Padres Edge Pirates 9-8 in Extra Innings

The San Diego Padres secured a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, highlighted by Jackson Merrill's two home runs and a go-ahead single from Xander Bogaerts in the 10th inning. Merrill went 4-for-6 and drove in three runs, including a game-tying homer in the ninth, marking his third such hit this season. The Padres scored three runs in the 10th, which proved crucial as the Pirates managed to rally with two runs in their half of the inning. This win extends the Padres' impressive post-All-Star break record to 13-3, while the Pirates have now lost three consecutive games, slipping under .500. Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon earned his first career save, successfully navigating a bases-loaded situation in the final frame. With this victory, the Padres have improved their extra-inning performance to 5-1 this season, contrasting sharply with their struggles in prior seasons.