'He is different, man': Merrill leads Padres to 6th straight win

MIAMI -- Jackson Merrill reiterated Friday that he does not care about being in the running for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

If the 21-year-old keeps doing what he has been doing for the Padres, he may win it anyway.

Merrill had another special night on Friday, tying the game against the Marlins with a leadoff home run in the ninth before his Padres scored four in the 10th to win 6-2.

“Just playing the game, you know? There’s nothing else I can say other than I am playing the game and having fun,’’ said Merrill, who also drove in the night's final run with a single in the 10th.

“You play it right, and it will reward you; work hard, put your head down, and it will reward you sometimes.’’

San Diego, now 15-3 since the All-Star break, has won its past six games but trailed the Marlins 2-0 going into the eighth.

After Manny Machado made it 2-1 with a two-out double in the eighth, Merrill led off with his fourth ninth-inning home run of the season to tie the game.

It was his 16th home run of '24 and came on the first pitch he saw against Miami reliever George Soriano. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Merrill has four game-tying or go-ahead HR in the ninth inning or later this season -- tied with Mel Ott in 1929 for the most in a season at age 21 or younger, all-time.

“Gosh, it is hard to expect that, but what a stud,’’ manager Mike Shildt said. “He is a guy who loves the big moments. Another big swing in another big situation. He did a lot of things to win the ballgame, and that gave [us] a great chance to be able to do it. … He’s a winner.”

The Padres were foiled in their bid to take the lead after Merrill’s game-tying shot to right-center field, which went a Statcast-projected 400 feet.

San Diego would open things up in the 10th, however.

With two runners in scoring position and one out, Jake Cronenworth drove in the game-winning run on a fielder’s choice to short -- with pinch-runner Tyler Wade beating the throw home.

Wade’s appeared to cut the bridge of his nose on the headfirst slide and needed attention from the team medical trainer.

“Ultimately, how he is, we’ll see,” Shildt said. “He had a pretty good gash on his nose and bled instantly. Wade was like, ‘I’m alright, I’m alright.’ Our guys are warriors. We’ll know the extent of it soon.’’

Machado doubled in two more runs to make it 5-2, with Merrill ending the scoring on an RBI single.

“He has been really good,” Machado said of Merrill. “Any big situation, he has been ready for it. Every moment, he takes it all in. Obviously, he has been putting a ton on his back. He is different, man.’’

Said Miami manager Skip Schumaker: “[Soriano] just kind of threw a hanging slider to Merrill, and Merrill lately has been doing that, unfortunately for us. He did it the other day in Pittsburgh and he's just been kind of on one of those heaters, like really clutch moments and leverage spots. He's been providing that, and that's how you get on these huge winning streaks and they're on one right now.’’

Three San Diego players played at loanDepot park for the first time since being acquired from the Marlins in separate trades.

Luis Arraez, who won the NL batting title in his one full season with the Marlins in 2023, was 0-for-4 before singling to lead off the 10th.

Reliever Bryan Hoeing pitched a scoreless eighth after starter Martín Pérez went seven solid innings.

Former Miami closer Tanner Scott gave up an infield single in the 10th but nothing more.

Scott was Miami’s lone All-Star this season and went to the Padres with Hoeing at the Trade Deadline.

“We know we’re not out of it,” said Merrill, whose team holds a Wild Card spot and is battling the Dodgers for the NL West title.

“It doesn’t matter who it is, whether it’s the Dodgers, these guys or anyone. The game is always available for you to come back and win, and it doesn’t matter how much you are down by. … We have confidence in every part of the game, regardless of the score.”

Pérez gave the San Diego bullpen some needed rest Friday, pitching three innings of no-hit ball until Jake Burger and Jonah Bride hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fourth to give Miami its 2-0 lead.

After issuing a walk following the home runs, Pérez got back after it and put the Marlins down in order for the rest of his time in.

“This is the big leagues, man, and if you miss a spot, you’re going to pay,’’ Pérez said.

“I missed my location with my two-seamer and my cutter and they hit the homers. But I never give up. I was trying to slow them down, get back to my pitches to give my team a chance to win.”