Rookie's Redemption: Brett Johnson Saves Padres From No-Hit Humiliation

• Rookie Brett Johnson broke up Nick Martinez's no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning.
• Johnson's single was the Padres' only hit and drove in their only run in an 8-1 loss.
• Cincinnati Reds third baseman Spencer Steer hit three home runs.
• Former Padre Nick Martinez took a no-hitter into the ninth against his old team.
• The loss prevented the Padres from being no-hit for the first time since 2021.

For eight excruciating innings, it looked like it was going to be one of *those* nights. A night of utter dominance by an opposing pitcher and complete silence from the Padres' bats. Former Padre Nick Martinez was carving up his old team, nine outs away from history. But in a game that was all but lost, a rookie stepped up to ensure the Padres would not suffer the ultimate indignity, providing the slimmest of silver linings in an otherwise brutal 8-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

In a game where stars like Machado and Tatis Jr. went hitless, rookie Brett Johnson is now hitting .417 since his call-up.

The Lone Hit

With two outs in the top of the ninth, the scoreboard reading a painful 8-0, rookie outfielder Brett Johnson stepped to the plate. The pressure was immense, with Nick Martinez on the cusp of a no-hitter. Johnson, who was just recently called up from Triple-A El Paso, worked the count and laced a clean single into the outfield, shattering the bid for history. Not only did he break up the no-no, but he also drove in the team's only run, preventing a shutout. It was the lone moment of celebration for the Friar Faithful, a small but significant act of defiance from the unlikeliest of heroes.

Steer-Rolled in Cincy

While Martinez was dealing, Reds third baseman Spencer Steer was single-handedly dismantling the Padres. Steer launched three home runs, accounting for a staggering six of Cincinnati's eight runs. It was a career night for him and a nightmare for Padres pitching. Starter Randy Vasquez was knocked around, surrendering five runs in just 4.1 innings and never finding a rhythm. Steer's power display put the game out of reach early, turning the focus from a potential Padres win to simply avoiding the no-hitter.

Where Did the Bats Go?

A single hit from a rookie can't mask the bigger issue from Saturday's game: the complete disappearance of the offense. The top of the lineup was a black hole, with Luis Arraez, Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill all going hitless. The entire team managed just that one hit and a single walk, striking out seven times. For a team with this much talent, getting shut down so completely is a major red flag. It was a collective failure that put all the pressure on the pitching staff, which unfortunately didn't have its best stuff either.

It's a tough pill to swallow, no doubt. Getting dominated on both sides of the ball is never fun, but it's just one game in a long season. The Friars are still 44-37, and the focus now shifts to tomorrow. The challenge will be for the heart of this lineup to shake off this collective slump and come out swinging. One rookie can't carry the offense every night, but tonight, we're sure glad he did. Let's see how they respond.