Padres Stay Perfect in Mexico City and Call It "Petco South" For a Reason

The San Diego Padres are not done with Mexico City. After sweeping San Francisco in the first Mexico City Series back in 2023, they came back this weekend and did it again, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 Saturday in the opener of this year's two-game set. Padres manager Craig Stammen has already got a name for the place: "Petco South." And honestly, he's not wrong.

Alek Thomas Made a Statement, But San Diego Had the Answer

Arizona's Alek Thomas took the field carrying the Mexican flag as a cape to honor his mother's heritage, a moment that hit different in Mexico City. He backed it up with a two-run homer in the first game against San Diego. Great stuff. But it wasn't enough to carry the Diamondbacks past a Padres team that has won 13 of its last 15 games.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged the moment. "Great moment for Alek," he said, noting that Thomas played for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic this spring. Still, Lovullo knew what was coming: "We're going to come out tomorrow with everything we got to hopefully split this series."

San Diego Turned a 4-0 Deficit Into a 6-4 Win in One Brutal Seventh Inning

The Padres trailed 4-0 before Ty France launched two bases-empty homers to chip away. Then came the seventh inning, and it was absolutely brutal for Arizona. San Diego scored on two singles, three walks (including one intentional), a balk, an error, and two sacrifice flies. Gavin Sheets' two-run single was the knockout punch. Things got worse for the D-backs when shortstop Geraldo Perdomo left the game with a sprained left ankle after committing an error in that same inning.

"The team never gives up, especially in a ballpark like this," Stammen said after the game. "Keep taking good at-bats and hopefully something gets through. So far this season we've been able to come back, and once you feel that early in the season, that becomes a little bit of your identity."

Michael King Takes the Mound Sunday Against Kyle Nelson

The Padres' Michael King (3-1, 2.28 ERA) faces Arizona's Kyle Nelson (1-2, 6.97) Sunday at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu to close out the series. King has been lights out when it matters most this season, holding opponents to a .179 batting average with runners on base and just .080 with runners in scoring position. He's coming off a 2-1 win last Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels, where he threw five scoreless innings on 105 pitches.

Nelson is coming in rough. He gave up eight runs and eight hits in the first inning alone against Toronto last Sunday, retiring only one of 10 batters he faced in a 10-4 loss. He's aware of the altitude in Mexico City at 7,350 feet. "I'll probably take the same approach I would in Colorado," Nelson said. "Just stick to my game plan, and if I need to make adjustments, make adjustments."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.