Nick Castellanos Walk-Off Set Up the Drama, but Manny Machado Finished It in the 10th

The San Diego Padres found themselves staring down a loss Sunday at Petco Park until Nick Castellanos stepped up and yanked a two-run homer off Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien in the bottom of the ninth. That blast, coming on a 3-2 pitch and sending the ball to left-center, tied things up at 2-2 and kept the Padres' comeback alive. Castellanos scored Xander Bogaerts, who had singled to start the inning and advanced on a wild pitch after reaching second on defensive indifference.

One inning wasn't enough to settle it. Ramon Laureano started the bottom of the 10th on second base, Jackson Merrill drew an intentional walk, and then Cardinals reliever Gordon Graceffo (2-1) unintentionally walked Fernando Tatis Jr. to load the bases. That set the table perfectly for Manny Machado, who delivered the gut-punch with a sacrifice fly that gave San Diego the 3-2 win and split the four-game series. Adrian Morejon (3-1) earned the win by throwing exactly one pitch in the top of the 10th, getting pinch hitter Jose Fermin to pop out to first and strand two runners.

The Starters Both Pitched Well, Neither Got the Decision

St. Louis' Kyle Leahy was sharp through five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and four walks with five strikeouts. The Padres' Walker Buehler matched that energy over six innings, allowing only three hits and two runs with no walks and two strikeouts. Buehler retired the first 11 hitters he faced before running into trouble in the fourth. Alec Burleson singled and stole second, then Buehler hung a 1-2 knuckle-curve to Jordan Walker, who crushed it an estimated 425 feet into the third deck of the Western Metal Supply building behind left field for his 11th homer of the year.

San Diego Left Opportunities on the Table All Night

The Padres managed just 14 hits across the entire four-game set and couldn't capitalize when chances came early. In the first inning, Bogaerts' flyout to left stranded Merrill and Gavin Sheets after both drew walks. San Diego also left Bogaerts at third in the fourth and stranded runners at second and third in the fifth when Machado grounded out to Leahy. That's baseball sometimes, but that's also why walk-off moments hit differently. Castellanos' second homer of the year kept them alive, and Machado's sacrifice fly sent them home winners.

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