Xander Bogaerts hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, and the San Diego Padres won 4-3 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, despite giving up a three-run lead.
“We don’t like to give up leads,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “It’s not very common for us. (But when) we do get in a position where we need to fight back, we do.”
Jackson Merrill hit a two-run homer for the Padres, who are closely competing with Arizona for the first NL wild card spot. Merrill now has 79 RBIs, tying Benito Santiago’s rookie record for the team set in 1987.
Merrill also made a great diving catch in center field on Ben Rortvedt’s leadoff liner in the third inning.
“It makes you say, ‘Wow,’” Shildt said. “It’s clearly a highlight-type play. And of course the swing was big, too.”
Jake Cronenworth drew the Padres’ 10th walk leading off the ninth inning against Manuel Rodríguez (3-4) and advanced to third on Manny Machado’s single. Bogaerts then drove in the go-ahead run with a hit to deep center field.
Tampa Bay issued its most walks since August 29, 2019, against Houston.
“The walks set the tone,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “You’re dealing with some veteran hitters to take the walks, but between Machado and Bogaerts, they just have a good idea of what they’re doing.”
Tanner Scott (9-5) got out of a two-on, one-out situation in the eighth inning, and Robert Suarez did the same in the ninth to earn his 21st save in 23 chances.
Tampa Bay had only two baserunners through five innings against Dylan Cease before loading the bases with no outs in the sixth on two walks and a hit.
Jason Adam, who was acquired from Tampa Bay in July, then hit Junior Caminero with a pitch to bring in a run. Another run scored on Josh Lowe’s double-play grounder, and the Rays tied the game at 3 on a wild pitch by Adam.
