Mason Miller's Save Highlights Padres' Victory over Cardinals

SAN DIEGO – Mason Miller of the Padres showcased his skills during the final moments of the team’s 4-2 victory against the Cardinals on Saturday at Petco Park. Miller notched his 12th save, leading the Majors, but his inning was marked by challenges as he left the bases loaded after striking out four batters. The conclusion came when Cardinals pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo swung and missed at a ball in the dirt, but a wild pitch allowed Pozo to reach first base, prompting Miller to secure another out.

Although Miller struggled with his fastball command, he managed to strike out four batters in the ninth inning to maintain the Padres' win. JJ Wetherholt's strikeout came on a 101.8 mph fastball, bringing a collective sigh of relief from his teammates.

The last Padre to record four strikeouts in an inning was Manager Craig Stammen, who remarked, "I heard that there was a guy that did it, and he wasn’t as good as Mason Miller. Thanks for bringing up good memories."

Miller’s performance marked his second four-out save of the season, having last achieved the feat on April 1, making it the 11th four-out save of his career. He admitted it was a difficult outing, saying, "Probably not a stat you are looking to get. You got to get out of it. Just not having good command coming out, not making adjustments fast enough." He noted that once batters enter a take mode, the situation becomes trickier.

Stammen brought in Miller in the eighth inning to face Jordan Walker, who grounded out. Miller acknowledged the difficulty of getting a crucial out and immediately having to face more hitters. "It’s not the easiest thing to do, but it’s certainly not an excuse, either," he remarked. "I throw a first-pitch strike and it looks like the inning is off to a good start."

Although the inning was precarious, Miller ultimately found his rhythm, stating, "You don’t want to put the tying run on base, and I did more than that. We see what happens when you don’t get ahead of guys." He emphasized the importance of being aggressive in the strike zone, affirming, "If we were able to say, ‘I want to throw this fastball right in this spot every single time,’ pitching would be a lot easier than it is."

The win was particularly significant for the Padres, ending a streak of 21 1/3 scoreless innings when Ty France hit a home run, marking the team’s first hit in 9 1/3 innings. France’s home run, a 95.9 mph sinker, traveled an estimated 405 feet. The Padres took a commanding 3-1 lead in the fifth inning after a series of plays, including a two-run bloop double from Fernando Tatis Jr.

Both teams scored runs in the eighth inning, with Manny Machado hitting his sixth homer of the season, and the 200th of his career with the Padres. Starter Randy Vásquez pitched effectively over five innings, allowing just one run on six hits, striking out six without issuing a walk.