Player of the gameNick PivettaSDP5.0ip 4h 1er 1bb 4k
Before Dustin Harris’ go-ahead single bounced off the mound and into center field, sparking Petco Park to life … before Ty France launched a towering three-run homer to the Western Metal Building and watched it fly as the ballpark erupted around him … before Jackson Merrill added the exclamation point with a long home run, then kissed the barrel of his bat as he was about to flip it … The Padres were already having a very good night. The Cubs had lost in Cincinnati. The Phillies had lost to the Mets. The Yankees hung a five-spot on the Diamondbacks in the top of the first inning and cruised to a win. The Padres made the most of it all with their 8-2 victory over the Marlins on Friday night -- a win that moved them closer to a clinch, and closer to the possibility of hosting a Wild Card Series. Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park: **A shift in focus in the standings?** The primary objective, of course, is simply getting into the dance. As such, the most noteworthy result elsewhere on Friday night was the Diamondbacks’ loss. The Padres now lead Arizona by five games for the final National League Wild Card spot. They can clinch a playoff spot as soon as Sunday.
