Padres blank Mariners 2‑0 behind Vásquez, Miller

SEATTLE (Interstat) — Randy Vásquez threw six shutout innings, Mason Miller collected a four-out save and Miguel Andujar delivered an RBI double as the San Diego Padres blanked the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Friday night at T-Mobile Park.

Vásquez, who improved to 5-1, scattered four hits over six innings, allowing just one extra-base hit — a double by Cole Young in the fifth inning. The right-hander did not allow a runner past second base and struck out three. He has not surrendered an earned run in three of his nine starts this season, following a win over St. Louis on May 9 and a loss at San Francisco on May 4.

The Padres broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. With two outs, Gavin Sheets walked and Xander Bogaerts flied out sharply to center. Andujar then doubled down the left-field line, driving in Sheets for a 1-0 lead. Andujar finished 2 for 4. San Diego added a run in the seventh. Andujar singled to center, moved to third on a single by Ramón Laureano and scored on a groundout by Sung-Mun Song.

Seattle’s best scoring opportunity came in the fifth when Young led off with a sharp double to center. But the Mariners’ threat ended when Jhonny Pereda lined into a double play, with left fielder Ramón Laureano firing to second base to double off Young. The Mariners stranded runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings.

Emerson Hancock took the loss, falling to 3-2. He allowed one run on five hits over six innings, striking out six while walking one. The Mariners starter had allowed a season-high five earned runs in his previous outing. Seattle’s bullpen allowed one run over three innings, with Alex Hoppe, Cooper Criswell and José A. Ferrer each working an inning. Criswell surrendered the seventh-inning run.

Mason Miller earned his 14th save, striking out four over 1 1/3 innings. He entered with one out in the eighth and a runner on second, then struck out Connor Joe to end the inning. Miller allowed two hits but no runs. Adrian Morejon worked a scoreless seventh inning, and Jason Adam pitched 0 2/3 hitless innings. The Padres’ pitchers combined for 12 strikes, 34 balls and 12 balls in play, a testament to their efficiency.

San Diego’s offense managed nine hits but grounded into two double plays. Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill were held hitless, while Gavin Sheets, Xander Bogaerts, Andujar, Laureano and Song each had multiple-hit contributions. Seattle’s seven hits came from Cole Young (2 for 4 with a double), Brendan Donovan (1 for 4), Josh Naylor (1 for 4), Randy Arozarena (2 for 4), Dominic Canzone (1 for 3) and Connor Joe (0 for 1 with a walk). The Mariners left nine runners on base.

The game lasted 2 hours, 28 minutes and drew 43,349 fans.

San Diego improved to 26-18, while Seattle fell to 22-24. The Padres had lost the previous day at Milwaukee, 7-1, but had taken two of three from the Brewers earlier in the week. San Diego entered the series having split a four-game set with St. Louis and won three of four at San Francisco. The Mariners had won three of four at Houston earlier in the week, taking a series from the Astros, before returning home. Seattle had lost two of three at Chicago White Sox and had split a series with Atlanta.

The Padres and Mariners continue their three-game series Saturday and Sunday at T-Mobile Park. San Diego then returns home to face the Los Angeles Dodgers for three games, followed by a homestand against the Athletics and Philadelphia Phillies. Seattle hosts the White Sox for three games before traveling to Kansas City and Oakland.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of San Diego Padres 5, Seattle Mariners 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Seattle with a 52.60 percent probability to win. Seattle had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of two runs went over the over/under line of 7.5.