Mike Shildt’s team was hanging onto a one-run lead when he went to the bullpen in the fifth inning Friday night.
That meant, without an offensive awakening, the Padres manager was again about to ask his four most trusted relievers to go to work again.
They were up to the task.
Again.
Jeremiah Estrada, Adrián Morejón, Jason Adam and Robert Suarez each turned in scoreless frames, Manny Machado’s 17th home run provided eighth-inning insurance and a 4-2 win over the Phillies gave the Padres back-to-back wins for the first time since June 24-25.
The Padres improved to 15-5 when the entirety of their “Four Horsemen” pitch, and they’ve all pitched in each of the team’s last five wins.
Which means, as often as they pitch, it’s imperative that the Padres get something when Shildt calls on his end-game formation.
Especially when it means their availability is in question for Saturday’s match-up with Zack Wheeler.
“It’s almost vital if we’re going to use that capital,” Shildt said. “Knowing those guys are going to be compromised for tomorrow, you’ve got to win them. You’ve got to get them in the boat.”
Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres singles against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning at Petco Park on Friday, July 11, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
They did Friday because they did just enough off Phillies ace Ranger Suarez. Because Fernando Tatis Jr. threw out a runner at second base and had the threat of his right arm stop another Philadelphia rally. Because rookie Ryan Bergert was just good enough in his return from the injured list. Because baseball’s second-best bullpen, buoyed by a history-making three All-Stars, bent but did not break.
“I wish that we could give them more so they could sit down and relax a little bit,” Tatis said after going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and his 20th steal of the season. “They are going out there as a group and just competing as a whole group. It’s beautiful to see them lock in and save the lead.
“What they are doing is really special.”
Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Petco Park on Friday, July 11, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Machado’s eighth-inning homer, his 100th at Petco Park, provided just enough breathing room for Suarez to record his MLB-leading 28th save to give a sell-out crowd of 43,856 one last thing to cheer.
Estrada’s and Morejón’s appearances were also without incident, the latter improving his career-best scoreless streak to 15⅓ innings hours after he joined Adam and Suarez on the NL’s All-Star roster.
Adam’s eighth inning, however, was filled with drama after a walk to Trea Turner to open the frame. A pair of two-out singles loaded the bases, with the speedy Turner thinking better of attempting to run on Tatis after Alec Bohm’s single to right field.
Three innings earlier, Tatis had helped Bergert navigate traffic by one-hopping Bryson Stott’s line drive to left and throwing out J.T. Realmuto at second base.
“He’s a shutdown arm in the outfield,” Shildt said. “It’s just a special skillset.”
Jason Adam #40 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after Max Kepler #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies popped up to end the first half of the eighth inning at Petco Park on Friday, July 11, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The threat of Tatis’ arm in the eighth gave Adam the option of an out at any base and he went home for the second out of the eighth when Nick Castellanos tapped ball in front of the plate. Max Kepler then popped out to end the inning.
Bergert’s seven strikeouts were one shy of a career high. He allowed both home runs on solo shots from Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber, surrendered two total hits and walked two over 4⅔ innings.
Yuki Matsui walked Schwarber to load the bases after replacing Bergert in the fifth inning, but he fetched an inning-ending grounder from Bryce Harper to maintain a 3-2 lead.
“I think I did pretty well,” Bergert said in his first start since a comebacker off his forearm on June 24 sent him to the injured list. “Obviously the two homers sucks but solo shots don’t hurt you too bad. But I was happy to get back out there and get in the swing of things. Obviously I would have like to have gone longer, but kind of shot myself in the foot with that one … but the trust in that bullpen is enormous.”
A one-inning hiccup was enough to get on top of Ranger Suarez early.
Xander Bogaerts began a three-hit day with a leadoff single.
Because Jackson Merrill doesn’t have a hit since July 5, he looked to bunt Bogaerts to second. But Suarez threw wildly to first, putting runners on the corners.
Jose Iglesias followed with a run-scoring double, Elias Díaz plated a run with a groundout and Tatis singled to right-center to open up a 3-1 lead.
The Padres were smart to strike when they did.
Suarez allowed just three more hits before his exit with two outs in the seventh inning— two more singles from Bogaerts and Tatis’ broken-bat, two-out singles to put runners on the corners and chase the Phillies’ left-hander from the game after 96 pitches.
Phillies manager Thomson replaced Suarez with another left-hander, Tanner Banks, and Luis Arraez grounded out to end the inning.
Suarez finished with five strikeouts. He allowed six hits and three walks.
Two of his three runs being unearned after his own error on Merrill’s bunt — not to mention catcher J.T. Realmuto throwing wildly to second on Tatis’ 20th steal — lowered his ERA to 1.94 on the season.
Originally Published: July 11, 2025 at 9:09 PM PDT