The game was decided in the first inning. San Diego scored four runs on two home runs, then weathered Baltimore's immediate answer to win 9-3 at Camden Yards.
Randy Vasquez earned the victory for the Padres, allowing 2 runs over 5.0 innings with 5 strikeouts. He improved to 6-4 with a 3.63 ERA. Jackson Merrill and Taylor Ward provided the early power, both hitting two-run homers in the opening frame.
Merrill homered to left center, scoring Fernando Tatis Jr. for the game's first runs. Taylor then followed with a blast to center, bringing home Xander Bogaerts to make it 4-0. Baltimore responded immediately as Pete Alonso homered to right center, then Leody Taveras tripled to right, scoring Samuel Basallo to cut the deficit to 4-2.
Ted Gibson took the loss for Baltimore, allowing 6 runs over 4.1 innings while walking 5 batters. His record fell to 1-2 with a 5.91 ERA. The Orioles managed 10 hits but could not overcome the early deficit despite Alonso's 3-for-5 performance with a home run and 2 RBI.
San Diego snapped a one-game losing streak to improve to 35-33. Baltimore's three-game winning streak ended as they fell to 34-37. Alonso sits four doubles away from 200 career doubles.