Pivetta’s Return Sparks Padres to Victory, Split Squad Suffers Heavy Loss

Nick Pivetta made a successful return to the mound for the San Diego Padres after dealing with arm fatigue, delivering a solid performance in an 8-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at the Peoria Sports Complex. Pivetta pitched three innings, throwing 56 pitches, during which he allowed two runs on two hits, issued two walks, and struck out four batters. His efforts helped propel the Padres to a much-needed win, showcasing his readiness for the upcoming season.

The game featured impressive offensive contributions, particularly from Miguel Andujar and Freddy Fermin. Andujar launched a grand slam, marking his third home run of the spring, while Fermin continued to shine with two hits, including a home run of his own. Xander Bogaerts also made his presence felt, making his first start since returning from the World Baseball Classic and adding two hits to the team’s total.

Meanwhile, another group of Padres faced a challenging outing against the Texas Rangers in Surprise, Arizona, as the team split its squad for the day. Marco Gonzales took the mound for the Padres but struggled significantly, allowing 11 runs—10 earned—over just two innings of work. The Rangers capitalized on the Padres’ pitching woes, scoring five runs in the first two innings before exploding for an astonishing 13 runs in the third inning alone.

Reliever Logan Gillaspie also faced difficulties, surrendering five home runs during his 2.2 innings, resulting in nine runs on 11 hits, along with three walks and one strikeout. The only highlight for San Diego in this lopsided affair was a two-run home run from Jase Bowen in the top of the third inning, offering a brief moment of excitement amidst the team’s struggles.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.