BOSTON — Jackson Merrill hit a three-run homer and Kyle Higashioka added a two-run shot in a nine-run fifth inning, leading the San Diego Padres to a 9-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
The Padres sent 13 batters to the plate in the fifth, with nine scoring on eight hits and two walks. The first nine batters reached base safely. Every batter in the Padres starting lineup had at least one hit and scored a run.
The nine runs matched the most in an inning for the Padres this season. They also scored nine runs in the eighth inning on May 31 against the Kansas City Royals. The nine runs allowed surpassed Boston’s previous season high of seven runs scored by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning on Tuesday.
After Nick Pivetta (4-5) gave up four hits, including Higashioka’s ninth homer of the season, and a walk to open the fifth, he was replaced by Greg Weissert, who allowed up four straight hits, including two-run singles to Jake Cronenworth and Donovan Solano and Merrill’s 11th homer of the season.
Right-hander Randy Vásquez started for the Padres and went four-plus innings, giving up one run on five hits and a walk, with one strikeout. He was replaced by Wandy Peralta after Ceddanne Rafaela’s comebacker hit him on his pitching arm and he suffered a right forearm contusion.
Right-hander Stephen Kolek (2-0) threw two scoreless innings, giving up a hit with two strikeouts.
Connor Wong’s two-out single scored Wilyer Abreu from second base in the fourth to give Boston a 1-0 lead. Rafael Devers hit his 17th home run of the season in the sixth.
Xander Bogaerts, who won two World Series titles in his 10 seasons in Boston, received a standing ovation from the Fenway crowd after the Red Sox showed a video tribute before the second inning. It was his first time back since signing with the Padres as a free agent in December 2022.
ROSTER MOVES
The Red Sox reinstated catcher Connor Wong from the paternity list and called up left-hander Bailey Horn from Triple-A Worcester. Catcher Tyler Heineman and right-hander Isaiah Campbell were optioned to Worcester on Thursday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: Left-hander Tom Cosgrove was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 27, because of left elbow inflammation. Left-hander Austin Davis was called up from Triple-A El Paso to take his spot on the roster. … Right-hander Joe Musgrove, out since May 29 because of right elbow inflammation, was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.
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