The San Diego Padres broke open a tight contest with late-game firepower, cruising to a 5-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night. The Padres' bullpen stole the show, with Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, and Robert Suárez combining for 3.2 scoreless innings after starter Nestor Cortés battled through 4.2 frames. Suárez, in particular, slammed the door with a dominant ninth, striking out two of the three batters he faced. Offensively, Jackson Merrill delivered the biggest blow—a towering solo homer in the seventh—while José Iglesias drove in two runs with a clutch single in the fifth, proving pivotal in a game where every run mattered.

The Giants' lone bright spot was Casey Schmitt, who collected four hits—including a double—but San Francisco's offense otherwise sputtered against San Diego's relentless pitching. Robbie Ray took the loss despite a respectable six innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits. The win keeps the Padres surging in the playoff hunt, while the Giants, now scuffling at home, face mounting pressure to right the ship in a tightening wild-card race.