Bullpen implodes, Padres drop second game of Mexico City Series to Diamondbacks

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 26: Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres catches the ball over his teammate Xander Bogaerts #2 during the seventh inning of the MLB Mexico City Series game between San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú on April 26, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) | Getty Images Michael King was dealing in the second game of the Mexico City Series between the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The right-hander completed six innings and allowed two runs on three hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

King took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fourth inning and did not allow a run until the bottom of the fifth inning when Jose Fernandez hit a solo home run to make the score, 6-1. King allowed the second run of the game to Arizona in the bottom of the sixth inning when Ildemaro Vargas hit another solo home run. San Diego held a 7-2 lead when King walked off the mound after the final out of the bottom of the sixth inning, but that was when the game got interesting as the Padres bullpen imploded and the result was an 12-7 loss at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu on Sunday.

Michael King notches a quality start in one of the hardest environments to ever pitch in Mexico City Final line: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 8 strikeouts Season ERA down to 2. 41 #Padres #ForTheFaithful pic. twitter.

com/ub73lQtK03 — Carlos (@LFGPads19) April 26, 2026 David Morgan took over on the mound for the Padres and recorded a flyout to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Morgan then allowed three singles to load the bases before Tim Tawa hit a grand slam home run to left field that made the score, 7-6. The reliever left the game after just 1/3 of an inning and Bradgley Rodriguez came on to try to get the final two outs of the frame.