Merrill, Maldonado deliver RBI hits in the 2nd inning as Padres hold on to beat Marlins 2-1

MIAMI (AP) — Jackson Merrill and Martín Maldonado had run-scoring hits in the second inning and the San Diego Padres held on to beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Monday night.

Merrill had an RBI single that scored Xander Bogaerts. Maldonado followed with a double down the left field line off Eury Pérez (3-3) that scored Merrill from first and put San Diego up 2-0.

Miami's Kyle Stowers hit a solo homer off Padres starter Randy Vásquez that made it 2-1 in the fourth. Stowers, who has an MLB-best 12 homers since June 22, connected on a 1-0 changeup and sent it 400 feet to left-center for his 22nd home run of the season.

Vásquez allowed one run on seven hits while issuing one walk and no strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. He left with a runner at first and one out in the fifth before Adrian Morejon (8-4) got the last two outs of the inning. Robert Suarez got the final three outs for his 29th save.

Pérez struck out five and allowed two runs on five hits in five innings.

Xavier Edwards had three of Miami's eight hits, but the Marlins went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

After Edwards reached on a single against Vásquez, Morejon struck out Jesús Sánchez and got Otto Lopez to ground out to end the fifth.

The Padres have played in 56 games this season that have been decided within two runs, including seven of their last 10, the second-most such games in the majors.

RHP Stephen Kolek (3-4, 4.24) will start Tuesday for the Padres against Miami's RHP Edward Cabrera (3-4, 3.61)

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San Diego Padres fans cheer as Jackson Merrill returns to the dugout after scoring on a double by San Diego Padres Martín Maldonado, in the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers hits a single-run homer in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Eury Perez pitches in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill slides in to home past Miami Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez to score on a double by San Diego Padres Martín Maldonado, in the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The blast occurred as guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping at the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to the Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted about the blast early Sunday and officers are still investigating. He said some nearby homes were also damaged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office. He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.

Government officials survey the damage of a home caused by a gas cylinder explosion hours after a wedding reception, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ehsan Shahzad)