Tatís Hits 15th Home Run, Padres Win Series With A's
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Fernando Tatís Jr. matched Angels slugger Mike Trout for the majors' home run lead with his 15th, a two-run drive in the seventh inning of the San Diego Padres' back-and-forth 5-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.
Sean Murphy homered on another scorching-hot September day in the Bay Area and Matt Olson hit a pair of RBI singles for the A's, who lost two of three to the Padres and have dropped four of five overall. They are still trying to find an offensive groove following the postponement of four games last week because of pitcher Daniel Mengden's positive coronavirus test.
Garrett Richards (2-2) struck out nine and didn't walk a batter over seven sharp innings to end a four-start winless stretch. He allowed three runs on three hits.
"I thought he was great. I thought he got stronger as the game went on, and I think it showed the way he was kind of mowing them down," manager Jayce Tingler said.
Trevor Rosenthal gave up Robbie Grossman's leadoff double in the ninth before finishing for his first save with San Diego after joining the Padres in a trade from Kansas City, where he earned seven saves.
Jake Cronenworth hit an RBI double in the fourth for a balanced San Diego lineup. Eric Hosmer had an RBI single in the third and Manny Machado's sacrifice fly put the Padres ahead moments later. Olson tied it again in the bottom half.
Oakland right-hander Mike Fiers (4-2) had his three-start winning streak snapped and again won't line up against his former Astros club this coming week in Oakland. Fiers was the whistleblower in Houston's sign-stealing scam when he revealed the scheme to The Athletic last November.
Olson hit an RBI single in the first and the A's lost a replay review to end the second when Grossman was called out at home and the call upheld.
"When you think you have a run and you don't have a run, that's tough to swallow, even with replay," Fiers said.
The Padres (25-17) have scored 46 runs over their last seven games.
CHAPMAN'S Ks
Oakland's Matt Chapman struck out two more times before Chad Pinder replaced him. Manager Bob Melvin said Chapman has a right hip strain and will undergo an MRI exam.
The star third baseman struck out 10 times in the three-game series. He was fanned five times Saturday and three Friday following Oakland's extended time off.
"To lose a guy like Chappy would hurt if it was an extended period," Melvin said.
INTERLEAGUE MARKS
The A's are 6-6 against the National League and 17-8 facing AL opponents.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: Rookie Luis Campusano went on the injured list with a sprained left wrist. He had been set to start at catcher Saturday but felt something during batting practice swings in his left hand. "His pain level is down a little bit but I don't think we would expect him to be able to play today," manager Jayce Tingler said before the move was official. Campusano was undergoing treatment on the wrist. ... New right-hander Taylor Williams, acquired last week in a trade with the Mariners, was added from the club's alternate training site to fill the roster spot.
Athletics: LHP A.J. Puk was scheduled to throw again Sunday at the club's San Jose alternate site as he recovers from a strained pitching shoulder that required injections and landed him on the injured list to start the 60-game season.
UP NEXT
A's RHP Frankie Montas (2-3, 6.06 ERA) is scheduled to pitch the series opener Monday night against the Astros.
Dinelson Lamet (2-1, 2.62) pitches for the Padres as they return home to host Colorado.
