Rays secure fourth straight win over Padres as Pepiot shines
- Shane Baz pitched impressively for seven innings with six strikeouts, allowing only four hits.
- Ryan Pepiot followed up with a strong performance the next day, pitching six innings with just three hits against the Padres.
- The consecutive losses marked a challenging moment for the Padres, who faced their first double shutout of the season.
On Friday night, April 25, 2025, in San Diego, the Tampa Bay Rays achieved a hard-fought victory against the San Diego Padres, clinching a narrow 1-0 win. Shane Baz pitched exceptionally well for the Rays, completing seven strong innings. His performance included six strikeouts and allowed only four singles. The game's sole run came from a sacrifice fly by Yandy Díaz, which ultimately handed the Padres their fifth loss in their last seven games. The game was crucial as it marked the first time this season that the Padres faced consecutive shutouts. The Padres had previously been scoreless for an impressive 30 innings, suffering back-to-back losses to the Tigers, 6-0 and 1-0 against the Rays, respectively. San Diego's only real opportunity came late in the game when Gavin Sheets reached base due to a passed ball, but the inning ended in dramatic fashion as Kameron Misner made a diving catch, doubling off a runner at first to close out the game. Michael King, the Padres' pitcher, struggled in comparison to previous outings, reflecting on his inability to maintain a strong presence on the mound after averaging a high pitch count. On the following day, April 26, 2025, the Rays maintained their momentum, defeating the Padres again, this time with a score of 4-1. Ryan Pepiot delivered an impressive performance, allowing only three hits over six innings, extending the Padres’ scoreless streak to 30 innings at one point. Brandon Lowe contributed to the Rays' offensive success by hitting a home run off Dylan Cease, helping secure their season-best fourth consecutive victory. The Padres managed to break their scoring drought with Tyler Wade’s triple that led to a run, but it was not enough to change the outcome. Throughout this stretch of games, key moments included Junior Caminero's smart base running and defensive plays from the Rays, which significantly hindered the Padres’ efforts. Notably, mistakes like shortstop Xander Bogaerts' errors have compounded the Padres' frustrations over these matches. Pepiot’s and Baz's performances showcased the Rays as formidable competitors, while the Padres need to address their recent batting struggles and defensive lapses in what has become a distressing series for them. The Rays' robust pitching has played a critical role in their ongoing winning streak.