Jackson Merrill and Jurickson Profar each homered, while Yu Darvish delivered his best performance since returning from a three-month layoff, leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros last night. This marks the Padres’ fourth consecutive win.

Playing at Petco Park, San Diego opened the scoring in the first inning with a double from Manny Machado, allowing Jurickson Profar to cross home plate. In the fourth inning, Merrill added to the lead with a solo home run.

The Astros responded in the top of the eighth inning when Yordan Álvarez singled, driving in José Altuve. However, in the bottom of the inning, Profar homered, sealing the Padres' 3-1 win.

Yu Darvish earned the win, pitching six innings, allowing just three hits, two walks, and striking out three. Jason Adam, Tanner Scott, and Robert Suárez each pitched one inning in relief to secure the victory.

With this win, the Padres now hold a two-and-a-half game lead over the Diamondbacks for the National League’s top wild-card spot and trail the division-leading Dodgers by three-and-a-half games.

You may also be interested in its Spanish version: Con jonrones de Merril y Profar Padres derrota a Astros