Kansas City Royals @ San Diego Padres
Fernando Tatis Jr. hits 3-run homer to lead Padres past Royals
SAN DIEGO -- — Fernando Tatis Jr. launched a three-run homer to end his long power drought and Dylan Cease pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning as the San Diego Padres beat the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Saturday.
Luis Arraez gave San Diego a 2-1 lead with an RBI single in the third, and the Padres won for the third time in 10 games.
The loss halted Kansas City’s four-game winning streak.
With the Padres ahead by one in the seventh, Jose Iglesias and Bryce Johnson hit consecutive singles. Tatis followed by smashing a 96 mph sinker from reliever Taylor Clarke into the left-field bleachers for his 14th homer this season and first since May 27.
Cease (3-6) effectively mixed his four-seam fastball and slider to keep the Royals from mounting much offense. He gave up one run and struck out four in 6 2/3 innings.
Adrian Morejon retired all five batters he faced to seal it for San Diego.
Royals starter Noah Cameron (2-3) permitted two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Jake Cronenworth had an RBI groundout for the Padres in the second. John Rave tied it 1-all with a run-scoring double in the third.
With a runner on second in the eighth and the Royals trying to mount a comeback, Iglesias made a spectacular play at third base to rob Vinnie Pasquantino of a hit.
Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts continued his torrid hitting with two more singles. He has hits in 10 of his last 13 at-bats spanning three-plus games. During that stretch, Bogaerts has a home run, two doubles and seven singles.
Royals RHP Seth Lugo (4-5, 3.05 ERA) starts the finale of the three-game series Sunday against RHP Randy Vasquez (3-4, 3.70).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
SD wins 2-1
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - Nic Lentz
- First Base Umpire - Vic Carapazza
- Second Base Umpire - Nick Mahrley
- Third Base Umpire - Mark Ripperger
2026 American League Central Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 28 | 22 | .560 | - | W4 |
| Chicago | 25 | 23 | .521 | 2 | W1 |
| Minnesota | 22 | 27 | .449 | 5.5 | L1 |
| Detroit | 20 | 29 | .408 | 7.5 | L4 |
| Kansas City | 20 | 29 | .408 | 7.5 | L2 |
2026 National League West Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 30 | 19 | .612 | - | W1 |
| San Diego | 29 | 19 | .604 | 0.5 | L1 |
| Arizona | 24 | 23 | .511 | 5 | W3 |
| San Francisco | 20 | 29 | .408 | 10 | L2 |
| Colorado | 19 | 30 | .388 | 11 | L1 |

