The San Diego Padres cruised to a 27-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on Thursday in spring training action. Freddy Fermin paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, and six RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Walker Buehler turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of 2-run ball with four strikeouts. The Padres finished with 28 hits on the day while holding the Mariners to 9. It was an encouraging performance for the Padres as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Freddy Fermin was the top performer at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, and six RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Padres offense.
Jake Cronenworth provided support, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, Jackson Merrill also contributed, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two RBI, and Bryce Johnson chipped in, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Patrick Wisdom led the Mariners offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Rob Refsnyder also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Carson Taylor added a 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Padres pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Walker Buehler earned the win after grinding through his innings, working 3.0 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 47 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.3 innings of work, allowing 4 earned runs while striking out seven. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations.
Among the relievers, JP Sears stood out with 3.0 innings of 2-run work, striking out three. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Padres struck first, scoring 12 runs in the second inning. Mariners countered with two runs in the second. The Padres struck back with five runs in the third. The Padres added a run in the fourth. Mariners responded with a run in the fourth. The Padres countered with two runs in the fifth. Mariners struck back with a run in the fifth. The Padres answered with a run in the sixth. The Padres tacked on three runs in the seventh. The Padres pushed across two runs in the eighth. Mariners struck back with a run in the eighth. The Padres answered with a run in the ninth. Mariners responded with a run in the ninth. The Padres spread their scoring across eight different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Padres out-hit Mariners 28-9 on the day, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 7,123 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Padres, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Padres are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
