0-for-24 Was the Story: Then Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. Dropped Six Runs on St. Louis

Alright, you guys, seriously, you gotta hear about this one. After two nights of absolute offensive drought, I mean, we're talking a desert-level dry spell for the Padres where they went a soul-crushing 0-for-24 in the first four innings against the Cardinals, something finally clicked! You know that feeling when you just need one thing to go right? Well, they got that, and then some, securing a massive 6-1 victory at Busch Stadium to dodge the sweep and grab some much-needed momentum before heading to Texas. Talk about a comeback!

Early Runs, Deep Breaths, and a Dazzling Relief Effort

Imagine the tension in that dugout after Monday and Tuesday's struggles. Then, boom, a first-inning run on Wednesday afternoon? Manager Craig Stammen hit it right on the head, saying, “Whoever scores first has definitely got an advantage. We’ve struggled a lot in the first inning this year, and to get a run in the first feels really good in the dugout.” You can feel that relief, right?

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And what a performance from Griffin Canning, coming in after opener Bradgley Rodriguez! This guy turned in one of his best outings of the season, allowing just one run in 4 1/3 innings. It was only the third time all year he’s done that, and it clinched his first win as a Padre. Canning totally nailed it too, saying he felt like he was “attacking the zone a little bit better” and just “keeping the team in the game and giving us a chance to win.”

The offense started waking up too. Manny Machado, who already drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly, laced a double in the fourth to set up Xander Bogaerts’ RBI single. Then Fernando Tatis Jr. just threaded a sharp line drive to center in the fifth that got misjudged by Nathan Church thanks to a gusty day, turning a potential out into an RBI double. Just like that, six Padres had reached base in the first four innings. That's how you chip away, folks!

Ninth-Inning Explosion and a Bullpen Masterclass

While the Padres didn’t dive into the Cardinals’ bullpen until the seventh, they had already built a lead that their own ‘pen was ready to defend. And let's talk about Kyle Hart, who was recalled for this series. He came in for Canning and faced Masyn Winn at first. What does Hart do? He picks Winn off! Stammen was pumped, saying Hart “brings that element when a guy’s on first that’s a base stealer. He has the ability to control the running game really well.” That was a HUGE play that neutralized a jam. Jason Adam kept it scoreless in the eighth, and Adrian Morejon slammed the door shut.

But the real fireworks? The ninth inning, baby! Tatis Jr. absolutely ripped an RBI single, and then Jackson Merrill, oh man, he crushed a two-run homer. It got reviewed, of course, but Merrill knew it was fair, laughing, “I think I might’ve got tossed if they called it foul.” Stammen summed it up perfectly about Tatis and Merrill: “You get two of those guys going at the same time and that produces some runs. That’s what we’ve been lacking a little bit.” When those guys are hot, good things happen. And it totally paid off!

So, what’s next for these guys? They’re heading into Arlington to face the Rangers carrying some serious offensive momentum. That 5-for-14 with a walk and two runs in the first four innings on Wednesday, topped off with that bombastic ninth inning, shows they’re finding their rhythm. Merrill said it best, “Every game, our goal is to get out [to a lead] early, so sometimes it hurts when we’re not. Good job today to bounce back after the last two days.” They need to keep that energy alive in Texas. You just know we’ll be watching to see if this offensive surge is here to stay!

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