Padres Stay Red-Hot, Sweep Mariners for Eighth Straight Win
The Sporting Tribune's Fernando Ramirez writes about the Padres sweeping the Mariners thanks to the "pass the baton" method.
Apr 16, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) celebrates after hitting a two run RBI single during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park. The San Diego Padres secured their fourth consecutive series win with a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
They are one of the hottest teams in baseball after starting the season 2-4. They have now won 12 of their last 14 games and eight in a row. Coming off a Jackson Merrill walk-off the night before, San Diego’s offense carried that momentum into Thursday, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning and finishing off the sweep.
After Wednesday’s comeback, the message around the clubhouse was “passing the baton” when it comes to stepping up and making plays. That mentality showed early in the second inning, Gavin Sheets led things off with a double to center field, followed by a Miguel Andújar single to put two on. Catcher Luis Campusano, who has been swinging a hot bat, singled to left field to bring in Sheets from second and give the Padres a 1-0 lead.
Jake Cronenworth then hit a ball back toward Luis Castillo, who appeared to have an easy throw to former Padre Josh Naylor at first, but the ball slipped out of his glove, allowing Cronenworth to reach safely. Ramón Laureano followed with a ball to first that Naylor fumbled again, allowing Andújar to score and extend the lead to 2-0. Fernando Tatis Jr.