Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — Manny Machado homered twice and drove in four runs, Chris Paddack one-hit Seattle for six shutout innings and the San Diego Padres beat the Mariners 6-1 Friday night to reduce their magic number to two for clinching their first playoff berth in 14 seasons.
The Padres are closing in on their first playoff berth since winning the NL West in 2006. They’ve already clinched their first winning season since 2010. The Mariners’ loss helped the Oakland Athletics clinch their third straight playoff berth.
The Padres won the opener of a three-game series that was moved from Seattle because of poor air quality due to wildfires. The Padres batted first but wore their home white pinstripes.
While Machado stayed hot with a multi-homer game that gave him 16 for the season — tied for the NL lead with Mookie Betts of the Dodgers — as well as 45 RBI, Fernando Tatis Jr. remained mired in a slump. He went 0 for 4 with a walk and three strikeouts. He’s gone hitless in three straight games for the first time in his career and is 2 for 31 in his last nine games, with his average dropping from .314 to .275.
Paddack (4-4) was brilliant in bouncing back from his last start, when he left after just two innings due to a sprained ankle. He allowed only a single to Evan White leading off the third while striking out three and walking two.
Machado hit a three-run homer off left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-4) to deep left-center with two outs in the fourth. Rookie Jake Cronenworth was aboard on a walk and Trent Grisham on an RBI fielder’s choice.
After Tatis walked and was thrown out trying to steal second for the second out of the ninth, Machado homered to left-center off Walker Lockett.
The Padres scored a run in the third without benefit of a hit. Grisham and Machado walked, executed a double steal and Grisham scored on a wild pitch.
Kikuchi had a rough night, allowing five runs and four hits in four innings, walking six and striking out three with three wild pitches.
Seattle’s Evan White homered off Pierce Johnson with one out in the eighth, his sixth.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
