Second Straight Walk-off Homer Hands Padres 5-4 Win, Sweep of A’s

For the second game in a row, Friar fans got a walk-off thrill, and on Wednesday it was one for the record books.

The Padres completed a sweep of the Athletics with a 5-4 win thanks to a home run from rookie Jackson Merrill, now the youngest player ever to send two balls out of the park – including a walk-off – in one game.

He earned himself a Padre milestone too. He’s 21 years and 54 days old, so that makes him the youngest Friar to have a game-capping home run.

How will Merrill picture his big day?

“I don’t even remember me swinging,” the centerfielder told MLB.com. “It was just one of those blackout moments.”

The Padres easily beat Oakland Monday, but had two tight ballgames in a row to close out the series. Catcher Kyle Higashioka basked in the walk-off spotlight Tuesday, after the A’s tied up a 3-1 game with an eighth-inning homer from Tyler Soderstrom. Higashioka didn’t waste any time in the bottom of the ninth, leading off with a laser-shot to left for the 4-3 win.

The Padres, down 4-2 in the eighth Wednesday, saw two men cross the plate to tie it up.

Fernando Tatis Jr. – who saw his 17-game hit streak end after going 0-for-3 – walked with one out. Manny Machado struck out, but Donovan Solano stepped up and homered to center, setting up Merrill’s moment.

With one out, Merrill hit the first pitch he saw from Mason Miller to the right-field corner where it left the ballpark, setting off a frenzied celebration.

Manager Mike Shildt credited Merrill with using “a nice sweet stroke” to best Miller.

The Padres also logged their first sweep of the season by taking three from the hapless A’s, languishing in last place in the American League West. The team, now two games above .500, went 5-2 on the home stand after splitting a four-game series with Arizona.

The Friars have Thursday off before taking a short trip east to face the Mets and Phillies. Matt Waldron is set to take the mound Friday, followed by Adam Mazur and Dylan Cease.