By Bill CenterFriarWirePress enter or click to view image in full sizePhoto of Randy Vásquez pitching at Petco Park

Mike Shildt has a mantra when it comes to starting pitching.

“The №1 job of the starting pitcher is to give the team a chance to win,” Shildt has said on countless occasions.

Randy Vásquez has stood out at this task in 2025. Although Vásquez’s personal record is 5–6, the Padres are 16–8 in his 24 starts.

Thursday night, Vásquez shut out Colorado on four hits and no walks with a career-high nine strikeouts in six innings to key the Padres’ 2–0 win — which was also their fourth straight shutout win over the Rockies at Petco Park this season.

In his two starts since returning from Triple-A El Paso, Vásquez is 2–0 and has given up three runs (two earned) on 12 hits and no walks with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings for a 1.50 earned run average and a 1.000 WHIP.

Overall, Vásquez has a 3.72 ERA and a 1.346 WHIP this season in 25 games (24 starts) — giving up 53 runs (51 earned) on 117 hits and 49 walks with 71 strikeouts in 123 1/3 innings. His 44 starts over the past two seasons are second among Padres’ pitchers to Dylan Cease.

PAD BITS:

— RH closer Robert Suarez Thursday night became the 18th pitcher in Padres’ history to make 200 appearances with the club. He struck out one in a perfect inning to record his 37th save, which is more more than he recorded in 2024.

Press enter or click to view image in full sizePhoto of Robert Suarez during his closer entrance at Petco Park

— RHP Mason Miller struck out two in a perfect inning as his overall ERA on the season dipped below three to 2.96. His ERA in 16 appearances as a Padre dipped to 1.10 with his 14th straight scoreless outing. And 31 of the 49 outs he has recorded as a Padre have come via the strikeout.

— CF Jackson Merrill connected on a solo home run in 3 at-bats for half the Padres’ production. He has hit safely in 5 of his last six games, going 8-for-23 (.349) with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and 5 runs for a .870 slugging percentage. The home run was Merrill’s fourth in 24 games after hitting only 4 in his previous 67 games.

— LF Ramón Laureano was 0-for-3 Thursday but drew a walk to extend his season-long streak of reaching base to 12 straight games. That is tied for the fourth-longest on-base streak of his career.

PADRES ON DECK:

DH Luis Campusano (.339) had a double and his 25th home run in 4 at-bats with 2 RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 25 straight game and his on-base streak to 37 straight games Thursday night for Triple-A El Paso. CF Tirso Ornelas (.285), the Padres’ №11 prospect, was 1-for-4.

Starting RHP Victor Lizarraga, the Padres’ №27 prospect, gave up a run on 3 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in 5 innings to earn a win in his first start for Triple-A El Paso. LHP Omar Cruz (4.97), the Padres’ №24 prospect, allowed a run on 2 hits with 3 strikeouts in 2 innings. RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (3.14), the Padres’ №6 prospect, issued a walk with a strikeout in a hitless, scoreless inning.

CF Braedon Karpathios (.221), the Padres’ №29 prospect, was 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs for Double-A San Antonio. 1B Romeo Sanabria (.260), the Padres’ №20 prospect, was 0-for-2 with 2 walks and a run.

AROUND THE FARM:

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (37–26, 75–65) — CHIHUAHUAS 4, Albuquerque 2: SS-2B Clay Dungan (.274) was 2-for-4 with a triple, a RBI and a run. RF Yonathan Perlaza (.304) hit his 47th double in 4 at-bats with a run and a RBI that tied El Paso’s single-season record at 105. 2B Nate Mondou (.312) was 2-for-4. RHP Sean Reynolds (3.12) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn his fifth save.

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (25–39, 65–69) — Missions 5, SPRINGFIELD 1: Starting LHP Luis Gutierrez gave up 2 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts in 5 innings to earn the win in his first start at Double-A. LHP Harry Gustin (0.00) issued a walk in an otherwise perfect inning to earn his second save. LF Wyatt Hoffman (.161) was 2-for-4 with a run. DH Albert Fabian (.257) had a 2-run double in 5 at-bats.

PADRES HISTORY:

Sept. 12, 1998 — The Padres rally from a 7–0 deficit to defeat the Dodgers 8–7 before 60,823 at Qualcomm Stadium to clinch their third National League West title.

Sept. 12, 2004 — The Padres tie a franchise, single-inning record with 10 hits while scoring 12 runs in the ninth inning at Colorado in a 15–2 win. Right fielder Brian Giles hits homers in back-to-back innings (the eighth and ninth) for four RBIs.