On a remarkable morning for the San Diego Padres, Jackson Merrill celebrated a life-changing extension, catching the attention of his teammates, including pitcher Dylan Cease. Following a press conference at Petco Park, Cease greeted the 21-year-old center fielder with a grin in a nearly empty clubhouse. It was Cease’s pitching day, a time when distractions are typically avoided. “I can’t believe you did that to me,” he joked, showcasing the camaraderie within the team.
Cease had a solid performance of his own, striking out seven batters over 6⅓ innings. However, it was Merrill who stole the spotlight, celebrating his new nine-year, $135 million deal with a spectacular home run. The Padres capped off a perfect week of baseball, defeating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in front of a lively crowd of 35,858 at Petco Park. “Couldn’t have scripted it better,” Cease remarked. “I mean, baseball is fun in general, but winning is definitely a lot more fun.”
With this victory, the Padres made history by becoming the first team in their history to start a season with five straight wins. They now boast a remarkable 7-0 record, sharing the title of one of the last two unbeaten teams in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers began their season with two victories in Japan, followed by a sweep of the Tigers and a thrilling walk-off home run by Shohei Ohtani against the Braves.
This achievement marks only the fifth instance in MLB history where multiple teams have started a season with seven consecutive wins. The parallels between the Padres and the Dodgers are significant, especially considering the Dodgers eliminated the Padres from last year’s NLDS. “We’re in the same momentum of last year,” stated Fernando Tatis Jr.. “Both teams are just hungry. We just have to come and play every single game like this.”
Wednesday's game was the series finale that capped a three-game sweep of the Guardians. The Padres showcased aggressive base-running and timely hits, pressuring the Guardians throughout the match. Merrill’s home run in the third inning highlighted a four-run rally that began with two outs. Tatis beat out an infield single, then advanced to third base after Luis Arraez's base hit to left. Arraez attempted to steal second on an 0-1 breaking ball, allowing Tatis to dash home, resulting in an impressive steal of home for the game’s first run.
“Credit to our manager and our coaches,” Tatis acknowledged. “We have been working on it. It’s a play that we have designed and practiced and, man, it’s paying off. We’re playing really aggressive baseball, and I really enjoyed that one.” The Padres continued their scoring when Guardians third baseman José Ramirez made a wild throw, allowing Manny Machado to reach base, and Merrill followed with a home run to right-center field, marking his second homer in as many games.
Throughout the game, the team's synergy was evident. Cease, while allowing a lone run, managed to maintain composure and focus. After a five-pitch sixth inning, he returned to the mound for the seventh but faced challenges with runners on base. Despite the pressure, the Padres' defense, including a diving play by fill-in third baseman Jose Iglesias, helped the team escape further damage.
The bullpen's impressive scoreless streak came to an end in the eighth inning when Adrián Morejon allowed a run. However, a double play with runners on the corners ended that threat. Robert Suarez closed the game with a perfect ninth inning, securing the victory and solidifying a perfect week of baseball for the Padres. “Seven and oh — it doesn’t get much better,” Cease concluded, encapsulating the excitement surrounding the team’s exceptional start to the season.
