Jackson Merrill Powers Padres Past Rockies 9-6 as Mickey Moniak Shines in Defeat – San Diego Takes Series, Stays in NL Wild Card Hunt

Sunday, September 14th, 2025

San Diego Padres Overcome Rockies with Jackson Merrill’s Three-Run Homer

The San Diego Padres secured a 9-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies, overcoming a standout performance by Mickey Moniak and taking three out of four games in the series at Petco Park.

Game Highlights

Jackson Merrill delivered a pivotal three-run home run to left field in the second inning, pushing the Padres to a commanding 6-0 lead with no outs. Merrill's blast built on San Diego’s early momentum after a three-run first inning, which featured RBI singles from Jake Cronenworth and José Iglesias.

Despite the Padres’ dominance early on, Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak nearly stole the show, finishing 4-for-4 with two home runs, an RBI single, and two stolen bases. Moniak, who starred at La Costa Canyon High in Carlsbad, delivered his first homer as a leadoff shot off Yu Darvish in the fourth and followed with a three-run homer off Jeremiah Estrada in the sixth, marking his 21st of the season.

Ezequiel Tovar added to the Rockies’ rally in the seventh with an RBI double, scoring and then being driven in himself by Moniak’s single to close the gap to 7-6. However, the Padres answered in the eighth with a crucial two-run double from Gavin Sheets, providing insurance and moving the lead to 9-6.

Key Moment

With a runner on first and Moniak on deck in a high-leverage situation, Padres closer Robert Suarez struck out Ezequiel Tovar for his 38th save, quelling the Rockies' comeback hopes.

Key Stat

The Padres scored an impressive 95 runs in their 13 games against the Rockies this season, showcasing their offensive strength against Colorado's pitching staff.

Notable Ejection

Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer was ejected by home plate umpire James Jean after Kyle Farmer was called out on strikes to end the inning, adding frustration to the Rockies’ already tough season.

Pitching Recap

Yu Darvish picked up his fourth win of the season for San Diego despite surrendering Moniak’s first home run. Germán Márquez (3-14) took the loss for Colorado after giving up Merrill’s three-run shot and struggling in the early innings.

Up Next

The Rockies will send left-hander Kyle Freeland (4-15, 4.97 ERA) to the mound for their next game against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. The Padres are set to start right-hander Michael King (4-2, 2.87 ERA) on Tuesday night against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

In summary

The San Diego Padres continued their playoff push with a hard-fought 9-6 win over the Colorado Rockies, powered by Jackson Merrill’s three-run homer and consistent run support throughout the lineup. Mickey Moniak’s career game wasn’t enough for the Rockies, who still hold the worst record in the majors. The Padres remain in the hunt for the NL West lead and a wild card spot, while Colorado seeks answers heading into the final stretch of the season.

MLB Schedules

Today's MLB Games

There are no baseball games today.

Tomorrow's MLB Games

There are no baseball games tomorrow.

Yesterday's MLB Games

There were no baseball games yesterday.