SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The San Diego Padres, trailing by four runs and down to their final three outs, staged a stunning five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to stun the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Wednesday night at PETCO Park.

A crowd of 46,095 watched the Padres erase a 6-2 deficit, capitalizing on a critical error and delivering a series of clutch hits to complete the improbable comeback and secure their fifth consecutive victory.

The most important part of the game was the bottom of the ninth inning, a chaotic and decisive frame that flipped the result on its head. Entering the inning, the Mariners, who had led comfortably since the second, were three outs from a series split. Andrés Muñoz, Seattle’s closer, took the mound to protect the four-run lead.

The trouble began immediately as Manny Machado worked a leadoff walk. Gavin Sheets then scorched a ground ball double down the left field line, putting runners on second and third with no outs. After Nick Castellanos struck out swinging, Ty France hit a sharp grounder back to the mound. Muñoz fielded it but his throw to the plate was not in time to catch the advancing Machado, as France reached safely to load the bases.

The Mariners then turned to their defense, and right fielder Luke Raley made a strong catch on Fernando Tatis Jr.’s sacrifice fly to right, scoring Machado to make it 6-3. The play, however, advanced both remaining runners. Luis Campusano then ripped a single to center, scoring Sheets and moving France to third, cutting the deficit to 6-4.

Ramón Laureano followed with a soft fly ball single to left, plating France to bring the Padres within a run at 6-5, with Campusano advancing to second. That brought center fielder Jackson Merrill to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Merrill lined a double into the left field corner. Campusano scored easily to tie the game, and Laureano, running on contact, raced around from first to slide home with the winning run, triggering a celebration at home plate.

The dramatic finish overshadowed a game the Mariners had controlled from the early innings. Seattle built its lead methodically against Padres starter Randy Vásquez, who lasted four innings and allowed four runs on five hits.

Seattle struck first in the second inning. After a walk to Randy Arozarena and a single by Luke Raley, Dominic Canzone drove a two-run double to right field. They added two more in the fourth on a two-run single by Brendan Donovan, and another pair in the fifth on Raley’s two-run homer to right-center, his fourth of the season.

Mariners starter Emerson Hancock was brilliant over six innings, holding the Padres to just two runs on four hits while striking out six. The only damage against him came in the sixth when Xander Bogaerts launched a two-run homer to left-center, scoring Jackson Merrill, who had singled.

The Seattle bullpen initially preserved the lead. Eduard Bazardo pitched a perfect seventh and Gabe Speier worked around a hit in the eighth. But the ninth inning unraveled completely for Muñoz, who was charged with the loss, falling to 2-2.

The Padres’ bullpen was instrumental in keeping the game within reach. After Vásquez departed, Wandy Peralta and Alek Jacob combined for five scoreless innings of relief. Jacob, who worked the eighth and ninth, earned the win to improve to 1-0. He allowed just one hit, a double to Raley in the ninth, and struck out three.

Raley was the offensive standout for Seattle, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. He went 4 for 5 with the home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. For San Diego, Bogaerts provided the early spark with his two-run homer, while Merrill delivered the final, crushing blow with his two-run double. Sheets also had a strong night, going 2 for 4 with two doubles.

With the win, the Padres improved to 12-6, maintaining their strong early-season form. The Mariners fell to 8-11, suffering a devastating loss after showing signs of life by taking three of four from Houston prior to this series.

The teams conclude their three-game series on Thursday afternoon at PETCO Park.