Sanchez, Pivetta to Start Series Finale

SAN DIEGO: Jackson Merrill snapped his long slump by hitting two home runs, and Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly in the seventh inning propelled the San Diego Padres to a narrow 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday at Petco Park.

Merrill, who had struggled with a 5-for-53 stretch over his previous 34 games, blasted a two-run homer in the second inning and followed it up with a solo shot in the sixth. His three RBIs increased his season total to 31.

Phillies’ All-Star pitcher Zack Wheeler, known for his command on the mound, surrendered four runs in six innings. This was only the fourth instance in his 19 starts this season that he has allowed more than two earned runs.

Machado secured the win for San Diego with a deep sacrifice fly, allowing Fernando Tatis Jr., who had previously singled and advanced to third on a base hit by Luis Arraez, to score. The fly ball leveled the score at 4-4 before giving the Padres their second consecutive series win.

Reliever David Morgan notched his first career win with a scoreless inning, and Jeremiah Estrada closed out the game with a clean ninth inning, earning his third save of the season.

Padres starter Yu Darvish, making his second appearance following a recovery from injury, conceded four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

For the Phillies, Edmundo Sosa, stepping in for the injured Alec Bohm, briefly put his team ahead with a two-run single in the fifth inning.

Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez and San Diego’s Nick Pivetta are scheduled as the starting pitchers for the series conclusion on Sunday.