Manny Machado hit a three-run, opposite-field homer to cap a five-run fifth inning Tuesday night, leading the San Diego Padres to a 7-4 win over the visiting Oakland A’s.
Machado’s blast followed a go-ahead, two-run single by Jake Cronenworth. The big inning helped San Diego take the opener of a two-game interleague series.
The A’s had taken a 3-0 lead against Padres starter Chris Paddack (7-6) in the top of the third.
The Padres pulled within one on a two-run homer by Fernando Tatis Jr. in the bottom of the third off A’s starter James Kaprielian (5-4). It was the shortstop’s 31st homer of the season.
Victor Caratini opened the Padres’ fifth with a single. He was sacrificed to second by Paddack and reached third on a single by Adam Frazier, whom the Padres acquired Monday in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kaprielian walked Tatis before Cronenworth grounded a two-run single to right, scoring Caratini and Frazier.
Kaprielian then exited in favor of Yusmeiro Petit, who drew Machado as the first hitter he faced. The Padres third baseman reached the right field seats with his 18th homer of the season and his second in as many games.
Machado has eight extra-base hits (five doubles and three homers) in his past nine games.
Kaprielian, a rookie, gave up six runs on a career-high seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Paddack allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk with six strikeouts in six innings. He threw a career-high 102 pitches. Mark Melancon threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his 31st save.
Kaprielian seemed to help his cause by getting his first major league hit with one out in the third. Singles by Mark Canha and Ramon Laureano loaded the bases. Kaprielian scored on a long sacrifice fly to center by Matt Olson. Jed Lowrie singled home Canha, and Laureano scored on Sean Murphy’s bloop double down the right field line.
Murphy homered off Drew Pomeranz for the Athletics’ final run in the eighth.
–Field Level Media