FriarNotes: Padres, Campusano, Merrill streaks end

By Bill Center

Bradgley Rodriguez at Petco Park

The Padres’ eight-game winning streak ended Friday against the Angels in Anaheim with the first shutout of the 2026 season.

Right-handed starter Matt Waldron came off the injured list Friday afternoon to make his first start of the 2026 season. He gave up six runs on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Right-handed reliever Alek Jacob was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to open the roster spot for Waldron.

Catcher Luis Campusano drew two walks, but his career-best, eight-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-1. The six-game hitting streak of CF Jackson Merrill also came to an end.

PAD BITS:

— LF Gavin Sheets is 4-for-11 with four doubles over the last four games.

— RHP David Morgan’s run of 14 straight scoreless innings also came to an end.

— RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (0.84 earned run average) pitched a perfect inning Friday and has now made six straight scoreless appearances. On the year, Rodriguez has given up 1 run on 10 hits and 2 walks with 10 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings for a 1.125 WHIP.

PADRES HISTORY:

April 18, 1908 — This pre-dates the Padres, but this is the anniversary of the first player from San Diego County debuting in the Major Leagues. Clifford Carlton “Gavvy” Cravath, who was born just south of Escondido in what is now Poway, debuted with the Boston Braves. Cravath led the National League in home runs five times and when he retired at the age of 39, Cravath was the all-time home run leader with 119.

PADRES ON DECK:

Left-handed starting pitcher Kash Mayfield, who is ranked the Padres’ №3 prospect, continued his fast start to the 2026 season Friday night for High Single-A Fort Wayne. Mayfield, 21, the Padres’ first-round pick (25th overall) in the 2024 amateur draft, gave up a hit and no walks with 8 strikeouts over 5 scoreless innings Friday. He is 1–0 with a 0.00 earned run average and a 0.50 WHIP after 3 starts — giving up 1 hit and 5 walks with 16 strikeouts over 12 innings.

C Lamar King Jr. (.171), the Padres’ №16 prospect, was 1-for-3 with a RBI for the TinCaps. 1B Alex McCoy (.317), the Padres’ №21 prospect, was 2-for-6 with a sacrifice fly, a walk and a stolen base. LF Kavares Tears (.194), the Padres’ №27 prospect, was 0-for-2 with 2 walks and a run.

Left-handed starting pitcher Kruz Schoolcraft (20.77) allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts over 3 innings for Single-A Lake Elsinore. Schoolcraft turns 19 today. CF Ryan Wideman (.269), the Padres’ №9 prospect, was 1-for-4 with a RBI and a steal. SS Jorge Quintana (.150), the Padres’ №7 prospect, was 1-for-5 with a run. DH Truitt Madonna (.238), the Padres’ №24 prospect, was 0-for-3 with 2 walks and a steal. RF Kale Fountain (.190), the Padres’ №10 prospect, was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run.

1B Romeo Sanabria (.216), the Padres’ №28 prospect, was 2-for-4 with a solo home run for Double-A San Antonio.

Starting LHP JP Sears (7.56) gave up 7 runs on 8 hits and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings for Triple-A El Paso. RHP Garrett Hawkins (2.84) gave up a run on no hits and 3 walks in an inning.

MINOR LEAGUES:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (7–12) — ROUND ROCK 9, Chihuahuas 7: RF Nick Schnell (.162) had 2 home runs in 3 at-bats with a sacrifice bunt and 4 RBIs. SS Mason McCoy (.231) had a solo home run in 2 ABs with 2 walks, a steal and 2 runs. 2B Clay Dungan (.211) had a solo home run in 5 ABs. 3B Marcos Castanon (.269) was 2-for-5 with a RBI. DH Pablo Reyes (.261) was 2-for-5.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (4–9) — MIDLAND 9, Missions 3: SS Carson Tucker (.400) was 2-for-4 with 2 steals. C Chris Sargent (.278) had a solo home run in 3 at-bats. Starting RHP Ian Koenig (0–2, 6.46) gave up 6 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.

HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (5–8) — TinCaps 1–3, LAKE COUNTY 0–4: 3B Rosman Verdugo (.175) was 3-for-7 with a walk. CF Kasen Wells (.289) was 2-for-6 with a walk, a steal and 2 runs. LF Jake Cunningham (.321) was 2-for-6. RHP Isaiah Lowe (4.50) started the second game and gave up a run on 3 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in 3 innings.

SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (6–7) — Storm 6, STOCKTON 3: 1B Luke Cantwell (.304) was 3-for-4 with a double, 2 RBIs and a run. 2B Justin DeCriscio (.353) was 2-for-4 with a double, a RBI and a run.