Padres Beat Phillies as Trade Deadline Approaches

The San Diego Padres secured consecutive wins against the Philadelphia Phillies before the All-Star break, with Manny Machado surpassing 2,000 career hits and hitting his 357th home run. Jackson Merrill ended a home run drought by hitting two homers off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, while Xander Bogaerts also contributed offensively. Despite these successes, the Padres have struggled for consistent winning streaks, affecting their standings in the NL West and wild-card race. The Phillies outhit the Padres in a 5-4 loss but stranded eight runners and saw Alec Bohm exit early with a bruised rib cage. Injuries are a concern for the Phillies as they approach the trade deadline. The Padres are expected to seek additional offensive depth, though contributions from their top hitters remain key to their playoff aspirations.