 ERA) for the Friars and RHP Logan Webb (2-3, 4.30 ERA) for the Giants.