Anaheim, Calif. — Ramón Laureano and Fernando Tatis Jr. each contributed two RBIs, while Germán Márquez delivered an outstanding performance on the mound, leading the San Diego Padres to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.
Adrian Morejon (2-0) earned the win after striking out two batters in 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Mason Miller secured his seventh save of the season despite allowing a single and a walk in the ninth inning, extending his remarkable scoreless streak to 31 2/3 innings, dating back to August 6.
The game remained scoreless until the eighth inning when Freddy Fermin and Jake Cronenworth both drew four-pitch walks against Ryan Zeferjahn (1-1). Laureano then delivered an RBI single through the infield, breaking San Diego’s 16-inning scoring drought and giving the Padres a 1-0 lead. Tatis followed up with an RBI hit-and-run dribbler that rolled through a gap at second base, increasing the lead to 2-0.
The Angels fought back in the eighth with Logan O’Hoppe and Adam Frazier hitting back-to-back singles off Jason Adam, followed by a two-out RBI single from Nolan Schanuel, narrowing the margin to 2-1. However, Jo Adell grounded out to end the inning and thwart the potential rally.
San Diego pushed its advantage to 4-1 in the ninth with Laureano’s sacrifice fly and Tatis’ RBI single.
Márquez pitched 5 2/3 innings, only allowing two hits while striking out five batters— all in the fourth and fifth innings— and walking two. For the Angels, starter Yusei Kikuchi had a solid outing as well, giving up four hits and striking out eight with one walk across his six innings on the mound.
Jackson Merrill made a standout defensive play, robbing Yoán Moncada of a solo home run with a leaping catch at the right-center-field wall in the second inning, holding onto the ball despite colliding with Tatis.
The game experienced two delays due to injuries; in the second inning, O’Hoppe took a foul tip off the neck, while in the fifth, a 96 mph fastball from Kikuchi grazed Cronenworth’s chin. Both players stayed in the game after receiving treatment.
Up Next:
The Padres will send RHP Michael King (2-1, 2.78 ERA) to the mound for the series finale against Angels LHP Reid Detmers (1-1, 3.57 ERA) on Sunday.
