Padres closer Mason Miller passes franchise icon’s scoreless innings mark
admin_news
Closer Mason Miller struck out three batters, all looking, on Thursday, April 16, to finish off the San Diego Padres’ eighth consecutive victory.
San Diego defeated the Seattle Mariners, 5-2, at Petco Park to complete a three-game sweep. Consequently, the red-hot Padres are 13-6, just 1.5 games behind the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
For Miller, the outing turned into a historic feat. He extended his scoreless streak to 30 2/3 innings, passing Padres legend Randy Jones for second place in franchise history. Former reliever Cla Meredith owns the team record with 33 2/3 scoreless innings.
MORE: San Diego Padres sale is nearly final, and it could change all future sales in MLB
Jones, the 1976 NL Cy Young Award winner, died on November 18, 2025. Padres reporter Marty Caswell shared Miller’s reaction on X after the game.
“We’re wearing his patch, his name is on the facade of the stadium up there, it’s just special that we’re recognizing his greatness, especially in the recency of his passing,” Miller said. “I’m just happy to honor him and have people talking about him.”
The Padres retired Jones’ No. 35 and inducted him in the inaugural class of the Padres Hall of Fame in 1999.
Jones enjoyed a dominant two-year stretch in 1975 and 1976. He led the NL in ERA (2.24) in 1975 and led MLB in wins (22) the next season. San Diego Padres pitcher Randy Jones in action on the mound during the 1976 season. | Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Network via Imagin Images
Surprisingly, his 30-inning scoreless streak came during an unremarkable 1980 campaign, his last with San Diego. Jones threw three consecutive shutouts, two against the Chicago Cubs and one against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still, he finished the season 5-13 with a 3.91 ERA.
Earlier in the week, first-year Padres manager Craig Stammen looked ahead to Miller passing the franchise icon.
“It’s fun for Mason Miller to be in the same breath as Randy Jones,” Stammen said, per MLB.com. “He’s one of the greatest pitchers in Padres history. And Mason’s right there with him.”
San Diego acquired Miller in a trade-deadline deal with the Athletics. He gave up two runs in his second appearance with the Padres on August 5 and hasn’t surrendered a run since.
Miller is 1-0 with six saves in 9 1/3 scoreless innings so far in 2025. Finally, the Padres visit the Los Angeles Angels this weekend for a three-game set.
