Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres walk-off Angels

San Diego Padres catcher Elias Diaz pinch hit for Martin Maldonado to start the bottom of the ninth inning. He was able to come back from an 0-2 count to draw a leadoff walk against Los Angeles Angels closer Kenley Jansen.

Fernando Tatis Jr. came to the plate with a runner on and ended the game with a swing on a 2-2 pitch that resulted in a 430-foot two-run home run to centerfield to give the Padres a 6-4 win at Petco Park. The walk-off win was the first of the 2025 season for the Padres.

For the second time in as many days, Los Angeles hit a late home run to take the lead over San Diego. Dylan Cease started the game and the top of the seventh inning for the Padres. He recorded outs against the first two batters of the inning. He allowed his only walk of the outing to the next batter, Luis Rengifo, and was replaced on the mound by Jeremiah Estrada.

Estrada came in from the bullpen looking to keep San Diego ahead by a run, but Jo Adell hit a double and Rengifo scored to tie the game, 2-2. Estrada faced pinch hitter Matthew Lugo, who hit a two-run home run to left field to give Los Angeles a 4-2 lead. Estrada struck out Zach Neto to end the inning, but the lead was gone.

The Padres were able to get runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh. They were hoping to respond to the Angels top half of the inning with a couple runs of their own, but Diaz struck out to end the bottom half with San Diego still trailing.

Yuki Matsui pitched the top of the eighth inning for the Padres and kept the Angels from adding on, recording three outs against the three batters he faced. San Diego had runners on again in the bottom of the eighth inning when Tatis Jr. walked to leadoff the inning. Luis Arraez popped out to shallow centerfield and Manny Machado walked to put runners at first and second.

Jackson Merrill came to the plate with an opportunity to record his first hit of the game. He struck out for the second out of the inning and finished his night 0-for-4. Gavin Sheets followed Merrill with a fly ball to shallow left-center that dropped between three Los Angeles players for a single. Machado advanced to third and Tatis Jr. scored to make the score, 4-3.

Xander Bogaerts stepped in to the batter’s box with a chance to tie the game. Angels pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn threw a wild pitch, which bounced off the ground and the catcher before rolling up the third base line. Machado was able to score from third and tie the game, 4-4.

Zeferjahn walked Bogaerts to put runners at first and second and was replaced on the mound by Hector Neris. Jake Cronenworth was the first batter to face Neris and drew a walk to load the bases. Jason Heyward stepped in with a chance to give San Diego the lead, but struck out to end the inning with the game tied.

Jason Adam needed just six pitches to get three outs in the top of the ninth inning. He induced two pop outs and a line drive out that was caught by Merrill in centerfield just in front of the wall. Adam’s performance ensured the Padres would have a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.

San Diego plays Los Angeles, Wednesday at 6:40 p.m.