Padres Complete Sweep of Pirates with Late Rally

In a thrilling finish, the San Diego Padres secured a 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, completing a series sweep. The decisive moment came in the ninth inning when Luis Arráez delivered a crucial RBI double, capping a three-run rally that turned the tide for San Diego. The Padres had been trailing 5-4 before Pirates closer David Bednar struggled, allowing a single to Xander Bogaerts and walking Jackson Merrill, which set the stage for the comeback. San Diego's recent success has been notable, as they have now won five consecutive games and 14 of their last 16, narrowing the gap to just 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West standings. In contrast, the Pirates are facing difficulties, having lost four straight and five of their last six games. The game saw a mix of offensive contributions, with Manny Machado and David Peralta each hitting two-run homers in the early innings off Pirates starter Luis Ortiz, who allowed four runs over six innings. Meanwhile, Robert Suarez earned his 25th save despite giving up a two-out double and an RBI single in the ninth, ultimately striking out Bryan De La Cruz to seal the win. Looking ahead, the Padres are set to face the Miami Marlins in a three-game series, with Martín Pérez slated to start. The Pirates will head to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers, with Mitch Keller taking the mound for Pittsburgh.