Padres claw back to .500 with shutout against Pirates
German Marquez continues to have success in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: Germán Márquez #33 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images The San Diego Padres needed a good start from German Marquez and he provided exactly that with five shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates to open the three-game series at PNC Park on Monday. The former Colorado Rockies ace allowed six hits and just one walk with five strikeouts.
Marquez, who struggled in his first start for San Diego against the San Francisco Giants, quieted a Pittsburgh offense that came into the contest on a five-game win streak. The Padres offense needed a few innings to catch up to Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler who was routinely throwing fastballs in triple digits. San Diego scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning when Nick Castellanos doubled to left to score Manny Machado to put the Padres ahead.
1-0. You're watching Nick at Nite 📺 pic. twitter.
com/zey7otk9GC — San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 6, 2026 San Diego tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Jackson Merrill hit a ground-rule double to left-center to score Ramon Laureano and Fernando Tatis Jr. moved to third on the play.