The Padres maintained their half-game edge in the National League Wild Card race, beating the Giants, 7-5, on Friday night at Oracle Park. It was the Padres’ fifth straight win. They continue not only to hold off the Diamondbacks -- who beat Texas on Friday -- but chase down the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race. The Phillies and Cubs, who currently occupy the fourth and fifth seeds in the NL, sit only 2 1/2 games ahead of San Diego. Here are some takeaways from Friday’s Padres victory: **A little too close for comfort** The Padres came out swinging. Their offense was on fire from the start. They led 7-1 after three innings. So it qualifies as some level of disappointment that they used all four of their highest leverage relievers on Friday night. Starter Robbie Ray surrendered Rafael Devers’ grand slam in the fifth, turning a blowout into a tense affair. Credit the Padres’ bullpen though. Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejon and Bradgley Rodriguez combined to allow just one hit, covering innings six through eight. That set the stage for Mason Miller in the ninth. Miller got two quick outs, and then … he walked pinch-hitter Nate Furman. Jonah Cox dropped down a bunt single. He pitched carefully to Devers, and walked him, too. The tying and winning runs were on base. But -- as usual -- Miller had an answer. He punched out Bryce Eldridge with a pristine 102.8 mph fastball at the knees, sealing the victory. “A little bit more tense in the end than what we wanted,” said manager Craig Stammen. “But that’s why it’s nice to have Mason Miller on the mound at the end.”
