Loss to division rivals punctuates tough stretch for San Diego
FriarWatch: May 5 Edition
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 04: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres hits a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on May 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images For so many reasons, the San Diego Padres should have won.
The San Francisco Giants were coming off a road trip in which they lost all six games, the Friars had one of their aces on the mound in Randy Vásquez and San Francisco had the rookie Trevor McDonald making his 2026 debut. It all seemed to point toward a needed win for San Diego. But that’s not how the story went.
McDonald pitched seven innings of one-run ball against the Friars. And, although Vásquez was only tagged for three runs in 5 2/3 innings, it was all San Francisco would need. The Padres attempted a ninth-inning rally with Ramón Laureano hitting a moonshot to make it 3-2, but the Giants got the final three outs after him and ended the rally where it began.
San Diego needs some offense. It hasn’t been for lack of thump, they have six homers in their last five games. But they need to string their hits together.