Jackson Merrill’s two-run homer and JP Sears’ rebound start lift Padres past Mariners in spring game

Padres build decisive second-inning lead in 7-1 Cactus League win

The San Diego Padres defeated the Seattle Mariners 7-1 on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona, using a five-run second inning to take control early and a string of relievers to protect the margin.

Center fielder Jackson Merrill provided the defining swing of the day, launching a two-run home run in the second inning to extend the Padres’ lead. Merrill reached base twice and finished with a two-hit performance, continuing an active early spring that has included both contact and power.

Second inning featured extra-base hits and two-run blasts

San Diego’s offense broke through after Seattle scored first on a solo home run in the top of the second. The Padres responded immediately: a sequence of hits and extra-base damage turned the inning into a five-run surge.

• Jake Cronenworth doubled to set up the rally.
• Nick Solak’s double drove in the tying run.
• Xander Bogaerts doubled to bring home two more runs.
• Merrill’s two-run homer capped the inning’s scoring.

The Padres added two additional runs later in the game on a two-run home run by Nick Schnell, further widening the gap and allowing the pitching staff to work with a comfortable lead.

JP Sears settles in after allowing early homer

Left-hander JP Sears earned the win in his start, working three innings and allowing one earned run. The run came on a solo home run, but Sears limited the Mariners to three hits overall and issued one walk. One strikeout was recorded, and the outing included two double plays behind him that helped end innings and keep traffic off the bases.

The start represented a steadier showing than his earlier spring appearance, with a higher proportion of strikes and fewer extended innings.

Padres bullpen closes the door with six scoreless frames

After Sears exited, San Diego used six relievers to cover the final six innings. The group allowed one hit, issued no walks, and struck out seven, preventing Seattle from mounting any sustained threats as the game moved into the late innings.

Scoreline: Mariners 1, Padres 7 — Seattle finished with four hits; San Diego collected nine.

What the result signals in a spring context

Spring training results are evaluated primarily through execution and workload rather than standings. For the Padres, the game combined an early offensive outburst led by Merrill and a cleaner pitching sequence following an initial solo homer, offering a compact example of what clubs seek in late-February Cactus League play: timely extra-base hitting, efficient innings from a starter, and command-focused relief work.

San Diego’s schedule continues with additional Cactus League games in Arizona as roster competitions and workload build-up progress toward Opening Day.