Late homers by Machado, Merrill help Padres complete sweep of Marlins

Key Points:

• The San Diego Padres secured a 5-3 comeback victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday, highlighted by Manny Machado's two-run homer and Jackson Merrill's solo shot in the eighth inning, completing a series sweep.
• This win marked the Padres' third consecutive victory, improving their record to 53-53 and moving them within two games of the final National League playoff spot, a notable improvement since the All-Star break.
• Despite earlier struggles on their road trip, including losses in close games and missed scoring opportunities, the Padres demonstrated stronger offensive production in recent games, scoring at least three runs in an inning 10 times over the past 12 games.
• Padres president A.J. Preller remains open to making trades before the August 3 deadline, with the team's improved performance potentially positioning them as buyers to strengthen their roster for a playoff push.
• Manager Craig Stammen emphasized the significance of the win, noting the team's resilience in overcoming deficits against strong relievers and the morale boost from sweeping a playoff-contending team on the road.