On Sunday at Scottsdale Stadium, the San Francisco Giants defeated the San Diego Padres by a commanding 9-1 score. The Padres entered the game hoping for strong performances, including from right-hander Germán Márquez, who was making his Cactus League debut as he aims to secure a rotation spot. Despite Márquez’s efforts, the Giants controlled much of the game from the start.
Padres’ Offensive Efforts Limited Despite Key Contributions
The Padres managed only five hits off Giants starter Logan Webb, who pitched three innings, allowing one run and recording three strikeouts before leaving to join Team USA. Jase Bowen set the tone early by being hit with a pitch to lead off the game, subsequently stealing second base and scoring on a single from third baseman Ty France. France, notable for leading the majors in hit-by-pitches in recent seasons, himself was hit in the sixth inning and finished 1-for-2 at the plate.
Luis Campusano, serving as the designated hitter, recorded singles in both the second inning and over the course of the game. Ramón Laureano, batting left field, struck out twice but contributed a triple in his final at-bat and has posted an impressive 1.052 OPS through five spring games. First baseman Jose Miranda added a double in his 1-for-3 performance, while Bryce Johnson was 1-for-3 but was caught attempting to steal. Second baseman Sung-Mun Song failed to reach base in three at-bats, striking out once.
Germán Márquez’s Rocky Start but Signs of Recovery
Germán Márquez began his outing with 21 strikes in 26 pitches during the first inning but struggled as those strikes were well hit, resulting in three runs on four hits. Despite this rough start, Márquez bounced back with a scoreless second inning, throwing just 11 pitches. Last season, Márquez endured a challenging year with a 6.70 ERA across 126⅓ innings while returning from Tommy John surgery. At 31 years old, he is fighting to claim a spot in the Padres’ rotation this spring.
Left-hander Marco Gonzales also showed promise by striking out one batter over two scoreless innings before allowing two runs in the third. Gonzales, who is with the camp on a minor league deal, allowed five hits and struck out 28 of 42 pitches for strikes in total. Other pitchers included Garrett Hawkins, who struck out one in a scoreless inning; Ethan Routzahn, who surrendered a run in one inning; and Justin Yeager, who gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning before Ryan Och recorded the final out in the eighth.
Additional Highlights from Sunday’s Game
Padres manager Craig Stammen was back on the field after missing two games due to his sister’s wedding. In his absence, pitching coach and associate manager Ruben Niebla handled media duties and bench coach Randy Knorr managed the team for two contests. Former Padres infielder Luis Arraez did not appear in the Giants’ lineup or roster for Sunday’s game. Jen Pawol, the first female umpire in major league history last year, was behind home plate during this match.
A notable moment came when Ty France fell into the netting and onto fans in the front row while chasing a foul pop-up in the fifth inning. A young fan caught the ball and shared a fist-bump with France. The Giants outhit the Padres 14-5 overall, highlighting their offensive dominance throughout the contest.
Upcoming Matchups to Watch
Looking ahead, right-hander Michael King is set to make his second spring start against the Athletics at 12:10 p.m. in Peoria. His performance will be closely monitored as the Padres continue to evaluate their pitching options during Cactus League play.
