San Diego Padres
· 2026-07-02
The San Diego Padres lost 9-7 to the Chicago Cubs on July 1, 2026, with JP Sears allowing seven runs in 4⅔ innings.
The Padres' starting rotation continues to struggle, with Sears' outing being the ninth time in 13 games a starter failed to complete five innings.
The team's record now stands at 43-42, with a 10th place standing in the National League.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit two home runs, moving him past Phil Nevin for fourth on the Padres' all-time list with 157 home runs.
Tatis' performance was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing game.
The Padres' bullpen also struggled, with Ron Marinaccio's pitches resulting in home runs.
The Padres will look to bounce back from their five-game losing streak, with a focus on improving their starting rotation.
Manager Craig Stammen praised Tatis' at-bats, saying "Fernando is a great player" and "we're starting to see him kind of come out of that no-power kind of funk".
The team's inability to drive in runners with ample opportunities has been a troubling trend, with a .200 average with runners in scoring position during their losing streak.
And the Padres have scored just three of six times they've had a runner on second base with no outs.
But the Padres are not playing sharp, smart baseball, with defensive mistakes and baserunning blunders costing them runs.
So the team will need to regroup and refocus to get back on track.
The Padres' next game will be crucial in determining their chances of making a comeback.