Home runs help Padres secure first series win in Seattle since 2018

San Diego Padres catcher Rodolfo Duran (48) is greeted by left fielder Ramon Laureano (5) at home plate after hitting a 2-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park. No need for nail biting today, as the Padres’ big swings served to knock out the Mariners. San Diego rode the long ball all afternoon, highlighted by Rodolfo Durán collecting his first MLB hit with a two-run home run in seventh inning, to top Seattle 7-4 on Saturday evening at T-Mobile Park.

Gavin Sheets got it started with a solo shot, then Nick Castellanos delivered a three-run bomb in the fourth inning to back up starter Walker Buehler, who threw a personal season-high 101 pitches to earn his third win. The Padres (27-18) matched their season-high with three homers to win their first road series in Seattle in six tries. Meanwhile Mariners (22-25) starter Logan Gilbert’s struggles keeping the ball in the yard continued, as he allowed all three home runs and has given up a team-high 11 in 10 starts.

Durán, who made his Majors debut on May 7 after beginning his professional career in 2015 as part of the Philadelphia Phillies organization, tagged Gilbert’s first pitch fastball to left center. He very nearly had another one in the ninth inning, hitting it 389 feet to center field but saw Julio Rodríguez leap and make the catch that brought it back over the wall. Sheets extended his five-game hitting streak by making no mistake on Gilbert’s second pitch inside cutter while leading off the second, and crushing his seventh home run of the season.

It also moved the first baseman into the team lead with his 16th extra base hit of the season, one ahead of Miguel Andujar — over half of Sheets’ 30 hits have gone for multiple bags. Two innings later the Padres offense loaded the bases and did big damage. Andujar added to his RBI total, bringing home Manny Machado on a bounding ball chopper down the third base line with one down.