Tatis Jr., Myers Hit Home Runes As Padres Beat Giant, 5-3
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a three-run homer in the third, Wil Myers added a two-run drive an inning later, and the San Diego Padres spoiled San Francisco's home opener by beating the Giants 5-3 on Tuesday night.
The Giants moved in the outfield walls this season. It might not have mattered for the San Diego sluggers.
"I think Wil's was gone in a hurricane. Let's give him the credit. He crushed that one," Giants starter Jeff Samardzija said.
Zach Davies (1-0) struck out five over five innings to win his Padres debut, allowing five hits and three runs — two earned — as San Diego won for the fourth time in five games this season. The right-hander came over in a trade with Milwaukee last November.
Drew Pomeranz, the Padres' fourth reliever, finished for his first save.
Manager Jayce Tingler said the Padres decided to give closer Kirby Yates the night off after he made consecutive appearances Saturday and Sunday, first in a non-save situation and then in a tie game in which he took the loss against Arizona. Yates led the majors with 41 saves last season.
"We thought it would be nice to give him the extra day. We've got the luxury with some guys in the back end able to do it. It was a nice luxury to have," Tingler said.
Wilmer Flores hit an RBI single in the first and Tyler Heineman singled home one of San Francisco's two runs in the sixth. That wasn't enough support for Samardzija (0-1), done after giving up five runs in four innings.
"We saw our bullpen come out with quite a bit of intensity and dating back to the Dodgers series it was really impressive performances," manager Gabe Kapler said. "There's no question that we have to play better baseball to win a game like tonight."
The Giants haven't won a home opener since beating Arizona in 2017. They went 35-46 at home last season, second-worst in the National League.
Mist swirled just above the outfield for much of the game at Oracle Park, a typical summer night in the Bay Area. And while fans were missing from the stands, supporter Zak Ford posted a photo of himself in a kayak on McCovey Cove beyond the right-field wall.
The scoreboard didn't work all night, just a black screen over center field.
Kapler and some players again knelt again for the national anthem after a pregame message about the Black Lives Matter movement.
A moment of silence was held to remember civil rights leaders John Lewis and C.T. Vivian as well as members of the Giants organization and victims of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor London Breed threw out the ceremonial first pitch in a prerecorded video.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: 1B Eric Hosmer was back in the lineup after missing two of the first four games with a non-COVID-19 illness. "He's feeling pretty good right now," Tingler said. "We've got him in the lineup and we believe he's going to be good to go." Hosmer had two bases-clearing doubles in a 7-2 season-opening win against Arizona on Friday night and hit a solo homer in a 4-3 loss Sunday.
Giants: 1B Brandon Belt (right Achilles tendinitis) and 3B Evan Longoria (right oblique strain) are both making progress and expected to be ready to return later this week. ... INF Yolmer Sanchez has begun baseball activities in recent days as he deals with back spasms. ... RHP Trevor Cahill (right index fingernail injury) threw a bullpen that Kapler said went well.
ROSTER MOVE
The Giants promoted C Chadwick Tromp to the major league roster and designated C Rob Brantly for assignment.
UP NEXT
RHP Johnny Cueto (0-0, 2.25 ERA), the Giants' opening day starter, makes his second appearance. The Padres counter with RHP Chris Paddack (1-0), who pitched six scoreless innings in a season-opening win against Arizona.
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