MIAMI -- It’s hard to tell the magnitude of
The Padres remain four games behind the Diamondbacks in the race for the final Wild Card spot \\-\\- though they gained ground on the four other teams ahead of them in that race, including head-to-head against the Marlins.\n\nHere are some takeaways from a victory that could prove pivotal:
**Rengifo does it again** \nSamad Taylor is out with a strained oblique. Miguel Andujar is out with a fractured wrist. Someone on the Padres’ bench needed to step up.\n\nEnter Rengifo.\n\nReleased by the Brewers in late June, Rengifo signed with the Padres shortly thereafter. He was called up just before the All-Star break and has wasted no time making an impact.\n\nFriday brought Rengifo’s most important swing yet. With the game tied in the eighth, manager Craig Stammen called for Rengifo to bat for Luis Campusano. He got a hanging sweeper and pulverized it into the right-field seats for his second home run in three days.\n\n“I’m grateful to God for this opportunity with these guys,” Rengifo said. “Just keep going.”\n\nSince joining the Padres, Rengifo is hitting .435 with a 1.176 OPS. A switch-hitter and a versatile defender, he’s been everything they needed -- and then some.\n\n“Just some big hits in big moments,” said Stammen. “He got us going. It’s what we need right now.”
**Desperate times in the rotation** \nTechnically,
\n\n\nThis was so good from Fernando Tatis Jr. How many right fielders keep this batted ball to a single? Pretty incredible throw, too. In the end, it likely kept the game tied. pic.twitter.com/NR0GjW5Y1w
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) July 25, 2026
**Tatis is so good in right field** \nYou already know this. You don’t need me to tell you. Heck, it’s not like