Gavin Sheets started in left field for just the second time this season; meantime Padres left fielders rank last in the majors in OPS

The first series of the now-formalized Vedder Cup is in the books. Its namesake once wondered lyrically whether he was the boxer or the bag. There were no such doubts over the weekend -- the Mariners were the boxer;

The Padres will not be able to win the Vedder Cup in 2025. But, there is a way to not lose it. They’ll just have to do to the Mariners what Seattle did to them: sweep Seattle in their own ballpark. The Mariners took the series finale 6-1,

Conceivably, Garver could have scored from first if the ball hadn’t gone out of play, but with Tatis defending the play, I think this actually saved the Mariners from themselves. Garver ended up scoring anyway on a soft line drive from Master Bunny that ticked off King’s glove and completely died in the middle of the infield.

The Padres scored early and late and otherwise rode their excellent pitching staff to a 5-1 victory in Wednesday’s series finale against the Angels at Petco Park.