Nick Pivetta's 10-strikeout gem leads the Padres past the Nationals 1-0 on June 26, 2025. See how Pivetta's dominance secured the tense victory for San Diego.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a season often defined by explosive offense, the San Diego Padres proved on Thursday they can win the old-fashioned way. Behind a masterful performance from Nick Pivetta, the Friars edged the Washington Nationals 1-0 in a tense pitcher's duel at Petco Park, putting a bow on a successful homestand and improving to 44-36 on the year.
10 strikeouts, 0 walks, 7 shutout innings. Nick Pivetta's line was a thing of beauty.
From the first pitch, it was clear Nick Pivetta was on another level. The right-hander was simply untouchable, carving up the Nationals lineup for seven dominant innings. He struck out 10 batters, didn't issue a single walk, and scattered just three hits. At one point, he retired 12 straight batters, inducing 16 swinging strikes and looking every bit the ace. 'I felt in control of all my pitches tonight. The defense was great behind me,' Pivetta said after the game, downplaying a performance that was anything but ordinary. His ERA now sits at a sparkling 3.12.
While Pivetta was dealing, the Padres offense was locked in a stalemate with Washington's pitching. It took until the 6th inning for the bats to finally break through. Fernando Tatis Jr. ignited the rally with a single, and Manny Machado followed with a booming double to put runners on second and third. Xander Bogaerts did his job, lifting a sacrifice fly to center field to score Tatis for what would be the only run of the game. It wasn't a home run barrage, but it was a textbook example of situational hitting from the team's stars when it mattered most.
With a one-run lead, the game fell into the hands of closer Robert Suarez, who has been a story in his own right. Pitching while his three-game suspension appeal for hitting Shohei Ohtani is pending, Suarez was lights-out. He delivered a perfect ninth inning, striking out one to lock down his 23rd save of the season. It was his third straight scoreless outing, a welcome sign of stability for a closer who had a few bumps earlier in the month.
The good news wasn't limited to Petco Park. In High-A Fort Wayne, the organization's top prospect, Leo De Vries, continued to shine. The young shortstop collected three hits for the TinCaps, showcasing the advanced plate approach that has scouts buzzing. It's a comforting reminder that while the big-league club is winning now, the future remains incredibly bright.
The Padres wrap up their homestand with a 1-0 victory that feels just as significant as any blowout. It's a win that demonstrates their versatility and grit, proving they can rely on stellar pitching and timely hitting to get the job done. As they head back on the road, carrying the momentum from this dominant pitching performance, they've shown the rest of the league they are a threat to win on any given night, in any kind of ballgame.
