The Miami Marlins dropped a 7-3 decision to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Petco Park, falling behind early and never recovering against a Walker Buehler-led Padres pitching staff. Jake Cronenworth was the story of the night, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI to power San Diego's offense. For Miami, Javier Sanoja provided the only real punch at the plate, but the Marlins couldn't muster enough to overcome a four-run deficit and drop this one by a 7-3 final.

Cronenworth Puts the Game Away Early

There is no sugarcoating it: Jake Cronenworth was a one-man wrecking crew. The Padres infielder went 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI, doing the bulk of the damage against Sandy Alcantara and the Miami bullpen. Fernando Tatis Jr. added a solo shot of his own, going 1-for-4 with one RBI, while Samad Taylor chipped in three hits and an RBI to keep the Padres' lineup humming throughout the night.

San Diego finished with enough firepower to make this one feel out of reach by the middle innings, and the Marlins simply had no answer for it.

Sandy Alcantara Struggles to Hold the Lead

Sandy Alcantara took the loss, and the box score tells a difficult story. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out just three batters and walking one. The Padres made consistent contact against him, collecting eight hits across his outing — a volume that wore him down as the game progressed. Alcantara did not get the groundball-heavy, low-damage start Miami needed on the road.

Out of the bullpen, Bradley Blalock entered and was tagged for three earned runs on two hits across two innings, turning a manageable deficit into a blowout. The 7-3 final overstates how close this game felt by the late innings.

Walker Buehler Earns the Win for San Diego

On the other side, Walker Buehler was sharp. He went 6.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits while striking out six and walking two. He got the win and kept Miami's offense in check for most of the night. Kyle Hart, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Mason Miller finished the game in relief without any additional damage.

Sanoja Provides the Lone Bright Spot for Miami

Javier Sanoja was the standout performer for the Marlins. He went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI — responsible for the majority of Miami's run production on the night. His home run represented a genuine bright spot in an otherwise quiet offensive showing against Buehler, but it wasn't enough to shift the momentum of the game.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Jake Cronenworth (SD): 3-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Samad Taylor (SD): 3-for-3, 1 RBI
  • Javier Sanoja (MIA): 1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Walker Buehler (SD, W): 6.2 IP, 6 K, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB
  • Sandy Alcantara (MIA, L): 6.0 IP, 3 K, 4 ER, 8 H, 1 BB

What's Next for the Marlins

Miami heads back to loanDepot park for their next series. The Marlins will need to regroup after this road loss — Alcantara's outing is a concern, and the offense managed just three runs against a Padres staff that wasn't at full dominance until the later innings. Sunday's result is a game to put behind them quickly and move on from heading into the next stretch of the regular season.