San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish enters the game during the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in San Diego.
15:13 JST, September 5, 2024
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit an RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning to give the San Diego Padres a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.
Playing his second game back since being injured on June 22, Tatis singled to left off Jason Foley (3-5), bringing in Jackson Merrill. Merrill hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning and was limited to a triple, helping the Padres overturn a 5-0 deficit.
Tatis’ jersey was torn off during a wild celebration at third base.
The Tigers intentionally gave Luis Arraez a free pass to get to Tatis.
Jeremiah Estrada (5-2) pitched the 10th inning for the win.
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt (left) takes the ball from starting pitcher Yu Darvish during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in San Diego.
Padres right-hander Yu Darvish was activated from the injured list and made his first start since May 29. He allowed three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two. During that time, Darvish was on both the IL with a left groin injury and the limited list for a family matter.
Darvish trailed 3-0 after giving up a two-out solo home run to Matt Vierling in the first inning, his 16th, and one run each in the second and third innings.
The Tigers took a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning when rookie Trey Sweeney hit a two-run homer to the far right of Yuki Matsui’s bases. It was his second.
The Padres began their rally when the left-handed Merrill hit his three-run hit to left. It was his 22nd home run that gave him 82 RBIs, breaking the rookie team record of 79 set by Benito Santiago in 1987.
Merrill has come on strong in the second half to push Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes into the running for NL Rookie of the Year. Merrill was named NL Rookie of the Month for August on Tuesday. The 21-year-old was a prized shortstop prospect but was moved to center field in spring training to replace Trent Grisham, who was traded to the New York Yankees along with Juan Soto in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 7.
Machado tied the score at 5-5 with a one-out single to left in the fifth inning, chasing starter Keider Montero.
Montero allowed five runs and seven hits, struck out two and walked two.
