Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado belted back-to-back-to-back homers to start the bottom of the first inning Sunday and the San Diego Padres hung on for a 4-3 win over the visiting New York Yankees.
It marked the second time in franchise history the Padres hit three straight homers to open a game. The first time was April 13, 1987 against the San Francisco Giants’ Roger Mason. Marvell Wynne, Tony Gwynn and John Kruk did it that night.
Tatis got a hanging breaking ball from Gerrit Cole (8-8) and banged it an estimated 371 feet to right for his 20th homer – all since May 30. Cronenworth lined his fifth homer of the year just inside the left field foul pole. And Machado clouted his 26th homer an estimated 416 feet to center.
But the most important run for San Diego (75-68) was its last. Catcher Luis Campusano opened the seventh with a 433-foot shot into the second deck in left, his seventh of the year, for a 4-0 lead.
That run became crucial when New York (81-62) got to Adrian Morejon in the eighth for its three runs to make it a game. With one out, Cody Bellinger legged out an infield hit, pinch hitter Paul Goldschmidt walked and Spencer Jones sliced an RBI double just inside third.
Pinch hitter Amed Rosario beat out an infield hit for an RBI and Morejon’s throwing error scored Jones. But pinch-runner Jose Cabellero was gunned down trying to steal second as the potential tying run.
Mason Miller fanned the side in the ninth around one walk for his 33rd save in 35 chances as San Diego stayed within a half-game of Arizona for the National League’s final wild-card spot.
Michael King (10-9) earned the win after firing six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and three walks while fanning three. King has not allowed a run in his last three starts, covering 19 innings.
Cole worked seven innings, permitting six hits and four runs while walking none and striking out three. New York stayed four games behind Tampa Bay for the American League East lead and saw its lead over Boston for the first AL wild-card spot shrink to 2 1/2 games.
