June 18, 2023; San Diego, California, United States; San Diego Padres left fielder Juan Soto (right) is congratulated by first baseman Jake Cronenworth (9) after scoring against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning at Petco Park Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres took advantage of two errors by Wander Franco in the same play to put up three runs in the third inning on Sunday and defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in the rubber match of a three-game series
Retreat: The Oakland A’s shit less than previously reported | Countdown to the worst of the week
Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. threw the crucial run to the plate after Tampa Bay clinched two goals in the upper round of 16 — the call for catcher Austin Nola to sign Manuel Margot was dropped after an appeal from Tampa Bay- Manager Kevin Cash confirmed
Tampa Bay had five singles against Nick Martinez in the eighth, including RBI hits from Margot and pinch-hitter Harold Ramirez. The Rays still had runners in second and third place when Yandy Diaz went out at the end of the inning
Josh Hader scored twice in a perfect ninth game to make his 18th save as the Padres won a third straight series for the first time this season. Joe Musgrove held the Rays on two runs with six hits and a walk with a strikeout through six innings to go 5-2. Manny Machado drove in two runs for the Padres in their second straight win over the Rays
Tampa Bay starter Yonny Chirinos (3-2) gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings to concede the loss.
Randy Arozarena, Isaac Parades and Josh Lowe opened the second game with three straight singles to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead, although a larger inning was averted when Margot landed a double play.
Then came the Padres’ odd third inning against Tampa Bay starter Yonny Chirinos
Trent Grisham doubled with one and moved into third place after a sharp single from Tatis to the left. Juan Soto then chopped off a dribbler in front of the plate. Catcher Christian Bethancourt threw the ball in and threw it into the second half to overwhelm Tatis, but Franco failed to catch the throw, allowing Grisham to score. When Franco briefly chased the ball down left center, Tatis reached third place and headed home. Due to Franco’s throwing error, he scored easily. Soto got third place and then scored with Machado’s sacrificial flight.
The Padres added two runs in the fourth set with back-to-back doubles from Jake Cronenworth and Rougned Odor. Grisham opened the fifth, stole the second, moved up to third after a ground-out, and scored with Machado’s single for her final run
–Field level media