By Bill Center
Mike Shildt has a guiding principle regarding starting pitchers.
“The primary responsibility of the starting pitcher is to provide the team with a chance to win,” Shildt has repeatedly emphasized.
Randy Vásquez has excelled in this role in 2025. While his personal record stands at 5–6, the Padres have won 16 of the 24 games he started.
On Thursday night, Vásquez delivered an impressive performance, shutting out the Colorado team on four hits and no walks, achieving a career-high nine strikeouts in six innings, leading the Padres to a 2–0 victory. This marked their fourth consecutive shutout against the Rockies at Petco Park this season.
Since his return from Triple-A El Paso, Vásquez boasts a 2–0 record with just three runs allowed (two earned) over 12 hits and no walks, recording 12 strikeouts in 12 innings for a 1.50 earned run average and a 1.000 WHIP.
This season, Vásquez holds a 3.72 ERA and a 1.346 WHIP across 25 appearances (24 starts), having surrendered 53 runs (51 earned) on 117 hits and 49 walks, while striking out 71 in 123 1/3 innings. Over the past two years, only Dylan Cease has more starts among Padres pitchers compared to Vásquez.
PAD BITS:
— Right-handed closer Robert Suarez achieved a milestone, making his 200th appearance for the Padres. He struck out one in a perfect inning to secure his 37th save, surpassing his total from 2024.
— RHP Mason Miller also made a mark, striking out two in a flawless inning, lowering his overall ERA to 2.96. His ERA as a Padre dropped to 1.10, extending his streak to 14 consecutive scoreless outings.
— CF Jackson Merrill contributed with a solo home run, aiding half of the Padres’ runs. He’s been hitting well lately, achieving success in five of his last six games with a .349 average.
PADRES ON DECK:
DH Luis Campusano is on a hitting streak of 25 games, hitting a double and recording his 25th home run with two RBIs in Triple-A El Paso.
— CF Tirso Ornelas (.285), the Padres’ No. 11 prospect, logged one hit in four at-bats.
AROUND THE FARM:
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (37–26, 75–65) — CHIHUAHUAS 4, Albuquerque 2: Clay Dungan and Yonathan Perlaza had notable performances, with Perlaza tying a single-season record for doubles.
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (25–39, 65–69) — Missions 5, SPRINGFIELD 1: Luis Gutierrez earned the win in his first Double-A start, while Wyatt Hoffman and Albert Fabian contributed to the team’s success.
PADRES HISTORY:
Sept. 12, 1998 — The Padres completed a comeback from a 7–0 deficit to beat the Dodgers 8–7, clinching their third National League West title before a crowd of 60,823.
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