Padres ‘Pen Holds Down Fort Until Tatis Jr. Comes Through with Game Winner in 10th

Fernando Tatis Jr. drove in his first run Wednesday after coming off the injured list and it was timely, coming in the 10th inning to give the Padres a 6-5 win.

The Friars, down 5-0 to the Tigers in the fourth, climbed back in it quickly, scoring three in their half of the inning and two in the fifth.

The game stayed knotted up until extras, when Tatis sent a two-out knock to left, bringing in Jackson Merrill from second for the walk-off win.

“I don’t think anybody had any real doubt he was going to come through,” manager Mike Shildt said. “It felt pretty right.”

Though Tatis had the big hit, Merrill put three on the board with one swing – a homer off Detroit starter Keider Montero in the fourth – and Manny Machado added two RBIs on a one-out single in the fifth. The hit forced Montero out of the game.

Another Padre returning after a lengthy absence, Yu Darvish, got the start, giving up three runs in 2.2 innings.

But after Detroit got to Yuki Matsui for two runs, six Padre relievers shut the Tigers down, holding them to two hits and three walks. Jeremiah Estrada pitched the 10th for the win.

The Friars gained a game on the Dodgers, who lost to the Angels Wednesday, to sit 4.5 games back while continuing to lead the race for three wild-card spots.

The Padres will try to sweep Thursday, sending Martín Pérez to the mound. They host San Francisco Friday at Petco Park.