Jackson Merrill plays hero, hits walk-off double to complete comeback for Padres

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres reacts after hitting a walk off double during the ninth inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park on April 15, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning against Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz. The Padres were trailing the Mariners 6-2, and Fernando Tatis Jr. who did not start the game, came in to pinch-hit for Jake Cronenworth. Tatis Jr. worked the count full against Munoz and hit a deep line drive to right field which resulted in a sacrifice fly as Manny Machado tagged up from third and scored to cut the Padres’ deficit to 6-3. Luis Campusano, who came in for Freddy Fermin early in the game after he took a foul ball off his catcher’s mask, singled to left-center field to push the score to 6-4 with runners on the corners. Ramon Laureano followed and dumped the first pitch of his at-bat into left field, which scored Ty France from third to make the score, 6-5.

Jose Ferrer replaced Munoz and was given the task of facing Jackson Merrill. The third-year center fielder shot a line drive double on a 2-2 pitch just inside the third base bag that rolled down the line and into the corner where Seattle left fielder Randy Arozarena was unable to come up with it. Campusano and Laureano raced around the bases and came in to score to walk-off the Mariners, 7-6, pushing the Padres’ win streak to seven games.

San Diego entered the game against Seattle riding a six-game win streak and they had arguably their best starting pitcher three weeks into the season on the mound in Randy Vasquez. The Padres hitters faced Emerson Hancock, who is also off to a good start on the year, but one night after beating Bryan Woo, the Friar Faithful had confidence that San Diego would find a way to push the win streak to seven.

It was evident after the second inning that Vasquez was not as sharp as he had been in previous outings and the Padres hitters were struggling to figure out how to handle Hancock. Vasquez allowed two runs in the second inning following a walk, a single and a double by Dominic Canzone which gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead. Vazquez got into trouble again in the fourth inning when he allowed a leadoff double to Arozarena. He bounced back to get two outs against the next two hitters but then gave up back-to-back walks to load the bases. Brendan Donovan followed with a single to right field, which scored two runs and pushed the Seattle lead to 4-0.

San Diego struggled over the first 3 2/3 innings against the Seattle right-hander. The Padres were held without a hit until Xander Bogaerts broke the seal with a two-out single in the bottom of the third inning. Machado lined out one batter later and the inning came to a close.

Ron Marinaccio replaced Vasquez, who finished his night with four runs allowed on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts over four innings, on the mound in the top of the fifth inning. Marinaccio received a rude welcome from the Mariners. Arozarena hit a one-out single and stole second base before Luke Raley hit a two-run home run to right-center field to put Seattle up, 6-0. Raley had a successful night against San Diego pitching, recording four hits with two singles, a double and a home run.

The Padres were able to get on the board thanks to a two-run home run by Bogaerts in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 6-2. Merrill, who made an exceptional play in center field to take a home run away from Julio Rodriguez in the top of the third inning, hit a one-out single and Bogaerts brought him in with a home run, which was the 200th of his career. It was the only blemish on the night for Hancock who finished his outing with two runs allowed on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts over six innings.

San Diego will look to complete the sweep of Seattle at Petco Park on Thursday at 5:40 p.m.