Padres edge Marlins 4-2 as Miami’s losing streak hits decade-long low
Luis Rengifo’s eighth-inning home run seals victory for San Diego, while Miami’s record falls to 52-52 after their longest slide since 2011.
The San Diego Padres secured a 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night, extending the home team’s losing streak to 10 consecutive games. The result marks Miami’s longest losing slide since June 2011, a significant downturn for a franchise that sat 10 games above .500 following a win over Seattle on July 9.
Pinch-hitter Luis Rengifo provided the decisive momentum in the eighth inning, hitting a tiebreaking two-run home run off reliever Tyler Zuber. The shot snapped a 2-2 tie after Zuber had struck out Jackson Merrill to lead off the frame. Rengifo’s homer, which cleared the wall in right field, proved to be the difference in a tightly contested match.
Manny Machado contributed to the Padres’ offensive output with an RBI single in the fifth inning, giving San Diego a 2-1 lead. Machado’s hit followed a leadoff walk by Xander Bogaerts and a sacrifice bunt, showcasing the team’s ability to manufacture runs despite finishing with only five hits. Ty France also recorded two hits for San Diego, including a double to lead off the eighth inning before Rengifo’s home run.
For Miami, Heriberto Hernández and Joe Mack each hit home runs, with Hernández’s blast tying him for the team lead with 14 for the season. However, the Marlins’ pitching struggled to contain San Diego’s lineup, particularly after starter Ryan Gusto exited early in a bullpen game. Gusto pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits, while reliever Cade Gibson gave up the tying run in the fourth.
The Padres, who are now 3-5 on their 10-game road trip following the All-Star break, received strong relief pitching to secure the win. Adrian Morejon pitched a scoreless eighth inning to take the victory, and Mason Miller closed out the game for his 26th save of the season. San Diego starter Germán Márquez was on a limited workload, exiting after 2 1/3 innings.
Left-hander JP Sears is scheduled to start for the Padres on Saturday against Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez, as both teams look to stabilise their records in the second half of the season.
