The Padres controlled the game from the mound, shutting out Oakland 2-0 at Petco Park behind a dominant team pitching effort that limited the Athletics to five hits.
San Diego's starter worked five scoreless innings, allowing four hits while walking five and striking out two to earn the win and improve to 2-0. Mason Miller closed out the victory with a perfect ninth inning, striking out two batters on 13 pitches to record his 16th save with a 0.76 ERA.
The Padres manufactured both runs in the early innings through situational hitting. Merrill scored in the second inning when Fernando Tatis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. France added an insurance run in the third, grounding out to shortstop to bring home Castellanos.
J. T. Ginn struggled with his command for Oakland, lasting just 2.1 innings while walking six batters. He allowed two runs on no hits, striking out four before taking the loss to fall to 2-3 with a 3.19 ERA.
San Diego improved to 30-20 and snapped a losing streak. Oakland fell to 26-25 after the loss.