Ty France’s 2 home runs push Padres past Diamondbacks in Mexico City Series

In 2023 the San Diego Padres played the first Mexico City Series, sweeping a pair of games from the San Francisco Giants. The Friars are back at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu for another two-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they’re still undefeated in the Mexican capital city.

Former SDSU Aztec Ty France smacked a pair of solo home runs and the Padres used a four-run rally to come from behind and beat the D-Backs 6-4 on Saturday afternoon.

The stadium is 7300 feet above sea level so German Marquez, who spent a decade pitching at Coors Field, was the perfect guy to start. Marquez had one hiccup, allowing four runs in the 2nd inning, but sandwiched five shutout frames around that to give his guys a chance to put together one of their patented comebacks.

France started it with a no-doubter solo shot to right-centerfield in the 5th inning. The majority of the damage came in the 7th, when Arizona just fell apart. Jackson Merrill worked a leadoff walk, Manny Machado singled, and Xander Bogaerts walked to load the bases with nobody out. The crowd, which was decided pro-Padres, launched into a “HOLY SHEETS!” chant that’s become so popular at Petco Park.

Gavin Sheets delivered a line drive two-run single to right field to cut the lead to 4-3. France followed with a chopper to shortstop that should have been a double play ball but Geraldo Perdomo booted it, loading the bases again and setting up some solid situational hitting. Freddy Fermin and Ramon Laureano drove in runs with sacrifice flies and the Padres had their first lead of the day 5-4.

France added a little insurance with another opposite-field homer in the top of the 9th, but this one was likely aided by the thin air. Leading 6-4 heading to the bottom half, it was Miller Time.

Mason Miller worked a 1-2-3 inning to run his scoreless innings streak to 34.2 straight, breaking Cla Meredith’s franchise record in the process. The Padres try to stay perfect in Mexico City on Sunday afternoon with Michael King on the mound against Ryne Nelson.