Padres Shut Out Giants 8-0 in NL Wild Card Race

Joe Musgrove struck out eight over six innings as the San Diego Padres shut out the San Francisco Giants 8-0, marking the Giants' third consecutive scoreless game. Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill each drove in two runs, contributing to the Padres' 17-hit offensive onslaught. The victory keeps the Padres in the top National League Wild Card spot and narrows their division gap with the Dodgers to 3.5 games. Xander Bogaerts homered, and Luis Arráez extended his streak to 135 at-bats without a strikeout. Giants' pitcher Mason Black struggled again, allowing two runs in four innings, bringing his record to 0-4. The Padres' lineup depth and strategic adjustments, such as moving Merrill higher in the batting order, have bolstered their postseason aspirations.