BOSTON (Interstat) — A crucial insurance run in the ninth inning and a dominant relief appearance by Mason Miller allowed the San Diego Padres to secure a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday evening at Fenway Park, snapping a two-game skid and handing Boston its fifth loss in six games.

A crowd of 36,405 watched as the Padres, who improved to 3-5, executed a tight, one-run win that was projected by Interstat’s game simulator but defied the betting markets, which had installed Boston as a -1.5 favorite. The total of five runs fell well under the over/under line of 8.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the ninth inning with the score tied 2-2. After two quick outs against reliever Aroldis Chapman, Fernando Tatis Jr. ignited the rally with a double to center field. Ramón Laureano then delivered a sharp single to left, scoring Tatis Jr. with the go-ahead run. The play escalated when Red Sox left fielder Roman Anthony’s throwing error allowed Laureano to advance to third, though he was stranded. That unearned run proved decisive.

San Diego’s pitching staff, led by starter Randy Vásquez, was the foundation of the win. Vásquez, named the top star for San Diego, delivered six strong innings, allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out three. He efficiently navigated traffic, including a second-inning sacrifice fly by Marcelo Mayer that scored Willson Contreras, and stranded a key runner at third in the fifth after a Roman Anthony triple. Vásquez continued an excellent start to his season, building on a six-inning, two-hit shutout performance against Detroit on March 28.

The Padres built an early lead with single runs in the second and third innings. In the second, Freddy Fermin walked, advanced to third on a Ty France single, and scored on a Bryce Johnson groundout. An inning later, Miguel Andujar doubled and came home on Fermin’s RBI double to left field, making it 2-1.

Boston’s starter, Connelly Early, lasted four innings, surrendering two earned runs on three hits and four walks. The Red Sox bullpen, however, kept the game close. Ryan Watson, Justin Slaten, Danny Coulombe and Zack Kelly combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief before Chapman entered for the ninth.

The Red Sox finally drew even in the eighth against Padres reliever Adrian Morejon. Ceddanne Rafaela led off with a single, moved to third on a Roman Anthony single, and scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by pinch-hitter Andruw Monasterio. Morejon limited the damage by striking out Willson Contreras to end the threat with the tying run on base.

That set the stage for San Diego’s ninth-inning answer and for Mason Miller in the bottom half. The Padres’ closer was overpowering, striking out the side in order—Wilyer Abreu, pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida, and Marcelo Mayer—on 14 pitches to seal the win and earn his third save of the year. Morejon, who pitched the eighth, was credited with the win, moving to 1-0. Chapman took the loss, falling to 0-1.

The game’s defensive highlight came in the first inning when the Padres successfully challenged a call on a groundout by Roman Anthony, overturning the safe call at first base. Boston out-hit San Diego 8-7 but went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. struck out three times before his pivotal ninth-inning double.

The victory gives San Diego a chance to split the four-game series in the finale on Sunday before embarking on a road trip to Pittsburgh. Boston, now 2-6, will look to salvage a series split before hosting Milwaukee.