# Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres series

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/pittsburgh-pirates-and-san-diego-padres-series
> Updated: 2026-08-26T23:50:10.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 2.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres engaged in a series of games impacting the National League Wild Card race.

In the first matchup, the Pirates secured a 1-0 victory at Petco Park following a ninth-inning solo home run by Oneil Cruz. This game featured a strong performance by Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, who pitched six scoreless innings, and marked the first home run allowed by Padres closer Mason Miller in over a year.

The Padres responded in the following game with a 3-0 win to avoid a series sweep. Pitcher Randy Vásquez earned his tenth victory of the season by holding the Pirates to a single hit over five innings, while Jackson Merrill contributed multiple hits and an RBI. The win allowed the Padres to maintain their position in the third wild-card spot, staying one game ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

## Claims

- The San Diego Padres defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Jackson Merrill recorded a double, a triple, an RBI, and a run scored. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Randy Vásquez reached 10 victories. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The win marked the San Diego Padres' 10th shutout. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Pittsburgh Pirates stranded 10 runners and went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Catcher Endy Rodriguez will not return this season following surgery to repair his left hip labrum. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: San Diego Padres defeat Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 to avoid series sweep

The San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 to avoid a series sweep, maintaining their National League wild-card position behind strong pitching and Jackson Merrill’s offensive performance.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/san-diego-padres-defeat-pittsburgh-pirates-3-0

### 2026-08-24: Pittsburgh Pirates defeat San Diego Padres 1-0 on Oneil Cruz home run

Oneil Cruz hit a decisive ninth-inning home run off Mason Miller to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres, supported by a strong outing from Paul Skenes.

19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/san-diego-padres-select-dustin-harris-from-triple-a-el-paso

---
Cite as: Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres series. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/pittsburgh-pirates-and-san-diego-padres-series