Padres Tie It in Ninth, Score Three in 10th, Then Hold Off Pirates to Gain Wild Victory

Rookie Jackson Merrill (R) celebrates with San Diego Padres teammate Manny Machado after his second home run, in the ninth inning, tied a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh on Aug. 7, 2024. Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

PITTSBURGH—Rookie Jackson Merrill hit two home runs, including a tying shot in the ninth inning, Xander Bogaerts singled in the go-ahead run in a three-run 10th, and the San Diego Padres held on for a wild 9–8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Bogaerts led off the 10th with a line drive to left field off Colin Holderman (3–5), scoring automatic runner Luis Arraez from second base. The Padres tacked on two more runs on a sacrifice fly by Manny Machado and an error on Pittsburgh catcher Yasmani Grandal.