Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 26, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Pepiot, Lowe help the Rays beat the Padres 4-1 for their 4th straight win

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ryan Pepiot allowed just three hits in six innings and Brandon Lowe homered for the Tampa Bay Rays, who beat the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Saturday night for their season-best fourth straight win.

Pepiot (2-3) extended the Padres’ scoreless streak to 30 innings before Tyler Wade tripled to center leading off the sixth and scored on Fernando Tatis Jr.’s one-out single to center. Wade’s fly ball fell just in front of the glove of diving center fielder Chandler Simpson and rolled almost to the warning track. Gavin Sheets then grounded into a double play.

Pepiot struck out three and walked two. Four of the five runners he put on were erased on the basepaths. He and three relievers combined on a five-hitter, with Pete Fairbanks pitching the ninth for his fifth save.

The Padres avoided a third straight shutout. They hadn’t scored since the second inning of a 2-0 win at Detroit on Tuesday, and then lost 6-0 to the Tigers on Wednesday and 1-0 to the Rays on Friday night in the series opener.

San Diego’s longest scoreless innings streak was 37 from July 21-24, 1973. Their 2024 season ended with a 24-inning scoreless streak as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to win the National League Division Series en route to winning the World series.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 26, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Lowe hit an opposite-field homer to left with one out in the third off Dylan Cease (1-2). It was his fourth. Junior Caminero reached on shortstop Xander Bogaerts’ fielding error, stole second and scored on Christopher Morel’s double with two outs.

Cease allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four.

Key moment

Simpson leaped at the fence to rob Manny Machado of a home run leading off the seventh and pumped his right fist several times in celebration.

Key stat

Tampa Bay Rays’ Brandon Lowe celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, April 26, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Bogaerts has committed an error in two straight games.

Up next

Rays RHP Zack Littell (0-5, 5.28 ERA) and Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (1-2, 3.97) are scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale.

San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. flips his bat after striking out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, April 26, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
San Diego Padres relief pitcher Ryan Bergert works against a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 26, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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