SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres showcased a stellar performance with Michael King striking out 11 over five innings and Jackson Merrill delivering a home run, securing a 7-0 victory against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night. This win marks the Padres’ unprecedented 6-0 start in their 57-year history. The franchise’s previous best season-opening streak was a 4-0 run, achieved back in 1984 when they advanced to their inaugural World Series.
Michael King, along with four other pitchers, combined efforts for an outstanding two-hit performance, contributing significantly as the Padres continue their strong defense. The team’s bullpen hasn’t allowed a run in the last 24 innings, further emphasizing their dominant form. King’s performance showed remarkable improvement compared to his season opener against the Atlanta Braves, where he struggled to last beyond the third inning.
On Tuesday, King was in exceptional form, closing the first inning with two strikeouts and going on to dominate the second with three consecutive strikeouts. He conceded just two hits and issued one walk throughout his outing. Jackson Merrill made his mark by hitting a home run off left-handed starter Logan Allen in the fourth inning, which was his first of the season after hitting 24 last season. Merrill’s offensive consistency continued as he recorded at least one hit in every game so far this season.
Logan Allen, the starting pitcher for the Guardians, took the loss, allowing four runs and four hits over seven innings, with five walks and a single strikeout. The game’s turning point came when Jason Adam took the mound in the seventh inning with two outs and two runners on base, preserving the Padres’ 4-0 lead by striking out Steven Kwan after loading the bases.
Looking ahead, the series finale will feature Guardians right-hander Ben Lively facing Padres right-hander Dylan Cease. The Padres will aim to maintain their winning streak while the Guardians seek to break their opponent’s defensive dominance.