Nick Castellanos late two-run HR lifts Padres, splitting series against Cardinals

SAN DIEGO - Just when the woeful, uninspiring offense of the San Diego Padres were out for the count on Sunday, staring at a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and on their last strike, outfielder Nick Castellanos decided to play hero ball.

Putting on his cape and stepping into the batter's box using Fernando Tatis Jr.'s bat after breaking his own in his first appearance, the 34-year-old was in a duel against Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien, squaring off in a nine pitch at-bat. In typical 2026 Padres fashion, Castellanos waited until he found a pitch he liked from the way right-hander and he connected on a sinker, up and in the zone, sending the ball 105 mph to left-center field for a two-run homer to tie the game. 

It was the first home run allowed by O'Brien this season. 

"The first pitch started, and I was probably looking to do what I did, Castellanos said. "And then I ended up getting 0-2 and chasing. After that, just took a deep breath and tried to shorten up as much as possible and just compete. Just find a way on base. And then found myself in a full count and was able to get the job done." 

Despite all the bad and ugly through 8 2/3 innings, at that moment, the shift in momentum inside another sell-out at Petco Park felt very real. It was exactly what the Padres (24-16) ever so needed to avoid losing three of their last four series. 

Later in the tenth inning facing reliever Gordon Graceffo, San Diego quickly loaded the bases with no-out after Jackson Merrill and Tatis Jr. were walked. Manny Machado sent out a first pitch sac-fly out to left field to tack on the winning run that scored Ramón Laureano. 

"I think we got good players that rise to the occasion which fun to see," Padres manager Craig Stammen said. "It's a gene you can't teach but some our guys gave it definitely and they thrive in those situations when the energy is a little higher. They're able to calm down and do what they do best."  

This seems to be the nutshell of the Padres season so far. The ball club manages to rally late in games after long spurts of lackluster offensive performances and for the most part, their pitching department does enough to squeeze by to not derail any sort of opportunity of a comeback.  

Before the late inning heroics, this contest was very identical to Monday's contest when they were silenced by the Giants' RHP Trevor McDonald. Until the ninth inning, the only hits they had came on a single by Merrill in the third inning and a double by Xander Bogaerts in the fourth inning. 

Following their last hit, the next 17 batters failed to lay down a hit and only three at-bats ended with a runner on base after being walked. 

"It's hard to win a game like that." Stammen said. "Their pitchers pitched great, and they're bringing in one of the best closers in the game. and we just stuck with it. It just speaks to how those guys believe in themselves and how they believe in what we've got going on as a team." 

Even with the pair of hits until that point, they had opportunities bring across some runners, leaving total of seven runners on base and going 0-for-7 with RISP. 

Padres right-hander Walker Buehler had a very respectable six inning performance, allowing just three hits, two earned runs, rung up two strikeouts and didn't surrender a walk. In what could be his best performance since signing with San Diego, the 31-year-old retired the first 11 batters he faced and finished with a total of 89 pitches (57 counted for strikes) in his eighth start of the season. 

"I think we're kind of putting together really good plans and mentally I'm probably in the best spot I've been in terms of kind of attacking and getting ahead," Buehler said. "I've had probably six (games) in a row that I feel like the ball's coming out okay. But (you) kind of have to have a base before you can kind of ramp it up. And you know, the last bat of the day was probably my best heater of the day. So at least there's some room to kind of turn up and so that's a really big step for me in terms of being able to kind of feel like I can throw the ball 90% and if I want to get back, you know, reach back for another one, I can."

His streak of 11 batters retired ended during the fourth following a two-out single by Alec Burleson, which immediately led to right-fielder Jordan Walker labeling a knuckle curve to the top level of the Western Metal Building for a two-run home run.

"I mean keeping the ball kind of on the, you know, the edges of the plate and get some balls in play," Buehler said. "Obviously didn't punch a bunch of guys out but I don't know, kind of the one bad pitch there to Walker but other than that felt pretty good about it."   

Before today's game, Buehler owned a 3-0 career record against the Cardinals, and with win, the club is now 4-0 when he pitches in at least five frames. 

The bullpen, once again, were nails and played a pivotal part in the Padres win. Following Buehler's exit, reliever Ron Marinaccio came in the seventh and threw two strong, efficient scoreless innings. 

Right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez pitched in the ninth inning and sat down the trio of batters he faced on five pitches. Right-hander Jeremiah Estrada recorded the first two outs of the tenth inning and left-hander Adrian Morejon, who was credited with his third win, closed the door to finish off the top of the frame.   

Including Buehler's final two outs in the sixth, Padres pitchers retired 13 consecutive batters until Estrada gave up a walk to Masyn Winn. As a collective group, Padres relievers did not give up a hit and punched out five strikeouts. 

Moving forward, the Padres recipe of winning games has to change if they to stay were they're at currently tied for first place in the NL West and tied for the fifth best record in the majors. Half of the Padres' victories this season in which the decisive run was scored has come during the seventh inning or late.

"It sucks, we need to hit," Machado said. "I mean, you know, look, it's obvious. We're not hitting. It's obvious, but we're getting things done, man." 

The Brown and Gold will have a day off on Monday before going on the road for their next six games against the Brewers and the Mariners. The expected pitching matchup for Tuesday will be right-hander Matt Waldron (1-1, 7.71 ERA) and RHP Brandon Sproat (0-2, 5.87 ERA).